Blacks and Whites in America: The Alternative Beats of the Same Heart - Essay Example

Essay, English Literature ic and Modern) Topic: Blacks and Whites in America are like the alternative beats of the same heart Introduction-Thesis The central theme of the novel is racism. The author provides the picture of mini-America, with the interplay of different characters. Their actions and counter-actions, arguments and counter-arguments are often painful and the author describes them with unflinching directness. He has drawn characters from different social and economic class of Southern California of the 1940s.For the purpose of this paper we are discussing two characters Bob Jones and Madge Perkins, who have nothing in common, the germinating point of their mutual hostility and jealousy is the color of their skin. California in that era remained engulfed in race perceptions. In the book If He Hollers Let Him Go Chester Himes reflects the ceaseless struggle of the black race, and their valiant efforts to establish rightful place in mainstream of American political, economic and social life. Bob Jones, the black character in the novel, struggles relentlessly to maintain his essential dignity amidst the hostile circumstances he is placed in and firmly believes that he is as brilliant as any white man could be in his position, whereas for Madge Perkins her inner world is seething with anger and resentment against the blacks for no particular reason. Bob Jones Bob Jones is an intellectual who constantly reflects the choices available to him amidst a host of hostile life situations that confront the black race in America. He is not married and his age is estimated to between 30-35.He is challenged by adverse comments relating to his race at every turn of his day to day activities, especially in interactions with his colleagues.The author writes that Jones awakes each day in fear, and lives steeped in fear. "It came along with consciousness. It came into my head first, somewhere back of my closed eyes, moved slowly underneath my skull to the base of my brain, cold and hollow. It seeped down my spine, into my arms, spread through my groin with an almost sexual torture, settled in my stomach like butterfly wings. For a moment I felt torn all loose inside, shriveled, paralyzed, as if after a while Id have to get up and die."(p.3) He is the only foreman in a shipyard during World War II but he is not getting the respect that he is expected for his authority in the organization and the white subordinate staff, white men and women, are not willing to obey his instructions with implicit obedience. His actual authority is thus ineffective. His life was like being lodged in an open-air prison not with physical but mental torture. The repartees that reveal race consciousness pierce his heart and as such his personal relationships are not healthy and often result in unpleasant verbal clashes. His life is like a soldier surrounded by a number of enemy soldiers threatening to ambush him at any time. He superiors are breathing over his neck to find an unintentional fault in his work, his white staff is waiting for an opportunity to rebel against him, and he gulps his anger and frustration for fear of severe reprimand, an arrest or even termination from the job and false accusation of rape. Thus every step of his life is steeped in fear of the unknown consequences. He has no escape from the outpourings of race and racism. His each and every thought process is surcharged with the evil passions of small and big race encounters, his efforts to defend his personality do not fructify, he is beaten back to the dark corners of the society, loss of dignity and humiliation have become part of his life from which he has no escape, and he remains the hapless victim of circumstances over which he has no control. He is like the muffled drum in the symphony of the societal orchestra. Amidst all this confusion, he is seized with desperate ambition to survive and progress in life, sidetracking his trials and tribulations but he fails. He laments about his inner turmoil to his fiancée thus: “Please dont tell me I can control my destiny, because I know I cant. In any incident that might come up a white person can use his color on me and turn it into a catastrophe and I wont have any protection, any out, nothing I can do about it but die” (p.207). He is sexual and sensual, and emotionally explosive, with his moment-by-moment responses to the situations in which he finds himself shifting rapidly from, for example, anger to frustration to fear to submission to flirtatiousness. The concluding sentence upholds his strength: “I’m still here”. (p.252)In a way this is his lamentation as well the cumulative effect of his unjust demotion and final dismissal from the responsible post that he was holding. Madge Perkins She is the hater of black race. She calls Bob Jones as the nigger. The following conversation between her and Bob Perkins is like the barometer to judge her racial prejudice. When Jones politely enquires of her “Look, Madge, Don said you could work with me for a while” (p.33) her instant reaction mirrors her seething resentment against the black race. Chester Himes writes “A wild excited look came into her eyes and her mouth went tight-lipped and brutal, she looked as if she was priming herself to scream” (p.33). She retorts “I ain’t gonna work with no nigger” (p.33). Jones too hits back by saying “Screw you, then, you cracker bitch” (p.33). For this reprimand, Jones loses his position and puts himself in danger of being fired. Whether Madge loves Jones, or just wants to flirt with him to have sex is an issue kept open by the author for the readers to come to own conclusions. But she, along with other white workers succeed in trapping him alone in a room (by then Jones has refused to have sex with her twice and seems to be carry that vendetta against him) and Jones is accused of raping Madge and he is beaten badly by the white folks. Madge misused the law against sexual offences to destroy the career and life of Bob Jones. He is eventually taken to Jail. It was later found that Madge was lying and the President of the company drops the charges against Jones and he eventually joins the army as a soldier. Comparing and Contrasting between Bob Jones and Madge Perkins The characters of Bob Jones and Madge Perkins are like parallel lines that will never meet. Madge enjoys the acts of insubordination by Jones’ workers and she is also a party to it. They are the products of the American racial history and as such individually they are more to be pitied rather than condemned. How can the Blacks and Whites walk together except they are agreed? When a particular race, subjugated for centuries, begins to assert itself, many issues turn controversial. Bob Jones, the black character in the novel, struggles relentlessly to maintain his essential dignity amidst the hostile circumstances he is placed in. When will the people of America realize that blacks and the whites are alternative beats of the same heart? Such an understanding is possible by making suitable adjustments in the reasoning process of leaders of both the communities replace racial reasoning with moral reasoning. The main issue with most of the black Americans is that they are being destroyed by the inner conviction of uselessness. Through Bobs interactions with and thoughts about Madge, the novel exposes the complex connections of race and sexual fascination as Bob at once loathes and craves Madge. Bob is honest and hardworking and to divert attention from her failing work standards, she levels false charges of rape against Bob. Conclusion The pages of American history are daubed in bloodshed on account of ethnic conflicts and race relations. The crying question related to blacks and white has not been solved to the complete satisfaction of all concerned. To destroy an ill-founded system is a difficult task. The reconstruction and rejuvenation of a society with newfound values is even more difficult. Blacks have some fundamental problems. In the book If He Hollers Let Him Go Chester Himes reflects the ceaseless struggle of the black race, and their valiant efforts to establish rightful place in mainstream of American political, economic and social life. Economic prosperity cannot compensate for this loss. The fountain of hope and love has to spring forth from the hearts of the blacks as for their internal relations first and disposition with the white race next. Even better, if both the developments take place simultaneously! Bitter internal struggles and misunderstandings lie camouflaged in America in any given place like, a factory, a club, a community or an office. Deep mistrust lies dormant between the blacks and whites. No one whether, black of white, thinks of risking the division of America on racial lines. The pertinent question therefore is how to accelerate the process of genuine unity of minds, so that all concerned can live life without fear and free from discrimination? The solution to the race mentality has to be tackled by treating the root cause. Blacks have been conducting at various levels the struggle foe decency, dignity, freedom and democracy, since centuries. A bold education in moral reasoning, right from childhood is the way to change the thought processes of future American Citizens. When thought processes change for the better, the action processes will also change and the societal attitudes will change for the better. The historical roots of the predicament of the American citizens, both blacks and whites will have to be carefully scrutinized and a solution acceptable to both the communities will have to be hammered out. The race puzzle will have to be sorted out once for all. Work Cited Himes, Chester. If He Hollers Let Him Go. New York; Da Capo Press; 2002 Language: English ISBN-10: 1560254459 ISBN-13: 978-1560254454 . . Read More