James Baldwin - Notes to a Native Son
In the first few section of the reading, Baldwin reflects on the nature of his father and his experiences when growing up with his father. His descriptions are very raw and unfiltered which reflects both the simultaneous hatred and love he had for his father. When he grows older, he moves away and faces the harsh realities of his time, juxtaposing his experiences to those of his father. While he did not experience slavery and the Jim Crow South, he can feel sympathy for his father’s attitudes towards life.
Near to when his father died, race riots broke out in Harlem. To him, these riots were justified but deleterious to the vitality of Harlem. He understood these events to be the outcome of anger of Harlem’s residents to unjustified treatment of African Americans but saw little help in these riots. In effect, he compares this to the self destructive tendencies of his father.
Questions:
-Baldwin’s world view can be seen as a morphed version of his fathers. In what ways can generational struggle contribute towards unfortunate but repetitive circumstances?
-What aspects of society should one ‘accept’ and which ones should one strive to fight against.
