Michelle Romero
Eng 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
From The Souls of Black Folk
"It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity."
Du Bois is able to define and frame into context the feelings of being marginalized in white society which is particularly geared at black folk. He of course, is speaking to the black society in this work, however, his "double-consciousness" is cross-cultural and can be applied to virtually anyone.
I believe his ideas in this quote concerning the "double consciousness" illustrate human's struggle with their own self-image and their image in society, not whether they are a part of two cultures or not (which is what most people seemed to steer toward in class). This statement is not purely race related. For black Americans at the time, it just so happened that this was in fact, the biggest separator.
Directly following this quote, Du Bois goes on to say "One ever feels his two-ness, --an American, a Negro; two souls two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder." Again, in this passage, there are clear verbal and nonverbal cues that lead to the idea of race being the contributor to the creation of "two-ness." For example, he says straightforwardly that being an American and a Negro creates two-ness. He also says these two warring feelings occur within a dark body. HOWEVER, allow me to steer you toward the inclusiveness of this statement. Du Bois elaborates on the meaning of "two-ness" when he calls it "two unreconciled strivings," "two warring ideals." Basically then, every individual who attempts to create an identity for their self faces this challenge: The ideals and values of their own personal belief system and that of the dominant mainstream society which will seek to oppress any individuality or difference of opinion. I think it is important not to degrade the power of his statement in relation to the "Negro problem," but to show that the theory is definitely universal.
Yes, and I know this America, land of the free, but let's be serious, there are more marginalized persons here than anywhere! It is sometimes the nonverbal cues in a society that make the message clear of what is expected and it is this struggle between self-identity and societal identity that Du Bois really captured quite beautifully.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Journal 8: W.E.B. Du Bois
Michelle Romero
Eng 48B
Professor Lankford
From Chapter 1, The Souls of Black Folk:
"Then it dawned on me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through; I held all beyond it in common contempt, and lived above it in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows."
Du Bois clearly illustrates the differences in privilege and treatment from white folk to black. He does this by identifying right away that this is "their" world he was living in, not his own. The rules of the game then were on "their" terms. In addition, he paints in a picture of this vast veil which separates the two. Even more impressive however, is his ambiguity whether this separation is a good thing or not.
Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk is filled with evidence to support both ideas: the idea that separation of races or a marginal identity is beneficial, and the notion that it is oppressive in fact. For example, the way he sets the scene of a school aged young boy being harshly and abruptly rejected distinguishes the difference between the good guy and the bad right away. We are of course going to sympathize with the unfortunate young boy, the poor victim. On the other hand, this passage tells us that he did not have a desire to tear down the veil. What we do not know is why? Did he not want to attempt to dissolve this veil for fear of rejection again? Did he like being shut off from "their" world?
I would suggest that Du Bois realizes that dealing with marginal identity is a personal struggle. For him, he says he was able to live "above" his circumstances. However, he lived above in a world of blue sky and also "great wandering shadows." This last image leaves me with a feeling of lost souls. I have two reactions to this. My first is to say, who wants to be a lost soul? After all, isn't it at the center of every human being to discover and establish and identity for themselves and to fulfill their purposes in life. How then can this be accomplished if you are lost? On the other hand, I have to take myself away from initial bias and recognize the word "great." This can mean vast and would then lend support to my initial argument, or it may be used to show reverence for these lost souls. If the latter is the case, then Du Bois is illustrating the concept of togetherness and unity. He is saying to his readers, that as a lost and wandering soul, you are not alone.
This one passage is quite profound and can be interpreted in several different ways. The more times I read it, the more confused I am about what I believe is his intended message.
Eng 48B
Professor Lankford
From Chapter 1, The Souls of Black Folk:
"Then it dawned on me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through; I held all beyond it in common contempt, and lived above it in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows."
Du Bois clearly illustrates the differences in privilege and treatment from white folk to black. He does this by identifying right away that this is "their" world he was living in, not his own. The rules of the game then were on "their" terms. In addition, he paints in a picture of this vast veil which separates the two. Even more impressive however, is his ambiguity whether this separation is a good thing or not.
Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk is filled with evidence to support both ideas: the idea that separation of races or a marginal identity is beneficial, and the notion that it is oppressive in fact. For example, the way he sets the scene of a school aged young boy being harshly and abruptly rejected distinguishes the difference between the good guy and the bad right away. We are of course going to sympathize with the unfortunate young boy, the poor victim. On the other hand, this passage tells us that he did not have a desire to tear down the veil. What we do not know is why? Did he not want to attempt to dissolve this veil for fear of rejection again? Did he like being shut off from "their" world?
I would suggest that Du Bois realizes that dealing with marginal identity is a personal struggle. For him, he says he was able to live "above" his circumstances. However, he lived above in a world of blue sky and also "great wandering shadows." This last image leaves me with a feeling of lost souls. I have two reactions to this. My first is to say, who wants to be a lost soul? After all, isn't it at the center of every human being to discover and establish and identity for themselves and to fulfill their purposes in life. How then can this be accomplished if you are lost? On the other hand, I have to take myself away from initial bias and recognize the word "great." This can mean vast and would then lend support to my initial argument, or it may be used to show reverence for these lost souls. If the latter is the case, then Du Bois is illustrating the concept of togetherness and unity. He is saying to his readers, that as a lost and wandering soul, you are not alone.
This one passage is quite profound and can be interpreted in several different ways. The more times I read it, the more confused I am about what I believe is his intended message.
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