Beyond Differences: Malcolm X and Booker T. Washington

    The reader's autobiography in Booker T. Washington's in Up from Slavery and Malcolm X's The Autobiography of Malcolm X both detail their journey in rising against the unequal systems within American society. In accomplishing this task, Booker T. Washington has more of a focus on collaborating with White Americans and encouraging Black Americans to acquire vocational skills during the Reconstruction era. Malcolm X encouraged Black Americans to indulge in reading for their education and betterment, with no intent on compromising or collaborating with White Americans. He actively aimed to instill a greater sense of strength within Black Americans and did not concern himself with how White Americans perceived him through his writing.

    Most notably, Booker T Washington advocated for a less drastic uplift during the Reconstruction period. While many African Americans were still in the South, he discouraged them traveling North or immediately debating issues such as suffrage out of the idea of practicality. The autobiography details his Atlanta Exposition speech where he states on page 152, "To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man...I would say: 'Cast down your bucket where you are.'" He encourages African Americans to be rather content with the current state of society, not drawing possible negative attention to the community. This helps him support his idea that African Americans are hard workers, which he wishes White Americans to see.

    Malcolm X instead advocated for African Americans to be vocal, viewing their concerns to be of utmost importance as they surround human rights. He states on page 1868, "How is the black man going to get 'civil rights' before first he wins his human rights? If the American black man will start thinking about his human rights, and then start thinking of himself as part of one of the world's great peoples, he will see he has a case for the United Nations." Rights should be instead seen on the global stage as inalienable, more than simply a problem with US society. He is focused on bringing more attention to the community's struggles, explaining that black men should not be concerned with appeasing White Americans when advocating for their rights. 

    Both Washington and Malcolm X were able to use education as a means to improve themselves.  Malcolm's time reading in prison discouraged him from continuing the life he lived beforehand as he states on page 1868, "I have often reflected upon the new vistas reading opened to me. I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. He found that his studies enabled him to improve his lifestyle. He was able to use it as a tool to focus on the betterment of himself, and later to help him speak for the betterment of his race. Similarly, Washington leveraged literacy as a child to aid in his self improvement. Washington states on page 19, "I determined, when quite a small child, that, if I accomplished nothing else in life, I would in some way get enough education to enable me to read common books and newspapers." Washington persisted in his studies, even though there were barriers placed surrounding education for African Americans in society. He believed reading to be rewarding, offering numerous future benefits. This initial determination enabled him to take on his future endeavors.

    While Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery and Malcolm X's reader's autobiography in The Autobiography of Malcolm X pose many differences in their viewpoints, there is a common ground surrounding their usage of education. Malcolm X chose a more unapologetic approach when addressing issues that affected the black community, in contrast with Washington's caution toward white audiences. In both cases, literature shaped their later lives, prompting them to become public speakers, addressing prominent issues in American society.

 

Survival and Injustice in Richard Wright's "Down By the Riverside"

   

    Richard Wright's "Down By the Riverside" speaks to the civil rights movement as Mann, who has little overall power, must show resistance within an towards injustice and dehumanization of African Americans in order to take care of his family. Notably, Mann found himself forced into situations that emphasize this state of inequality within society. Without any other mode of transportation offered to his family, Mann felt that he was forced to use the boat Bob stole from Mr. Heartfield in order to help his sick wife. After Mann asked for help regarding his sick wife, Mr. Heartfield was only concerned for his boat, and took a violent approach when interacting with Mann. As shown in the text on page 68, "'Bring that boat back here!' There were two pistol shots. Grannie screamed." Instead of further assessing the situation, Mr. Heartfield immediately disregarded the humanity of Mann and his family in the boat. The act of shooting Mr. Heartfield was the result of Mann protecting his family in a life-or-death situation. Similarly, Mann's choice to use the stolen boat was also made under the pressure of a life-or-death situation as his wife was pregnant.     

    Further dehumanization can be seen when Mann was devastated following his wife's death, soldiers only were concerned with putting him to work. After Mann mentions the death of his wife to the soldier, as seen on page 80, they respond with, "'You ought to be glad you're not dead in a flood like this.'" This response is shortly followed by "'Awright, boy! Here's your boat! Lets go!'" Mann's feelings were discarded and not seen as a pressing issue that warrants genuine concern and care. Instead, soldiers were more concerned with helping others in the flood, prioritizing white people. Mann was also forcefully separated from his family in the process, further pushing him to contemplate his next steps in response to this injustice.

    These incidents prompted Mann's final act of resistance. He attempted an escape following the Heartfield family telling the soldiers that Mann had killed Mr. Heartfield. He knew that he would likely be killed by the soldiers. Alongside the fear of death itself, Mann also knew that death meant he could not see the rest of his family again. As stated on page 102, "He ran among the trees, over the wet ground, listening as he ran for the crack of rifles." Mann once again finds himself forced to make a decision that is ultimately detrimental. He would rather try to escape than simply wait and succumb to the injustices that he has faced. 

    While there exists pressure to submit to an unjust society, Mann ultimately makes decisions to try and combat further harm to himself and his family that stems from routine injustice and dehumanization of African Americans, even though he has little power. These decisions had outcomes that were not ideal, but given the lack of support and care from others, choices were limited. The need for resistance was amplified as self preservation was not his only consideration. Societal injustice forces people into a box, one might try to accept the current conditions, and one may act in protest, hoping to benefit others who are also affected.

Healing Wounds: The Importance of Acknowledgement

     

    Charles Chesnutt's "The Wife of His Youth" shows that recovering from wounds inflicted by slavery is possible, but it is not straightforward or linear. The collective healing of a group partially depends on removing judgement of behaviors stemming from past traumas. Within the African American community, some individuals have attempted to align themselves with whiteness, in hopes of further separating themselves from their community's trauma. This alignment can be seen within the Blue Vein Society, as members only consisted of lighter-skinned mixed people, and they actively sought to recruit other lighter-skinned people, such as Mrs. Dixon. Moreover, the well educated and those who exhibited "correct social standards" were prized by the group. Those without any strong community have a harder time gaining a higher status within society.

Image

    A notable member of the society, Mr. Ryder, actively tried to distance his community from darker-skinned black people. On page 7 he states, "...we people of mixed blood are ground between the upper and nether millstone...The other would welcome us, but it would be for us a backward step." He advocates for greater separation and distinction mixed and darker-skinned black people because he paints them as lower and less sophisticated than white people. The seeming lack of sophistication goes against the mission of the Blue Veins. This strong urge for alignment and acceptance within the white community only draws members further away from any aspects of their past identity.

    His actions and demeanor surrounding the African American community only changed after he conversed with Liza Jane. Liza Jane appears to embody the opposite of the traits prized within the Blue Vein Society. Her explanation of her struggles surrounding the aftermath of slavery with little sense of community served as a reminder to Mr. Ryder. She unknowingly reminded him that there are aspects of his past that cannot simply be ignored or erased. Their marriage served as a further reminder that while he seemed to be able to leave part of his identity behind, another person was actively still struggling, and would otherwise forever try to carry that struggle alone. On page 20 Mr. Ryder states, "...but for twenty-five years this woman has retained her affection for and her faith in a man she has not seen or heard of in all that time." He was able to publicly acknowledge part of the reality that African Americans had to grapple with during the Reconstruction period. This reality resonated with some audience members, as many had family members who had directly suffered through slavery.

    Only when Mr. Ryder acknowledged both of their past struggles could he begin to rightfully acknowledge the struggles of his broader community, as opposed to disregarding them and hoping to be further separated from them. We can observe that Mr. Ryder's viewpoints shifted from not admiring the dedication and strength enslaved people had to muster as a result of their trauma to supporting and rekindling the bond with the person that expressed her experience to him. His actions greatly speak to how repairing the wounds of a community after Reconstruction was not a straightforward or simple task, but had many ups and downs. It emphasizes the need to allow the experiences of African Americans to be acknowledged.