Baldwin About His Experience As A Black American In 1962

Name
Instructor
Course
Date
James Baldwin's book "The Fire Next Time"
Baldwin focuses on the ‘Negro problem’ in the 1950’s and 1960’s with growing calls for ending discrimination against African Americans with the issue in the public discourse. Baldwin was conflicted on whether religion was essential for emancipation and the place of African Americans in the US. The author explored race and religion in both my dangerous shook and down at the cross, which are different sections of the book. The dangers of degrading, disenfranchising dehumanizing, and socially excluding black people increased tension and social conflicts in the 1960’s and even now.
Baldwin was concerned that degrading and dehumanizing African Americans had long-term ramifications for the American society further straining relations between the majority White and African Americans. Even though, the author, was angry at the treatment of the Black people he implored his nephew to exercise caution and restraint. Baldwin articulated a vision where people worked together and did not violent revenge to address the race issues in the US. As such, he advised his nephew to be open-minded and compassionate even as the Black Americans had been degraded. “Know whence you came.  If you know whence your came, there is really no limit to where you can go,” (Baldwin 7).
As Baldiwn remembered living in Harlem, he was anxious that race relations would deteriorate even as the people living in the isolated cities of destruction had no hope. The message that the lives of African Americans did not count, has parallels with the experiences of some African Americans living in inner cities. When there are calls for changes to the criminal justice system are ignored and opponents simply state that the police are dealing with ‘thugs’ this worsens relations. The dehumanization of African Americans that is associated with the disrespect and disregard of their concerns.
Believing all the negative things that people say may affect their perception and interaction with people different from them. “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger. I tell you this because I love you, and please don’t forget it.” (Baldwin 2). As black people lived in the isolated city as described by Baldwin there was constant communication that they were not part of America, as though they deserved degradation and dehumanization that they encountered in the form of racist policies and disenfranchisement.
“White Americans have thought of it as their shame, and have envied those more civilized and elegant European nations that were untroubled by the presence of black men on their shores (Baldwin 22).” In the passage Baldwin pointed out that there were sections of America who envied the Europeans who did not take slaves and there were no concerns that ‘less civilized’ dark skinned people would play prominent roles in the society. As such, African Americans ought to have been aware that they would not be readily accepted. Even today people most likely to list their ancestry as American tend to be overwhelmingly White, and Black Americans are cast as ‘others’ sometimes being out of the mainstream society their own urban enclaves like migrant communities.
For the Black Americans to survive during the era of segregation, they had to affirm their own dignity that was threatened by the White world. To Baldwin, the norms established by the White Churches failed to eradicate the oppression of the Black people, and even as Some Blacks joined radical groups like the Nation of Islam there was increased tension when people did not seek dialogue (Harris 75). Similarly, addressing issues of racism and discrimination in contemporary America requires dialogue among divergent groups and adopting hard line stances escalates tension where those in power ignore cases of discrimination. “That in our time, as in any time, the impossible is the least that one can demand. And one, after all, is emboldened by the prospect of human history in general and Negro history in particular, which speaks to nothing less than the perpetual achievement of the impossible” (Baldwin 34).
Contempt and hatred for a community is evident by the way they are treated by those in power and how they choose to address issues. The sometimes fractious encounters between officers and African American young males cannot simply be ignored when such experiences are at times deadly to civilians are neither armed nor dangerous. The fate of race relations lies in the hands of minorities and the majorities to examine the country’s history. You, don’t be afraid.  I said that it was intended that you should perish in the ghetto, perish by never being allowed to go behind the white man’s definitions, by never being allowed to spell your proper name (Baldwin 10). The authors exposure to Christianity change his way of thinking, and while Black Nationalism was increasingly prominent in the 1960’s he grew disillusioned that the radical Black groups could not address racial conflict when they failed to engage Whites
Baldwin viewed the question of integration as one that was polarizing even among Black Americans as the most radical elements wanted separation. “Hence the question: Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?” (Baldwin 108). The author understood that as those I power felt challenged they would do anything to maintain their privileges. Similarly, by the minorities antagonizing the structures of power there have been social conflicts as those wielding the power seek to maintain the status quo. The police are the only institution sanctioned to use force against citizens, but then there is a need to hold the police officers accountable. When the behavior of the law enforcement officers is seen to single out certain groups this creates ...