Imperium in Imperio by Sutton Griggs - Book Report/Review Example

Introduction Sutton Elbert Griggs was a minister, social activist and African-American author. The notable works of Griggs are the Hindered hand and Imperium in Imperio. The purpose of the project is to discuss about the perspective of author and idea of black revolution in the book Imperium in Imperio. This is regarded as one of the influential classic African-American novel which was self-published in the year 1899. The pivotal themes of the book include black empowerment, exploitation, miscegenation and exploration of oppression. The black revolutionary novel not only illustrates the possibility of a revolution, but exemplifies for a probability of being deterred. Imperium in Imperio by Sutton Griggs was the first black revolutionary novel. Annihilation, assimilation and emigration are some probable resolutions to the race problem in America. This report illustrates the idea of black revolution and solution of race problem from the book Imperium in Imperio. Discussion Imperium in Imperio is the first novel of Sutton Elbert Griggs based on postulating the formation of an underground association of militant and accomplished African-Americans. This establishment of educated Americans-Africans set on the formation of an autonomous sate or elimination of the occurrence of injustice in America. The establishment of the Imperium program by United Sates government is perceived as revolutionary. The functioning of Imperium program is not reactionary. The book provides a vivid description of secret society which focuses on creating an open revolt against the America. The plan of the secret black society is to seize the states of Louisiana and Texas (Peavy 220). The plan involves retaining Texas as a separate base for creation of Negro nation. It is mentioned in the novel that “it will be an effective plan of action to purchase each and every Texas land neighboring to territories and states of the union” (Griggs 167). Moreover, in case of Louisiana, it would be surrendered to the foreign allies. The leaders of the underground organization were determined to announce their grievances and protests to the world by organization of highly disciple army. Griggs warned in the entire novel against the demagogues. The political gain is the main reason behind the sacrifice of the African-American. Demagogues are a political leader who wants to gain popularity and power by prejudices, emotions and passions. During the period between the Depression and Reconstruction, Sutton Elbert Griggs has become one of the most influential figures at the time of African-American issues. In late 1960s, The Black Power movement put emphasis on black pride and black consciousness. “Several African-Americans tried to gain social and economic equality due to violation of fundamental civil rights” (DaCosta 42). The dominance of white culture led to the formation of this movement which demanded for self-determination of black people. The novel Imperium and Imperio is regarded by many critics as one of the most successful work of black fiction that provided a huge commercial success. The emergence of Demagogues is viewed by Griggs as dangerous for the cause of political gain. The mobility and hunger for gaining power has been the pivotal vision of the Imperium’s program. The author tried to visualize the outcome of personal ambition of new leader and interpret in to the book to the readers. The new leader of the Imperium is Bernard Belgrade. Griggs vividly focused on the book Imperium in Imperio about the main intention of the pampered mulatto is to enter politics for the sake of achieving personal ambition. Griggs introduces in the whole book about the double heroic pair. Bernard Belgrave and Belton Piedmont are the two heroic pair born at the time of slavery. Both of the characters are determined and steel-willed characters to confront the drastic impact of slavery at the time of African-American. The author tries to describes about these heroic pair, antebellum pair and young men who their utmost best to put their hand at the time of crisis. The agitation for bringing change in the society requires courage and demand strong action to promise freedom. The idea of a black coalition within the American society is explored in the novel that would help to negotiate for a prospect of military action for separation from America. The novel Imperium in Imperio debates present evidence of injustice, lynching and hypocrisy and also discusses on the necessary possibility of changing the present condition of black Americans. The author tried to discuss on the patriotic sentiments of Belton Piedmont. Piedmont states that “black Americans must have a nation within a nation”. This voice of Piedmont is to organize Black Americans to protect their right against the dominance of Americans. Griggs explores the feasibility and potential of political stances through the lives of these discussed characters. According to Griggs (179), “it is the proper education that can help Black Americans to understand their fundamental rights and fight for it”. The scenario of characters which lapse the boundaries of race and class for the good of nation and race indicates that many these transgress boundaries have been crossed by debated characters. “A nation or a state cannot get developed without the equality between the people of different cultural or racial backgrounds” (Malik 69). Griggs points out that for the aim of unifying white and black America, these two are connected by blood. There are several situations in the novel Imperium in Imperio reveals the offspring of a well-regarded white Politian. In the era Reconstruction, Sutton Elbert Griggs is regarded as a true citizen and a strategist as he provided effective solution to the racial problems in his novel. These are assimilation, emigration and annihilation. The novel is successful to present a satisfactory illustration of the baroque lengths. The author at the novel presented an honest form of question to the people around the world regarding the dominance and hatred between white and black Americans. Griggs states that “when will the time come when all the classes and races of men learn that men will not be slaves in the image of other people as they are made in the image of God”. Griggs tires to direct the form of self-examination to black and white Americans. Despite having limitations in literacy and artistic lasses, Sutton Elbert Griggs tries to preset the black hope and black despair against expectation in a poignant and powerful way. Imperium in Imperio is one of the influential portraits on black movement to fight against the dominance of white Americans. “The significance of Black Movement somehow helped the African-Americans to gain equality in United States of America in the modern era of globalization”. Belton Piedmont is the black character in the novel. Belton proclaims that “the sniffling, cringing, cowardly and fawning Negro disappeared and led to the born of new Negro who are determined, fearless and self-respected to fight against their right” (Griggs 15). At the end of the novel, the author presented the destruction of the organization and assassination of Belton piedmont. Belton is killed on the cause of political control by own ethnic kinsmen. The blindness of African Americans has faltered the hope of progress and unity. This led to the upsurge of hatred among the white people towards the blacks. The author tried to present three possible solutions that can help to nullify the issue and lead to the proliferation of unity of white and African American. Emigration, annihilation and assimilation are the three possible solutions that can help to fight against the race problem. According to Sutton Griggs, the novel Imperium in Imperio focuses on one of the primary black notion which is assimilation. The author presented that assimilation is one of the solution that can be implemented by blacks to be integrate peacefully into American social order. This solution is to adapt to the attitudes and customs of the prevailing customs and culture in order to live peacefully. The process of adaptation of assimilation can also carry the course of slavery. This process cannot lead to the extinction of slavery and misery caused between African American and white. This term may also involve the gradual change of attitude and beliefs depending upon the circumstances. The novel Imperium in Imperio by Griggs assists as reviews of ideas that provide presence of hope of the human beings and capture the progress of philosophy. According to Griggs (179), “It is important for African-Americans to obtain justice and civil rights”. The novel assists to provide knowledge to readers about the necessity of understanding the essential of the concepts of freedom, identity and responsibility. Immigration is another solution provided by Griggs. “It is one of the effective solutions as the fundamental rights of Black people can be fulfilled through this activity”. Emigration is the solution where black people are back to Africa this is one of the plans that can help against the race problem in America. The worsening of the condition of black people caused the endorsement of the emigration as a possible solution. Author believes that the quality of life can be back, if free Africans go back to Africa. Annihilation is another solution to the race problem. Annihilation is determined as the process of total destruction of enemy. The plan of total Annihilation can be the extinction of slaver labor. When there is constant abandon of peace between African American and white proves that the implementation of annihilation can be one of the solutions that can lead to the annihilation of whites or blacks. Conclusion Sutton Elbert Griggs not only provided a proffer detailed study material but also delivered a masterful and well-designed presentation on the history of black revolution and solution of race problems in America. This novel has provided a clear picture about injustice for the African Americans in America due to racial problems. The severe economic dilemma of people is depicted by Griggs as a sense of warning to the whole nations regarding the bitterness of the African Americans issues. Three possible solutions have been provided by Griggs in order to overcome the racial problems that are mentioned in the novel. These are annihilation, assimilation and emigration. For more than a century, the revolt in America and possibility of a black insurrection has been the fantasy of many whites and blacks. According to the author, the final confrontation between white and black Americans is avoidable by the application of three possible solutions. Griggs’s Imperium in Imperio is an interesting novel that can help the reader to understand why and how the equality among people of several racial backgrounds should be maintained. Work Cited DaCosta, M. Kimberly. Making Multiracials. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2007. Print. Griggs, Sutton. Imperium in Imperio. New York: Random House, 2007. Print. Malik, Kenan. The meaning of race: Race, history and culture in Western Society. New York: NYU Press, 2006. Print. Peavy, D. Charles. “Four Black Revolutionary Novels, 1899-1970”. Journal of Black Studies 1.2 (2014): 220. Print. Read More