In addition, Agent Ward from “Mississippi Burning” stated: “Mr. Anderson, if you were a negro nobody would give a damn what you thought.” This shows that the black community is viewed so unequally by the racist white population, that even their most basic rights, free speech and expression, have been taken away from them. It also states the fact that inequality is a part of everyday black oppression and that the black community isn’t allowed to express their views without violence from the whites or racists. This allows us to see that it is evident that racism shadows people from the
Dubois's philosophy not only shows nihilism in the black race during this era but it also shows the same lack of progression in the black community in 2011. It reminds us of the lack of harmonious solidarity as well as the lack of intellect, high morals and spiritual insight affecting the Black masses today. His piece brings up an array of valid points on why the black community is its own worst enemy when it comes to building a new infrastructure of educational, historical and financial knowledge of self like the Jewish, Asian and Indian cultures. Dubois says “It is the problem of developing the best of this race that they may guide the mass away from the contamination and death of the worst, in their own and other races. Now the training of men is a difficult and intricate task.”(Dubois 1) I personally think that the contamination of most blacks today is from out dated teachings, some churches, politicians and most importantly, the entertainment business.
In this novel, racism towards black people is very present. Even if slavery had been abolished at that time, black people were still inferior to the white population. For instance, to identify coloured men, they called them “niggers”, which was even allowed in a court room while giving a statement (247). This observation clearly demonstrates how little respect white folks had for blacks. The name “nigger” was used commonly as if it had no pejorative signification.
Then Steinbeck opened the character up by talking him to Lenny. Crooks felt as if he could be totally open with Lenny because Lenny couldn’t properly follow track of the conversation and wouldn’t tell anyone else what he has said. This showed the readers the suffering that black people suffered. For example Crooks says to Lenny “Spose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black.” This shows the social outcast that black people were. By including this character, John Steinbeck was protesting that treating black people as social outcasts and as second class was not fair.
This assumption that black people are lower in class than anyone else, is a direct result of the unfair views of society. These inequalities are displayed in a number of ways, most prominently through the wrongful accusation and, afterwards, the unjust trial of Tom Robinson. The rigid social structure of Southern society, as well as the racial prejudice of the 1930s, allowed Bob Ewell to accuse Tom of a crime he did not commit. The quote: “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case.” is Scout’s way of saying that society’s views led to the inability of the jury to look past the colour of Tom’s skin, to reach a fair sentence. In Lord of the Flies, lack of equality also directly leads to a few of the incidents on the island.
Tom Robinson exemplifies how racism prohibits justice and fairness in the town of Maycomb. Tom Robinson is a black man that is not treated fairly because of his race. In the town maycomb no one is ever going to believe a black man over a white man. The people in the town are prepared to accept the word of the ignorant Bob Ewell over a decent black man. How the town perceives Tom has a lot to do with how he is treated.
Before the Civil war ended, African Americans were treated unequally even though slaves were literally emancipated. At the period where the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was set, niggers were known to be uneducated, liars, and any negative comments the white masters could ever think of. They were not considered to be human nor were they having any rights. Rather, they were thought to be goods by merchants, washing machines by masters, or even toys by children. Most Africans in America at that period had extremely low self-esteem, believing they were inferior to the white Americans, and suffered from work and the separation of their families.
In “Of Our Spiritual Striving,” sociologist William Edward Burghardt Du Bois writes about the “double-consciousness” that African Americans are afflicted with in the American society. He uses an even and reasoned tone throughout the entire selection as he explains how African Americans are born with a handicap because of their dark skin tone and are pitied by the white American. Du Bois asks a rhetorical question and tries to explain how it feels to be a “problem.” He explores this question by giving specific examples relating to his experiences. The strategy of repetition is used to address and emphasize the concept of “double-consciousness” and “vast veil.” Du Bois reminisces about his childhood where a girl refused to exchange greeting cards with him because of the darker color of his skin. It was then that he realized he was different from the others, thus coining the term of having a “vast veil.” He noticed that having a darker skin color is considered a problem for the African Americans because of the “double-consciousness” that comes along with being in the American society.
Some black males were not allowed to vote, while others lost employment opportunities. These harsh laws followed up underneath the Fugitive Slave Law. The constant undermining view of African Americans being inferior to white people in every way continued to spread throughout the northern states. During 1820-1860, the American society was very selfish. The average American focus was not on the inhumane treat against the black people but the competiveness that was caused because of the black people.
HistorySlavery was an institution that victimized as well as other cultures due to being in a controlled environment. Every suffered in their own way due to racial prejudice and fear of growing numbers. Masters which were also called Slave "owners" believed that treating another human being of another color like an animal was right. The children of the slave owners were being victimized as well due to following what their parent’s doings were right in treating another human being in such a manner. Slavery was so victimized that it still affects the society to the extent that black people blame the whites , and white people still agree that black people need to be slaves.