Today, if you need more time to study for your midterm, you have it. Turn it in by 8 a.m. Monday, March 24.
Freewrite: Respond to 1 Wedneday, March 19 question about the reading and two student responses. I gave students a copy of the Literature and Its Times, Vol. 1 analysis of The Fire Next Time. For those who are ready to complete the midterm. Please respond to one question listed below in a 500 word essay. Please use citations from the text: 1 paraphrase, 1 direct quote and 1 block quote. Indicate page numbers also.
Essay questions:
1. How is the essay Down at the Cross a continuation of themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation"?
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
3. Discuss the structure of the essay and Baldwin's stylistic form of using the personal to illustrate a salient point that affects his constituency. Give several examples of this in your analysis. Who is Baldwin's audience and does this shift?
4. What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom? Are there any other terms which reoccur often in this essay which lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
6. Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
Freewrite: Respond to 1 Wedneday, March 19 question about the reading and two student responses. I gave students a copy of the Literature and Its Times, Vol. 1 analysis of The Fire Next Time. For those who are ready to complete the midterm. Please respond to one question listed below in a 500 word essay. Please use citations from the text: 1 paraphrase, 1 direct quote and 1 block quote. Indicate page numbers also.
Essay questions:
1. How is the essay Down at the Cross a continuation of themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation"?
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
3. Discuss the structure of the essay and Baldwin's stylistic form of using the personal to illustrate a salient point that affects his constituency. Give several examples of this in your analysis. Who is Baldwin's audience and does this shift?
4. What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom? Are there any other terms which reoccur often in this essay which lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
6. Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 8:20 AM
36 Comments:
Daniel Palmer
March 20, 2008
English 1A 9-10AM
Today in class I was working on my James Baldwin questions essay.
These are the questions I am concidering:
1. How is the essay Down at the Cross a continuation of themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation"?
6. Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
Rudy Gonzales
8-9am Mon-Thurs
3-20-08
Midterm
Question #4: What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom? Are there any other terms which reoccur often in this essay which lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
James Baldwin, a black author, wrote Down at the Cross which in great measure discusses the feelings and perceptions how blacks and whites see each other. Through observations, and his own life experiences, especially in the church, he comes to see all the colors of America. Baldwin believes the tensions that had existed, and still exist, can only be conquered by true love and freedom. Although, Baldwin is a religious man, he does not feel we can achieve a better America from love that comes from the church; instead it has to come from within us.
Baldwin very early would question the church and what is meant by this all-loving God.
Baldwin states, “And if His love was so great and if He loved all His children, why are we, the blacks, cast down so far? Why?” (Baldwin: Collected Essays, 304-305). Baldwin does not understand how White Americans have such a privileged life, while his people are suffering. He questions to understand why there is a difference in treatment of these two races; one with opportunity and the other not. Moreover, he ponders why the church is lead by instilling fear in their people which does not invoke any sort of freedom, but yet again control. After seeing how corrupt the church was, Baldwin had to leave to save the respect he had for himself (B:CE, 309). He clearly states, “I really mean that there was no love in the church” (B:CE, 309).
Baldwin further investigates how love was expressed amongst his own people. He postulates that black people group together out of similar histories of oppression, and through this closeness almost find “a freedom that was close to love” (B:CE, 310). There may have been a freedom in being around people who think alike, but there is no love when everyone around has the same belief of the white man being equal to the devil. For example, Baldwin meets the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Muslim movement; Muhammad was finger painting a white picture while skillfully stroking a black portrait. This was discouraging for Baldwin for he had white friends who he loved dearly and trusted them whole-heartedly.
Baldwin finally begins to understand that change can only happen when we are willing to accept the past and move forward. He discusses how hard it will be for the White American to accept the Negro American as free. By giving the latter freedom would mean for the former to give into admitting the past, meaning that they were cruel people. However, Baldwin concludes that white people do not want to be seen as “the white man” because this title is charged with being the oppressor. White people want to be “released from the tyranny of [their] mirror” (B:CE, 341). They know their race is not looked at with love for their past deeds, but still want to escape from experiencing any pain or suffering. Black people, equally, need to enter into a new mindset that both “deeply need each other here if [they] are really to become a nation” (B:CE, 342).
In the end, love needs to be the dominating factor that leads the change of this nation. This nation’s motto of “freedom for all” does not ring true because everyone is not free. Baldwin knows that love is the answer that will take us there, because it will give us the liberty to let go of our past and focus on the future as human beings working together, instead of colors cohabitating. Baldwin eloquently sums up his feelings when he writes:
“The universe, which is not merely the starts and the moon and the planets, flowers, grass, and trees, but other people, has evolved no terms for your existence, has made no room for you, and if love will not swing wide the gates, no other power will or can” (B:CE, 309).
Dung Le
9-10am
1. What themes reoccur in this essay? Why do these issues concern the writer?
There are many different themes that reoccur throughout Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” essay, one of the dominant themes is oppression. As Baldwin stated,
“My friends were now “downtown,” busy as they put it, “fighting the man.” They began to care less about the way they looked, the way they dressed, they things they did; presently, one found them in twos and threes and fours, in a hallway, sharing a jug of wine or a bottle of whiskey, talking, and cursing, fighting, sometimes weeping: lost, and unable to say what it was that oppressed them, except that they knew it was “the man”-the white man (19).
The oppression caused by “the man” had great effect on the Blacks; the prelude impaction crippled them, leaving them with a lasting effect that’s very devastating. Many Blacks used the oppression as an excuse to degrade themselves, blaming “the man” for all their faults.
2. Describe how Baldwin uses repetition of certain key words or terms to drive his point home.
Baldwin uses repetition of words for comparison and description, and sometime also linking them to his own experience. This style of his has many advantages, for when he uses the words twice it capture the reader’s attention and redirect it toward the word. With the given attention he then gives two definition, one as the general definition and the other as his own. “As I look back, everything I did seem curiously deliberate, though it certainly didn’t seem deliberate then (27).”
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
The “fire” as described in Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” essay is racism and oppression. The burning is an analogy for the contagiousness of racism and oppression, for one a fire burns, it spreads. When a fire spreads, it spreads everywhere, everyone is at risk, for when it affects the Blacks, they will affect the Whites thus the continuation of a never ending cycle.
The say "Love conquers all" is commonly said and heard in our daily lives. Ironically, this is necessarily not true as James Baldwin views our society. He illustrates the stereotypes of both Blacks and Whites. In his argumentative autobiography, The Fire Next Time, the author brilliantly perceives the idea that love, instead of fear, liberates society. To truly "liberate" society, one must discover his/her individual and personal identity by learning to love.
Baldwin describes "fear" to be ignorance, and "love" as knowledge. He joined the congressional church due to fear. He was afraid to become involved with his friends who began to drink and smoke. To avoid such situations, Baldwin was driven into the church because he "supposed that God and safety were synonymous," (16). Timidity blinded him to believe
that following God's words shielded him from the evils of society. However, because of Baldwin's love for his church, he reads the Bible, only to realize that was strictly about the teachings of White people. He thought that going to the church will protect him, and shield him against what he feared. Instead of freeing the community from discrimination between
Blacks and Whites, the Bible supported the existence of racial barriers by teaching one should behave. Realizing the hierocracy involved with Christianity, the author broke away from the congressional church, to search his own way of liberating the society.
Baldwin emphasizes that liberation is love, and "love is more important than color," (71). The author states that fear created the need for power. The Nation of Islam was fearful of the Whites dominating over the Blacks; Fear always dominated the minds of black people. This fear
caused Elijah to strive for power to liberate the community. The Nation of Islam wanted absolute control of the White society. Baldwin was given the opportunity to become an influential figure in the Nation of Islam movement, he rejected Elijah Muhammad’s offer. He was totally against the belief that the movement held.
Baldwin says, "Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and we know we cannot live within," (95). Whites cannot love because they fear "to be judged by those who are not white.” Because Blacks are stereotyped to be "uncivilized", whites have the "private fears to be projected onto the Negro," (96). Fear only promotes further racism,
and the labyrinth of attitudes. He states that the problem with racial oppression will never be resolved unless the white man gives up his power.
Baldwin states that "mirrors can only lie," because they only reflect the surface of people instead of revealing the deep truth. The white people fear to see the reality, that Blacks "might bring new life to the Western achievements and transform them," (94). Whites are afraid of giving up the power they have. Until this fear of sharing the superiority disappears, love will never arise.
Baldwin declares that Blacks must reveal their true identity to achieve true liberation. However, this task is merely impossible because Blacks are in an "endless struggle to achieve and reveal and confirm a human identity," (98). He states that policies and laws in the past have caused fear by "humiliation" and "torture," (98). Blacks only feed into the myth that White men are more superior by being dependent on Whites. The author states that Blacks, too, must "achieve authority," (99) to "play...and reveal more about America," (101) and to be fairly recognized in society.
James Baldwin is one of the premier essayists of his time. He draws on his experiences in a straightforward, unapologetic manner, which helps achieve his purpose in The Fire Next Time. His style elucidates his arguments for racial harmony and for the understanding of other religions.
The Fire Next Time is a remarkable showcase of Baldwin's talents. His collection of essays is clear, potent, and to the point. To strengthen his argument, Baldwin considers different points of view, black and white, Muslim and Christian. He pushes for both races to compromise their strong views and come to an agreement on many civil rights issues.
Some of the key elements of Baldwin's style include structure, diction, and literary devices. His complex structure includes long sentences and many clauses. His diction is elevated. Baldwin's heavy use of allusions, particularly biblical allusions, shows him to be a well-educated man and draws extensively on the rich oratorical heritage of the African-American church.
Baldwin's elevated diction shows that he is an educated man. He has a great vocabulary with which to express his ideas. In saying that white America is out of touch with the rest of the world, he writes, "It is this individual uncertainty on the part of the white American men and women, this inability to renew themselves at the fountain of their own lives, that make the discussion, let alone elucidation, of any conundrum--that is, any reality--so supremely difficult," (43).
Baldwin wrote about the Muslim movement in very educated terms. He writes, "Yet I could have hoped that the Muslim movement had been able to inculcate in the demoralized Negro population a truer and more individual sense of its own worth, so that Negroes in the Northern ghettos could begin, in concrete terms, and at whatever price, to change their situation," (81).
Baldwin's essays are strongly supported by allusions and other literary devices. These allusions indicate that he is a learned man. Baldwin traces his roots back to Ham with an allusion from the Bible. "I knew that, according to many Christians, I was a descendent of Ham, who had been cursed, and that I was predestined to be a slave" (36). Baldwin uses synecdoche when talking about a loaf of bread representing the larger state of black America. "It will be a great day for America, incidentally, when we begin to eat bread again, instead of the blasphemous and tasteless foam rubber that we have substituted for it" (43).
Baldwin's style has helped him become a well-known and respected essayist. The masterful prose style which is so distinctive of Baldwin combines certain stylistic elements with a powerful argument for basic human rights in The Fire Next Time.
Bianca Jauregui
English 1A 8-9am
MIDTERM: Question # 2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
James Baldwin at first did not really think much of Elijah Muhammad. He had heard about him along with others ever since he could remember and the speeches never stood out to him. James thought that everything Elijah would say was unoriginal because he would here so many speeches and they all sounded the same to him. Also when he would hear about "Dismissed the Nation of Islam's demand for Black economy in America," it was all nonsense to James. (p.48)To him everything was about the same issue, the same story and everything. But as time went by and situations changed, James noticed how people were reacting to Elijah Mohammad and thats when his view on him started to change.
The first issue that caused James to start listening to the speeches was the attitude of the police. There was so much police brutality going on, and for no reason. James noticed how police's attitudes changed from when they would be in power to when they were over-powered by people.Then secondly, James was surprised to see how the crowd reacted to Elijah and the speeches he gave. He noticed that the speeches were deeper then just words. These words were affecting the listeners. Like James said, " the speakers had an air of utter dedication, and the people looked towards them with a kind of intelligence of hope on their faces-not as though they were being consoled or drugged but as though they were being jolted." (p.49) Power was what Elijah along with other speakers provided their followers with!
The Nation of Islam also took a great part in how James Baldwins attitude changed. With the Nation of Islam, James along with followers were given proof that whites were "cursed and are devils, and are about to be brought down." (p.49) It was said that the white man would lose complete power in about 10 to 15 years. The Nation of Islam was like a back bone for people, it was like a security blanket, to let them feel that everything would be ok, and that their would be change in the future for the better!
Sushil Pathak
English 1A
8-9AM
Midterm Question#2
Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its
weaknesses?
James Baldwin, a black american writer wrote the non fiction book, “ The Fire Next Time” comprising 2 essays in letter form which was published in 1963. The first essay is “My dungeon shook, a letter addressed to his 14 year old nephew and namesake, james, who represents the younger generation for blacks struggling for Civil Rights. The second essay is “Down At The Cross,” where Bladwin appraising the Black Islam Movement writes his personal beliefs and thought about the movement and comes with the striking conclusion that the black people has been formed by this nation(America), for better or for worse , and does not belong to any other-not to Africa, and certainly not to Islam.(Baldwin pg81)
In the second essay baldwin writes about meeting with Elijah Muhammad and his Black Muslim Movement. Honorable Elijah Muhammad was a leader of Black Muslim movement and was trying to convince the black people to join Islam to end the Devil’s(white people’s) rule. But Baldwin thinks the other way. He thinks that the movement against white people is full of hatred and hate can no way change the situation. Not only that , baldwin thinks that the logic given by honorable Elijah Muhammad to convince the black people to join islam has no point. Baldwin thinks whatever Elijah has been able to do, is not truly done by him, but the time and circumstances has done that. “Well, in a way- and I have no wish to minimize his peculiar role and his peculiar achievement- it is not he who has done it but time.”(Baldwin pg51)
Baldwin experience with the christian chruch prior to his meeting with Elijah helped him analyze the Nation Of Islam. During the meeting with Bladwin, Elijah speaks a lot about the deeds of white people trying to prove them as devil and at the same time trying to convince Baldwin, a black man, to join their movement. Elijah comes with one point after the other in the meeting to convince baldwin to join the movement. Elijah believes that black people were only the reason god(Allah) permitted America to endure so long also states that there were no single white men at the beginning of the earth. According to Elijah, god allowed deivls to carry out experiment thereby mistakely creating whiteman(Devil.)
“Allah allowed the devils,through his scientists, to carry on infernal experiments, which resulted , finally, in the creation of devil known as white man.”(Baldwin pg67). The bottom line of Elijah Muhammad and theire movement was to join the black people to Islam by which they thought they can destroy the regime of Devils(white people). But Baldwin thinks the idea as a recipe being used by Elijah to change the mind of black people to join Islam. “There is nothing new in this merciless formulation expect the explicitness of its symbols and the candor of its hatred.”(Baldwin pg67). Elijah’s heart and mind full of hate to white people cannot convince baldwin and he thinks that love should come before the seggregation and one has to love each other before hating each other for color. “I love a few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn’t love more important than color?”(Baldwin pg71).Baldwin thinks the most dangerous creation on earth is the one who has nothing to lose and Elijah is one of them. After seeing his father Lynched before his eyes, baldwin thinks elijah had nothing to lose and is very dangerously determined in his mission. “ And Elijah, I should imagine, has had nothing to lose since the day he saw his father’s blood rush out-rush down, and splash, so the legend has it,down through the leaves of a tree, on him.”(Baldwin pg71)
By and large, The Fire Next Time” is a historical document of a tubulent era and a sublime piece of literary craftmanship. Living during the time when nation of Islam was growing power and Elijah was a topic of conservation everywhere, baldwin did not believe what Elijah Muhammad had to say. Baldwin thought Elijah Muhammad, while leading the Nation Of Islam destroyed the credibility of organised religions.
Nadia Hassan
English 1A
8-9
Midterm Question
Q:2 talk about Baldwin’s extensive analysis of the efficiency of the Honorable Elijah Mohammed and The Nation Of Islam approaches to the racial inequities in this essay down at the cross. What does he see as it strengths and it weaknesses?
James Baldwin’s thought of the honorable Elijah Mohammed and the Nation Of Islam Movement was that he paid very little attention of what he heard because the burden of he’s messages did not strike on how he was being very original. He dismissed the Nation Of Islam demand for separate black economy in America, which he thought a mischievous nonsense. He seen how polices officers weren’t doing nothing because they were stunned what the black Muslims were doing. The Nation of Islam had historical and divine proof that all white people are cursed and are devils and are about to be brought down. (pg49)
The strengths that James saw in Elijah Mohammed was a that he saw what welfare workers and committees and resolution and reports and housing projects and playgrounds have failed to do to heal and redeem drunkards and junkies, to covert people who have come out of prison and to keep them out, to make men chaste and women virtuous, and to invest both male and female with a pride and serenity that hang about them like an unfailing light. He had done all these things which the Christian church has failed to do. (pg51) he seen that Elijah Mohammed was making a big impact on how people were now situated and how more there getting to believe what he always perched about how white people are devils. But the weakness he saw was that, The Nation Of Islam always putted white people down and said how black people shouldn’t talk or be friends with them. He had them in there own box.
James had a meeting with Elijah Mohammed at his house. He saw a big difference up close and personal. He imagined someone very powerful and big. He saw a small and slender really very delicately put together with a thin face, large warm eyes and a most winning smile.(pg63) it very true when you see someone very small that people always make them look very big and powerful. He had dinner with them and James expressed how he wasn’t with the church anymore and they seen where he was coming from.. For a second he thought they wanted him to join. But that wasn’t his plan. He was a writer and didn’t want to get involved in that. James saw the good and the bad from Elijah Mohammed. When you read the book you always catch his name somewhere remembering on what he said or thought of him.
Dominique West
English 1A
Sabir 8am-9am
March 24, 2008
Baldwin Midterm
Question:What themes reoccur in the essay? Why do these issues concern the author?
In James Baldwin’s, “The Fire Next Time.” I can’t help but notice the intensity when in discussion on the church. Most churches are the basis of who we are when growing up. It tells us how we should live our lives and why we should follow it according to Gods plan. Baldwin analyzes and gives personal experience in dealing with the church in its entirety.
“I rushed home from school to the church, to the altar, to be alone there, to commune with Jesus, my dearest friend, who would never fail me, who knew all the secrets of my heart.”(Pg.34). Many people when dealing with the church felt this way. Baldwin had this experience and when you’ve been doing it for so long it seems as though it is the way of life. The way Baldwin describes it church soon becomes the life that he lead. He was consumed with it and it made him, it was who he was. This daily routine soon became habit and it felt so right, because it was what was right.
There does come a time as a Christian when your faith is tested. Baldwin had just that test. When he began going to school and handing out leaflets he noticed that others were laughing. “This meant that I was surrounded by people who were, by definition, beyond any hope of salvation, who laughed at the tracts and leaflets I brought to school, and who pointed out that th Gospels had been written long after the death of Christ.”(Pg.35). That information would make a Christian man and woman want to find out how true this could be. That’s when Baldwin decided to read the leaflets himself. Through reading them he found a sort of “blackmail” in them. Why would he feel this way? As he put it, “People, I felt, ought to love the Lord because they loved him, and not because they were afraid of going to Hell.”(Pg.35). It’s like saying in order for things to happen for you, you have to first please me to get what you want or this and that will happen to you.
It was when he realized that the bible had been written by white men that he saw a problem. It was as if black people were descendants of Ham. Ham was cursed in the bible and so happened to be a black man. And he was to forever be in the bottom of the barrel. It was like Christianity believed that black people were to be at the bottom no matter what and things would never change.
This issue seems to concern the writer because this still happens today. There are people who question the Christian religion and what it really is. Which is why many people covert to other religions. There seems to be many potholes in the religion and what’s supposed to be there and what its really supposed to stand for. It’s hard to decipher what’s supposed to be real and what’s not. Reading the bible will make a person question what is the bible really saying about the black race. What things could be misinterpreted? What things are not being said? What needs to be said when reading the bible and being apart of the Christian religion?
I just remember I forgot to but my name under mine!
Deon Johnson is Deon J
English 1A 8-9am
Aiko Nillo
Eng.1a
9-10am
James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time discusses Baldwin’s experience during the 60's; in which, a lot of turmoil between African Americans and whites were at the height of their battle. Baldwin analyzes the effect of this rift between African Americans and whites; and the effect it will have and has had in America. The title of this essay comes from a passage in the bible; its about how the world was destroyed by the great flood, then an earthquake, and now it will be destroyed by “fire.” The “fire” that is produced between these two races.
“The price of this transformation is the unconditional freedom of the Negro; it is not too much to say that he, who has been so long rejected, must now be embraced, and a no matter what psychic or social risk, he is the key figure in his country, and the American future is precisely as bright or as dark as his. And the Negro recognizes this, in a negative way. Hence the question: Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?”(pg. 94)
Baldwin here discusses the African American’s role in the future of America. Baldwin explains that for the future of America and the welfare of the people living there, they must liberate the African Americans. Because without a united nation, America will not be able to move forward. It will be caught by the burning fury of African Americans and whites. Therefore the future of America is in great risk.
Not only America as a nation is in great risk, but the people living there is in great risk as well. Baldwin discusses this in the beginning of his essay; as a child he experiences this but tries to avoid it by attending church. It was either the church or the streets. The streets were full of pimps, drugs, and junkies which he did not want to be part of. But as he discovers, the churches were the same. The ministers fed the church-goers “the word” and were paid by their donations. Like the drug dealers feeding the junkies with drugs. As soon as he saw this he left the church and pursued writing. He was one of the lucky ones that were not caught in the “fire.”
Therefore to rid of these great risks in America; African Americans must be liberated. “The price of the blacks-the total liberation, in the cities, in the towns, before the law, and in the mind.”(pg. 97) And if this was not pushed forward the “fire” would continue to be fed and grow.
Kenton Low
3/24/08
1A: MTWR – 8 – 9 AM
Professor Wanda Sabir
James Baldwin Midterm 1: Question #4 – What does Baldwin means by love and freedom?
Are there any other terms in this essay? What lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
The saying "Love conquers all" is commonly known, heard in our daily lives. Ironically, this is necessarily not true in the way James Baldwin views our society. In his argumentative autobiography, The Fire Next Time, he brilliantly perceives the idea that love, instead of fear, liberates society. To truly "liberate" society, one must discover his/her individual and personal identity by learning to love.
Baldwin emphasizes a specific example, The Nation of Islam being overrun by Whites. Because The Nation of Islam feared a complete overhaul of their culture, instead of answering the call to end continued power struggles with hate and violence, they people relied upon love. Baldwin states that liberation is love, and "love is more important than color" (71). The bigger picture is to realize that fear should not be met with more fear, hate, and violence, but with love and acceptance.
However, Baldwin does not just limit himself to a concrete example. His style of writing includes many key literary devices, including allusions and complex sentence structure, which allows for a more elevated diction; in turn, this aids the communication between Blacks and Whites. This shows his devotion not only to his craft, but coming to terms that he must speak in a language Whites understand. His heavy use of allusions, particularly biblical allusions, shows him to be a well-educated, Christian man who draws extensively on the rich oratorical heritage of the African-American Church. Much like Jesus, these allusions added to Baldwin’s original critique that love liberates society.
Baldwin, in his later studies, learned that the Church and its teachings were usually not geared toward Blacks. In his life, Baldwin used the Church to escape from friends who drank and smoked. The Church, in his eyes, "supposed that God and safety were synonymous" (16). However, timidity blinded him to believe that following God's words shielded him from the evils of society. He realized that the teachings of the Church were strictly about the teachings of White people; the Word discriminated and chained him and his community to even more hardships.
To finalize, Baldwin clearly mentions that to be free, to be liberated from the chains of society, one must not deliver words of hate, but rather practice love. Rather than put up arms of violence, one must exercise the patience of love. Love, as a tool, can penetrate even the greatest evils and withstand violence. People are moved by emotions, as love speaks to their inner soul. Violence and hate on the other hand only serve to demolish, never to repair. If people can learn to love others, then we can truly hope for a more tolerant and accepting society.
Marty Burgess
English 1A, 9-10AM
Midterm
3. Race and power are spoken of endlessly in this essay. Locate a place in the text that defines and fleshes out these terms.
In “Down At The Cross” race and power are common themes that Baldwin often discusses in tandem. Race and power have long been associated with each other in the United States. People in power and positions of authority have been white since the beginning of this country and have been reluctant to give up that power. In many cases prior to the end of the civil rights movement, violently so. This power disparity between races fueled feelings of inadequacy in some and superiority in others. This view was unfortunately, widely held by those in power as well as by those who feared this power.
Baldwin was not one to accept these long-held beliefs. He knew they were unjust and said what many were afraid to. He said,
“White people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived, had no moral ground on which to stand. They had the judges, the juries, the shotguns, the law—in a word, power” (23).
He spoke out against the many injustices that had been put upon blacks over the years. He challenged society’s belief system and illustrated that the power of those in authority is shaken when anyone refuses to accept the world as it is. Many great civil rights leaders also illustrated this point and in turn, made great strides towards changing our country’s belief system and eliminating the power disparity between the races. It is still an issue today but the changes that have been wrought are powerful and hopefully are indications of future strides in the right direction.
4. What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom?
The discussion of love and freedom occurs frequently in the text of “Down At The Cross”.
The best illustration of this connection is when Baldwin says, “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within” (95). He tells us that love is freedom. Love is a leap of faith that frees us from the constraints that fear binds us with. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great promoter of “loving your enemies” which can often be difficult but provides a freedom from the hate one might otherwise feel. It shouldn’t matter what your enemy feels towards you, love is meant to be unconditional and therefore, it neither requires a “thank you” nor does it need to be earned.
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
The title of James Baldwin’s work, The Fire Next Time, connects directly to the essay “Down at the Cross” contained within it. The “fire” referred to is karma and the future destruction of our world, much like the great flood of biblical times. Noah and the Ark is a familiar story for many, Christian or not. God flooded the earth to cleanse it of its evils, but Baldwin hints that this time, fire will be the element to cleanse the earth. This “fire” is inevitable unless people risk everything to work to change our society for the better (105). To end racism and change the world. The burning is what we shall suffer without this change.
When a fire burns, it spreads, and that means every American is at risk. The racism in our country has affected every aspect of our community. It has led to distrust and separation. We shall remain the tinder to the flames unless we work together. Americans need to dampen themselves with awareness and to shower others with the knowledge that change is necessary. Our very survival depends on it. Damp tinder cannot be lit and in that natural truth lies our salvation.
Faraj Fayad
English 1a
9-10am
Midterm:
4. What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom? Are there any other terms which reoccur often in this essay which lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
The Fire Next Time is a great book full of deep thoughts and true feelings. James Baldwin witnessed and felt a lot of hatred and negative actions pushed towards him as a black man from white people in his birth place Harlem, New York. We see from his point of view, how things began to change for Baldwin as he turned fourteen years old. He went through a lot of unearthly times and odd changes, which made him feel depraved about the fact that he was surrounded by segregation and hate in his community. Nowhere around peace, Baldwin tries to avoid racism and confusion of religion while seeking to find love and freedom between whites and blacks.
Living in a corrupt community, caused Baldwin to become more involved in church, knowing that, that was the only way to avoid ending up like other blacks whom gave up on life because of "the man", the white man. Staying away from the trouble going on around him he participated in church activities and became religious, putting the word "safety" in the same category as " religion". "The word 'safety' brings us to the real meaning of the word 'religious' as we use it." he quotes. "I supposed that God and safety were synonymous" (Baldwin 16). He also knew that he had to stay in school in order to avoid ending up like his friends whom dropped out of school and either looked for jobs or became drug attics. His father wanted him to do quit going to school and get a job, claiming that there was no way he could get educated in all the racism around them. But Baldwin refused.
Baldwin believed that the white person needed to know and love himself before passing that love on to another. That if a white man learned what he was really worth in the world, then all, "White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they achieved this-which will not be tomorrow and may very well be never-the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it for it will no longer be needed."(Baldwin 22)
As Baldwin grew older he began to question religion. Jewish class mates in the school he attended pointed out to him that gospel singing didn't exist too long ago, and that the Christian religion was changed as time passed. So Baldwin began to have second thoughts about becoming religious. "I was in some thing of a bind, for I really could not say-could not allow myself to be stampeded into saying-that I was a Christian. 'I? Now? Nothing.' this was not enough" (Baldwin 70). He began to notice that the church he attended seemed to differ from the church that whites took part in because in his church they seemed to pray for a reason such as freedom, but white people's prayers were meaningless.
Baldwin later met the Nation of Islam's leader Elijah Muhammad, whom represented the religion of Islam and believed Allah was different from God. He believed that Allah was the black people's leader and God was for whites. He also believed that the white man was a devil, due to all the racism he went through in his life time. Even though Baldwin says he has white friends whom he loves, Elijah says, "the real reason Baldwin failed to realize the white man was a devil, that he had been too long exposed to white teaching and had never received true instruction" (Baldwin 66).
Baldwin wanted to show that both black and white people needed each other in a community where the both are so close to one another. And that they needed to let love not hate come between them even though its a big doubt that love will over power it in such a time in life. He states, "The Negro came to the white man for a roof or for five dollars or for a letter to the judge; the white man came to the Negro for love. But he was not often able to give what he came seeking. The price was too high; he had too much to lose. And the Negro knew this, too.When one knows this about a man, it is impossible for one to hate him, but also impossible for one to love him" (Baldwin 102).
Even though Baldwin felt there would never be a love bond between black and white people, he surly had faith in it happening or else he wouldn't have complained about it. Like every body who is a "people lover" or peaceful, of course Baldwin wants love to spread all over the U.S. Through love and trust there is freedom and Baldwin quotes, " I am very much concerned that American Negroes achieve their freedom here on the United States" (83). Love and freedom need to roam the skies and cover the earth with their shadows in order for change to happen and result in a sovereign nation.
Answered all 6
Erica Marshall
English 1A
M-Th 9-10
1. How is the essay Down at the Cross a continuation of themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation"?
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
3. Discuss the structure of the essay and Baldwin's stylistic form of using the personal to illustrate a salient point that affects his constituency. Give several examples of this in your analysis. Who is Baldwin's audience and does this shift?
4. What does Baldwin mean by love and freedom? Are there any other terms which reoccur often in this essay which lend themselves to critique and greater analysis?
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
6. Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
1) James Baldwin’s Down At the Cross was a continuation of certain themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation. Confusion Mr. Baldwin felt as a young black child growing up in the ghetto was expressed through experienced premonition. He made sure to tell his nephew the things he probably wished his father had told him. Passing along the idea that just because society says you’re worthless because of your skin color doesn’t mean you are is one of the main points that Baldwin puts in his letter and essay. He knew when he was writing that letter that his nephew would face the same stereotypical labels that he had to conquer. By relating to his nephew through past experiences, he lent a helping hand that read, ‘You can do anything you want to, no matter what anyone says’.
2) James Baldwin was quite impressed by Elijah Mohammed. He could see that his followers truly loved him, trusted him, and followed his word as literally as he meant it to be. Mr. Baldwin agreed with a lot of the facts that Mr. Mohammed spoke of, like the ploy of keeping people down by providing little to no education. He enjoyed the well thought out ideas Elijah Mohammed had, but was uneasy when he was asked questions passively, and spoken about as if he weren’t there. Mr. Baldwin was also made uncomfortable, and forced to disagree with the though that all whites are the devil (Mr. Baldwin was going to meet some of those white devils right after his meeting with Elijah Mohammed). The militant form of black empowerment also involved a complete division of races, which Mr. baldwin strongly disagreed with. Although Whites were the main oppressors, seperation and hate wasn’t going to fix any problems that our society faced.
3) I think that Baldwin’s use of testimonials is the best way he could get through to the audience. With someone telling their own story from their own experience, the reader can identify with that person on a more human level. Emotions, frustrations, and all of the other emotions impact a reader greatly if the story is told well and from a logical viewpoint. I think that Baldwin was talking to a broad audience. In one essay, he is able to relate to people who have gone through or still are going through the struggles he endured, and also enlighten the unknowing. He is able to place you in his position and articulate very complex problems. He also approaches problems that we might ignore and puts critically thought out ideas on the page, giving reasons and answers for the dilemma at hand.
4) Love and freedom mean basically translates into accepting yourself, and knowing who you are (aspirations, hopes, dreams). Without love and freedom, young black men and women could easily get lost or caught up in the “places” assigned. Baldwin himself had to defeat the odds as a young man, growing up in the inner city. The lucrative services that being a young black man offered (and still do) were not tempting to Mr. Baldwin. I think he took an automatic dislike to those who assumed he would fall into place, and he did everything he could to personally protest, by not giving them the time of day. Another recurring term in this essay is the Jewish community. I think that this is important because Baldwin makes mention to friends of his who were Jews, then references to landlords and storeowners. There was a direct comparison to Jews in America who were treated a “white”, and then a reminder that Jews were going through a horrid genocide right then halfway across the world. I think these themes are important because they help prove that anyone in the world, no matter their color, can and probably have been treated in ways that make you cringe. This, of course, doesn’t excuse any of it. But there are variations of negative behavior, and although the Jewish community has suffered through a lot, when they came here, it was on their own free will. This allotted them opportunities not given to the American Blacks, hence the references about landlords and storeowners. Elijah Muhammed said it right at the dinner table when he mentioned that no man has ever been respected who didn’t own his own land, and I think that the correlation between Black and Jewish people helped realize that.
5) The term “fire” implies that what will happen if things aren’t changed. Baldwin talks to the “relatively conscience whites and blacks” who need to “end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country”. The phrase is a prophecy, made into a song from the bible by a slave. “God gave Noah the rainbow, No more water, the fire next time!” Well, you need water for a rainbow, so I’ll assume that the fire is what wreks all. The rainbow is beautiful and rewarding, and we live because of water, but the fire is destructive. So I think Baldwin used a great line to end this essay, and he wants us to use the rainbow to our advantage, not the fire which gives a false sense of power.
6) Baldwin “surrendered to a spiritual seduction” because of the personal protest he held against the pimps and drug dealers of his time. He saw church as a pure place that didn’t want to see him doing anything bad, but quite the opposite. His father was quite religious, also, but his friend is the one who eventually got him to participate deeply in the church. He enjoyed giving sermons and telling the word. He didn’t enjoy the obvious blasphemy that occurred, with the minister riding around in a nice luxury car while the poor people who sat in the pews every week gave as much as they could for that car to be afforded. No religion is perfect, and when you think one is, the more you know the more you may disagree with its ethics. Baldwin got a lot of positive from the church, and although he was turned off, he has his life to thank. Having that one good option there helped him and many others to accomplish a life that was worth more than ho’s and getting high. It also helped him see true human nature. He learned that you can find good in the bad, and bad in the good. Nobody’s perfect and no religion is always right.
Yolanda Gil
English 1A 9-10
Midterm
Question#6
In the early 1960’s, James Baldwin wrote an essay entitled, “Down At The Cross” which it was published in 1963, in the book entitle, The Fire Next Time. James Baldwin wrote the essay based on his life experience. James grew up in a poor environment in Harlem, New York. At the age of fourteen, James discovers that in order to avoid the criminal life stile he has been witnessing through out his life, he needed to find some kind of gimmick (38). Therefore, he finds church as the only gimmick he has as a source to evade sin and delinquency.
After joining the church, James decided to be more than only a worshiper; he became a minister. Consequently, his experience with the other ministers from the church helped him realize the church was another form of criminal behavior. Before he became a minister he thought in relation to church, as the equivalent of safety; however, the reality was different. The church was a very lucrative business that took advantage of poor black people that were desperate to be saved from Hell. James was a participant of making sure of getting the last dime of the worshipers. James acknowledges “and I knew where all the money for the ‘Lord’s Work’ went” (55-56). The money collected was not used to help the poor; it was used to help the minister to acquire luxuries, in the expense of hard working people. He wished he had not found out about the inside operation of the church because that made him part of the dishonest group.
James saw that there was no love involved with the church. He was told to love everybody but with restrictions. James states:
When we were told to love everybody, I had thought that meant everybody. But no. It applied to those who believed as we did, and it did not apply to white people at all. I was told by a minister, for example, that I should never, on any public conveyance, under any circumstances, rise and give my seat to a white woman… But what was the point, the purpose, of my salvation if it did not permit me to behave with love towards others, no matter how they behave toward me? (58).
This statement shows how confusing it was for a teenager to believe in loving everybody and at the same time not to love everybody.
In the time of three years, James found church as a gimmick to escape from the Avenues. James experienced with the church proved him that no matter where people seek to have an honest and peaceful life corruption disrupts it. Teenagers were easy targets of scrupulous people in the Avenues, in which crime, prostitution, drugs, and all sort of misbehavior were an everyday performance. James describes in his essay, how hard it is for black teenagers to avoid being the next victims of tradition that for generations has consumed them into living in the same environment. The reason to the same cycle of poverty for blacks was the oppression blacks received not only from white supremacist but from their own kind. James states “Black people, mainly, look down or look up but do not look at each other, not at you, and white people, mainly, look away” (45-46). As a result, James had to look for something else than what he has seen during his life. He wanted to live but not under the same environment his friends were about to embark.
Angelica Watson
March 24, 2008
8-9 am English 1A
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
James Baldwin talks a lot about Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam in the essay “The Fire Next Time”. He points out something most people find uncommon in society, where men and women are concerned. When he arrived at Muhammad’s home the men where sitting on one side and the women sat on the other. The men and women did not sit at the same table when it was time to eat and they barely spoke to the women at all(p.322-323). He explains that in prehistoric time black men ruled and there were no white people. Allah allowed the Devil to experiment and that’s how white men and women came to be. The white man would only be able to rule for a certain thousand number of years, then the power would be restored to the black man(p.325).Baldwin noticed, when he was eating dinner at Muhammad’s home, that everyone seemed to agree with everything Muhammad said. Baldwin agrees with things the Muslims believe in but in some ways he does not.
And when I sat at Elijah’s table and watched the baby, the women, and the men, and we talked about God’s – or Alla’s – vengeance, I wondered, when that vengeance was achieved, What will happen to all that beauty then? I could also see that the intransigence and ignorance of the white world might make that vengeance inevitable.(p.346)
This is an example of how Baldwin does not agree with the way the Nation of Islam handles things. Their way of thinking is different. They call white people the devil and Baldwin does not think of them in this way. They have so much hatred against white people that is blinding them in a way to see the equality in people of being treated equally. What will happen if black man ruled and how would it be different? Most men of the Muslim faith have not thought this through. Isn’t vengeance a sin in the bible? We as black people have our freedom we just don’t get treated the same as most other races. I can agree with this statement, “What manner of consolation is it to be told that emigrants arriving here – voluntarily – long after you did have risen far above you”(p. 321). It is unfair to black people to know that the white man accepts so many other races but rejects the races that where here from the beginning. It’s amazing how other races benefited off of the black movement for equality.
Baldwin agrees “Things are as bad as the Muslims say they are – in fact, they are worse, and the Muslims do not help matters – but there is no reason that black men should be expected to be more patient, more forebearing, more farseeing than whites”(p.321). Black men should be able to stand up for what they believe in. The black man shouldn’t have to fight everyday to get the respect of white men. Black men shouldn’t have to resort to a nonviolence campaign there shouldn’t have been a reason for sit ins or boycotts. But he disagrees how Muslims want to get that respect. Muslims disrespect black people by putting white people down because isn’t that exactly what the white man has done to black people. All the hatred toward white people is unneccesary. We as black people should be able to over come and show that we are more mature and treat everyone the same. The saying is “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” Some how through our struggle we have forgotten that. We can not punish all white people for the way their ancestors treated our ancestors.
Female Inferiority
After investigating my topic, I found that the idea of women being labeled as the “weaker” sex is quite interesting. My decision to approach this topic is due to the fact that my female friends occasionally labeled me as a “sexist”. Therefore, I am curious as to how men would consider women as the weaker sex. Simone de Beauvoir confronts the problem women have to face under the subordination of men in her manifesto, Woman as Other. During the 1980s, society challenged the long standing traditions that undermined women’s rights as shown in Alice Walker: A Life by Evelyn C White. Women are viewed to some extent as “inferior” and are still being exploited by men today because women are physically weaker and lack the power to reshape society, stereotypes, and cultures molded by men.
Women are incapable of bringing change into the men’s world because they can find no common grounds to which they can unite themselves under. For instance, women are powerless to rally a cause because, “the reason for this is that women lack concrete means for organizing themselves into a unit which can stand face to face with the correlative unit” (Beauvoir 3). Women as a whole are separated by their socioeconomic status; whereas for instance rich women cannot sympathize with the needs of poor women. Unlike the slaves and the proletariats who formed inseparable bonds forged by the hatred that they have toward their oppressors, some women are bound to love their male counterparts. Therefore, a revolution against the patriarchal societal structure is only a fantasy in the minds of women because they lack the ability to affiliate with one another. Women’s differences do not limit to only socioeconomic status but to their ethnicity as well. Alice Walker invented the word womanism specifically only for black feminists, “Betty Friedan? She who, in a 1972 initiative with the National Women’s Political Caucus, reputedly announced her plans to appear in Harlem with a “Traveling Watermelon Feast” to distribute to residents. Of that brand of “feminism,” women of color wanted no part” (White 378). Betty Friedan, a white woman activist simply could not relate with the other black woman activists because their views and preferences are not the same. In fact, some white feminists look down upon black feminists; this causes tension to rise and therefore, women as a whole are not likely to cooperate together. As a result, women are not able to unite as a whole to change society because factors such as status and ethnicity serves as an obstacle.
Woman fall constantly to stereotypes because men reinforce these believes through social conventions. Alice Walker referenced a 1970’s-era quote from the boxing champion Muhammad Ali about women’s equality he responded ‘some professions shouldn’t be open to women because they can’t handle certain jobs like construction work. Lesbians, maybe but not women’ (White 412). Muhammad Ali was clearly underestimating a woman’s ability to carry out laborious duties. In fact lesbians are women; this stereotype really affects females psychologically and causes them to fall under these sorts of degrading prejudices. Thus, these negative stereotypes lead women to believe that society commands them to take up “inferior” roles such as housecleaning because they seem feminine. These stereotypes also lead men to believe that domestic chores are the only thing women is good at. Alice Walker’s dad believes that women’s work belongs in the household, “The way Daddy saw it, cooking and cleaning was women’s work,’ Ruther remembered. “So, my brothers really didn’t have to lift a finger around the house, Alice sure enough told Daddy that she thought it was unfair” (White 173). Alice Walker’s dad and brothers are males, they carry less weight on their shoulders than Alice and her sister because they carry the dominant status as males. Since Alice’s dad enforced traditional values, her brothers are able to take advantage of her by not doing any housework. However, Alice as a little girl was not willing to accept her predestined role as a cleanup maid and therefore was able to defy her father’s beliefs. As a result, women are only considered inferior if they fall under the negative stereotypes created by men.
Lastly, women are considered inferior because they are more susceptible to sexual assaults and homicides. For example, Alice Walker was appalled when she found out that sixteen female activists were murdered, “what about the sixteen unidentified females bodies? ... Absolute silence…Then the answer comes, in a tone of impatience as if I were politically retarded. Those were obviously sex murders. Those weren’t political (White 286). Sixteen dead female bodies clearly shows that men can easily overpower women in terms of strength. Women can only receive power when men are willing to grant them power and therefore, most husbands have control over their wife. Hypothetically speaking, men that are corrupted without morals are a threat to women because he can overwhelm her anytime and do anything he pleases being the stronger one. Women who are assaulted are known to have a hard time trying to defend themselves against their perpetrators. Though, a few women are able to defend themselves against their assailants, the majority of the women fall prey to their sexual predators. As a result, men view women as the inferior ones because they are subjected to rape and sexual assaults.
Culture has a huge impact on the way people view the female sex; in most societies, men are known for their positive traits where as women only represents the negative. De Beauvoir elaborates on the notion of the negative feminine culture, “we should regard the female nature as afflicted with a natural defectiveness and St Thomas for his part pronounced woman to be an ‘imperfect man’, an ‘incidental’ being. This symbolized in Genesis where Eve is depicted as made from what Bossuet called ‘a supernumerary bone’ of Adam (Beauvoir 2). Culture in many societies taught that men should immediately be praised for their positive traits such as strength and power. Culture also taught that women are cursed with ovaries and represents all evil. Furthermore, religion also taught that women are made from Adam’s unwanted extra ribs. In the Chinese culture a similar comparison can be made; men representing the Yin while women are depicted as the Yang. Women are heavily criticized for things they do not commit and for small trivial matters. Alice Walker talks about a woman who informs her husband the unfairness of his criticisms towards her, ‘You are going to take the blame for every wrong you do and stop blaming it on me… and everybody else for fifty miles around …. You going to respect my house… and you ain’t never going to call me ugly or black or nigger or bitch again’ (White 186). Women are generally blamed and condemned for the same offense as carried out by men. In this case, the woman is letting her husband know that it is not fair for him to condemn her for no adequate reasons. Men who committed the same offense are usually overlooked and these offenses can range from sex, rape, relationships and disloyalty. Culture has already taught the people that women are inferior and thus this degrading message will continue throughout generations.
After researching this topic, I am quite relieved that I was born into this world as a male. Women are without question suffering from physical and mental abuse at the hands of their male counterparts. Women today are still viewed to some extend as inferior because they cannot successfully challenge a society and its rules created and enforced by men
Christina Thoss
English 1A 9-10 AM
Midterm Question #2
2. Talk about Baldwin’s extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam’s approach to that of racial inequities in this essay “Down at the Cross”. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
In his essay “Down at the Cross”, African American author, James Baldwin speaks of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam and an acclaimed prophet who declared to have a revelation of truth straight from Allah. In Baldwin’s essay he analyzes the differences and similarities and strengths and weaknesses between Christianity and the Nation of Islam and the ways both handled the impact of racism and the inequalities it brought along.
James Baldwin speaks about his encounter with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and how the Nation of Islam lured in many blacks due to their exhibition of love, power, and pride. Baldwin focused little attention on the speeches the Muslims emitted to the Harlem residents every Saturday night about the need for separate black economies and the wrong-doings of the white man, for he had heard similar speeches several times before. Soon before long though he began to open up his ears to the compelling voices of the Muslim speakers, for two things caused him to do so: the way the policemen were just standing back, not doing a thing about the speakers, and second how the speakers had such dedication about them and their effect on the Harlem audience. “Still, the speakers had an air of utter dedication, and the people looked toward them with a kind of intelligence of hope on their faces—not as though they were being consoled or drugged but as though they were being jolted.” (Baldwin Collected Essays 314)
James Baldwin along with many other inspirited listeners was offered chronicled and holy proof that every white man and woman were considered infernal devils that were soon going to be defeated. (Baldwin Collected Essays 315) Allah had announced this theory to His profit the Honorable Elijah Muhammad who had passed it on to his followers. Many were changed by the powerful message of Elijah Muhammad and had great faith that things were soon going to change among their white-oppressed community.
Having a very influential and prevailing impact on his followers and listeners, Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam had many strengths. These strengths included: power, dedication, strong determination, love, hope, pride, optimism, courage, etc. According to Baldwin, “Power was the subject of the speeches I heard.” (315) So power was a main strength the Nation held in Baldwin’s eyes. In his essay, James Baldwin contrasts the accomplishments of Elijah Muhammad and that of the Christian Church. He talks about how Muhammad had healed and recovered junkies and drunkards, changed the ways of people who had been released from prison, made men chaste and women virtuous, and so on and how such generations of welfare workers and housing projects and playgrounds and the Christian Church especially had failed to succeed in doing. “He had done all these things, which our Christian Church has spectacularly failed to do.” (Baldwin Collected Essays 316) Earlier on in his essay, Baldwin speaks of how the white people only seem to practice the ways of God in church and not in their community. For the way they treated the blacks outside of church was not holy whatsoever. Although possessing many strengths, the Nation of Islam was not perfect and had its weaknesses as well. The only true weaknesses of the organization was the deleterious disposition of their separatist views and the unlikelihood of few of their objectives for the future, such as their demand for a separate black economy.
Aisha Garland
English 1A 9-10am
2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
The strengths of the Nation of Islam that Baldwin saw was the Power and Unity that these Black people had. I think he also admired the structure and discipline that the men (especially) possessed, because in poorer neighborhoods I’ve noticed that the young boys are the ones who need “extra” structure & discipline. It’s either one parent in the home or not enough money or food whichever, the boys usually are the first to turn to the streets and I think that Baldwin had a little pride in seeing that these men were living pretty good. Baldwin also saw how they took care of each other like they were all family, which was probably refreshing for him. After all he was Black man from Harlem and he knew how hard it was to walk a straight line. Especially during a time when the Civil Rights Movement began to really capture the world and Blacks were no longer accepting the “doltish and servile” role that was bestowed upon us. I feel that the Nation of Islam did/does have it’s purpose for those who needed a new foundation, self esteem, and hope.
James Baldwin also experienced their narrow mindedness. The Nation of Islam constantly referred White people as “Devils.” Which I know made him feel uncomfortable to an extent because he felt everybody should be loved he also had a best friend who was Jewish and he had white friends. Color was not an issue for Baldwin and the Nation of Islam was against his own principle anyway.
In a conversation with Hon. Elijah Muhammad he thought to himself… (71)“I love few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn‘t love more important than color?” Baldwin could see how that same unity that the Nation of Islam had amongst themselves could be shared amongst everyone. It is a good question that they probably were not ready to answer if he’d asked them. I know that familiarity breeds contempt and when “Nations” are teaching separation, do not expand and are exclusive they implode. Its’ part of human nature. This topic brought to mind of the film “Malcolm X” and how he was an essential part of that movement. I remember Baldwin mentioning him as well & I was thinking of how they the “Nation” helped birth Malcolm into the leader he was. This was a necessary process for him; a stepping stone for him because he was lost. Baldwin was not. Yes, he admitted to “trying to find himself” but I think Baldwin just needed to be a little more comfortable in his skin. Anyhow, Malcolm was “the go to guy” until he went to Mecca and came home with an open heart and had evolved into a better person. But, Baldwin was already there in mind an heart. James Baldwin already understood that color really is insignificant and that there is no separation because we are all human beings. Baldwin was a thinker, a lover of all, and truly before his time.
Ali Hassan
Professor Sabir
3/23/08
Midterm
Question #6: Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
James Baldwin�s book �The Fire Next time� opens up an entirely new world to most readers. It gives the reader a perspective of how cruel it was for an African American boys growing into men in the poor city and all of the issues black men had to face. Racism, Hatred, and being treated like animals. Baldwin brilliantly comprised two essays in one book, the first being �My dungeon shook: A letter advising his nephew on how to deal with the racist world which he was born in. �Down at the cross is the second essay: James Baldwin stresses the idea that regardless of race or culture, people are human beings and should be treated equally. Baldwin criticizes racial issues. Baldwin talks about how whites and blacks don�t understand each other because both have insecurities, fears, and prejudices within their own culture that they can�t understand each other, Baldwin states that "mirrors can only lie," because they only reflect the surface of people instead of revealing the deep truth. The white people fear to see the reality, that Blacks "might bring new life to the Western achievements and transform them" (94). As Baldwin became a teenager in Harlem, he began to realize the presence of temptation such as sex and drugs. It was when he was fourteen he opened his eyes and without any warning, the whores, pimps and racketeers had become personal menace (pg.16). Baldwin knew in order to fight these evils; he had to be somewhere pure, which was the church. He joined the church due to fear. He was afraid to become involved with his friends who began to drink and smoke. To avoid such situation, Baldwin was driven into church because he �supposed that god and safety were synonymous (pg.16). He believed that following god�s words shielded him from the evils of society. However, because of Baldwin�s love for his church, he reads the bible, only to realize that it was strictly about the teaching of white people. He felt that the church will protect him, and shield him against what he feared. Instead of freeing from discrimination between blacks and whites, the bible supported the existence of ethnic barriers. Realizing the hypocrisy involved with Christianity, Baldwin broke away from the congressional church, to search his own way of liberating the society. Despite being let down by the church and his charade Baldwin escaped into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). Baldwin got a lot of positive from the church, and although he was turned off, he should be thankful for the way he turned out to be, thankful he did not become what his father believed he would become, an alcoholic or a drug attic. Baldwin was not going to be a follower he was going to be a leader. He has become one of the most respected writers in the U.S. People are inspired from his writings.
Melissa Tinkelenberg
English 1A 9-10
Questions:
#6 Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
The essay “Down at the cross” in the book “The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin is an autobiographical essay with the main themes focusing on religion, love and power. James Baldwin takes us with him on his journey of self discovery, while illustrating some of the problems in America and with Americans that prevent us from changing. He looked at many aspects of Christianity and the Nation of Islam and shows us the similarities in the two religions. However, more importantly he shows us what pulled him to the church in the first place and what pushed him away in the end.
As a young boy growing up, James reached a point in his life where he was at a crossroad. Growing up in Harlem, he was no stranger to the hard life. He saw pimps and prostitutes on a daily basis, he saw his friends begin to smoke and drink, he realized these weren’t things he wanted out of life. He knew these things were bad, in fact they scared him. These fears, which were so apart of him, played a huge part in driving him to the church (27). The church could save him, and did save him, from following the path a lot of his friends were choosing. At that time, James wasn’t looking for spiritual redemption, he was looking for guidance. Instead of falling into the life that he seemed destined to, James was drawn to the church, drawn to the friendliness and safety it seemed to offer.
Eventually James became a preacher, however long before this time James realized that there were flaws in Christianity. Why, if god loved all his children, were the blacks cast down so far (31)? James was able to see that even though god was “white” and so obviously favored white people that,
“The principles governing the rites and customs of the churches in which (he) grew up did not differ from the principles governing the rites and customs of other churches, white. The principles were Blindness, Loneliness, and Terror” (31),
Not Faith, Hope and Charity as he would of liked to believe. This realization was the beginning of the crumbling of his faith. He felt that people should “love the lord because they loved Him, and not because they were afraid of going to hell” (35). He realized that the church (and people of the church) weren’t truly about love, but about hate, and self despair.
In many ways what the church had to offer James was still extremely important in his life. It saved him in many ways. He didn't lead a life of drugs and alcoholism, he found a way out of the ghetto. However, James has now learned more important lessons about life. That being a good person and learning to love everyone, even people with different ways of life and opinions, is the most important thing we could ever do.
Rajiv Amatya
Eng 1A
Prof. Sabir
8-9Am
Mid-Term
Q1. How is the essay Down at the Cross a continuation of themes in My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation"?
The essay by James Baldwin, “Down At the Cross: Letter from a Region,” in my mind, was a continuation of the different themes in “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation.” The main idea that this essay was concerned with how to deal with the racist world in which the author James’ Nephew( Little James) was born. In spite of being disappointed with America, James wants black African Americans people to take the long way and show whites their unawareness and blamelessness in how to live a wonderful life and how to love each other.
The true spirit of yourself can win every time. The lines from James to his nephew, “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white would call a nigger; I tell you this because I love you, and please don’t you ever forget it (pg 4).” It is true that believeing and moving one foot in front of the other can change everything, but there is no doubt people have to face different troubles, which may be very painful and unforgettable. James had known and saw in his brothers eye what a painful life is; that is why he wanted his nephew to be tough and certain in his work. James on the letter clearly describe how much his brother was strong about , “Let him curse and I remember him falling down the cellar steps and howling; and I remember, with pain, his tears, which my hand or your grandmothers’s so easily wiped away. But no one’s hand can wipe away those tears he sheds invisibly today, which one hears in his laughter and in his speech and in his songs (pg 5).”
It is hard to deal with white people where little James born and who was black, and there is no reason little James will be ignored because his skin is black. James believed that little James was a precious man and could win the heart of everyone; but for this purpose, he didn’t need to become like the white people because that is a totally wrong concept that if you act white people will accept you as white. These kinds of things are originated from very old era. It will take sometime, but he had to some time. “They are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it. They have had to believe for many years, and for innumerable reasons, that black men are inferior to white men (pg 9).”
However, in James’ view to his nephew, it is time to faced all these things again but Little James should have a profound spirit to handle it. “It will be hard, James, but you came from a sturdy, pleasant stock of men who picked cotton and dammed rivers and built railroads, and, in the teeth of the most terrifying odds, achieved an unassailable and monumental dignity. You come from a long line of great poets, some of the greatest poets since Homer. One of them said, ‘The very time I thought I was lost, my dungeon shook and my chains fell off (pg 10).’”
Baldwin’s 500 word essay
In The fire Next Time by James Baldwin he talked about the honorable Elijah Muhammad, the nation of Islam’s approach to the racial inequities, also the strengths and weakness. “But, no- the man who came into the room was small and slender, really very delicately put together, with a thin face, large, warm eyes, and a most winning smile. Elijah Muhammad was a very well put together man and just by that James Baldwin was encouraged. While reading The Fire Next Time I noticed how Baldwin never had anything unconstructive to say about Muhammad. He praised Muhammad like he was God himself. “Whenever Muhammad spoke, a kind of chorus arose from the table, saying yes, that’s right”. That’s the type of great reception Muhammad established and how he was supported. After being in the presents of Muhammad, Baldwin realized that Muhammad’s power came from his single-mindedness. I think that’s why Muhammad being in the position he was in had a massive outcome on Baldwin and him being what he is today.
While reading down at the Cross it talked about the nation of Islam’s approach to the racial inequities. Baldwin talked about how whites were astounded by the holocaust in Germany and how he thought what had happen to the Jews in Germany could not happen to the Negros in America. Baldwin talked about how he thought the treatment accorded the Negros during the Second World War marked a turning point for him in the Negro’s relation to America. Baldwin also said whites are a minority in the world so severe a minority that they now look rather more like an invention. On page sixty seven Baldwin talked about how Elijah said the white man knows history, himself to be a devil, and that his time is running out, and all his technology, psychology, science, and tricknology are being expended in the effort to prevent black men from hearing the truth.
To finish up, down at the cross get directly to the point and showed how Muhammad talked about the dissimilarity between whites and blacks. Then Baldwin talked about the honorable Muhammad and the racial inequities.
Marcus Lee 03/23/08 English 1A 9-10AM
Baldwin’s 500 word essay
In The fire Next Time by James Baldwin he talked about the honorable Elijah Muhammad, the nation of Islam’s approach to the racial inequities, also the strengths and weakness. “But, no- the man who came into the room was small and slender, really very delicately put together, with a thin face, large, warm eyes, and a most winning smile. Elijah Muhammad was a very well put together man and just by that James Baldwin was encouraged. While reading The Fire Next Time I noticed how Baldwin never had anything unconstructive to say about Muhammad. He praised Muhammad like he was God himself. “Whenever Muhammad spoke, a kind of chorus arose from the table, saying yes, that’s right”. That’s the type of great reception Muhammad established and how he was supported. After being in the presents of Muhammad, Baldwin realized that Muhammad’s power came from his single-mindedness. I think that’s why Muhammad being in the position he was in had a massive outcome on Baldwin and him being what he is today.
While reading down at the Cross it talked about the nation of Islam’s approach to the racial inequities. Baldwin talked about how whites were astounded by the holocaust in Germany and how he thought what had happen to the Jews in Germany could not happen to the Negros in America. Baldwin talked about how he thought the treatment accorded the Negros during the Second World War marked a turning point for him in the Negro’s relation to America. Baldwin also said whites are a minority in the world so severe a minority that they now look rather more like an invention. On page sixty seven Baldwin talked about how Elijah said the white man knows history, himself to be a devil, and that his time is running out, and all his technology, psychology, science, and tricknology are being expended in the effort to prevent black men from hearing the truth.
To finish up, down at the cross get directly to the point and showed how Muhammad talked about the dissimilarity between whites and blacks. Then Baldwin talked about the honorable Muhammad and the racial inequities.
Marcus Lee 03/23/08 English 1A 9-10AM
9-10am
Makda
Midterm: Question #2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
In the book by James Baldwin: The fire next time, James Baldwin expressed his frustration with segregation and the Christian church. He also feared that militants will be persuaded by Elija Muhammad that integration was a farce.
James felt that what Elija Muhammad preached or what the Nation of Islam stood for was nothing new. He had heard it all before, from various prophets. Even Elija Muhammad himself has been carrying the same message for many years. Then he asks why suddenly people started to hear the message now? He answers’ [page 51]” …I have no wish to minimize his peculiar role and his peculiar achievement-it is not he who has done it but time. Time catches up with kingdom and crushes them, gets its teeth in to doctrines and rends them; time reveals the foundations, and it destroys doctrines by proving them to be untrue.”
James believes one of the reasons people started to listen to Elija Muhammad is because they needed a new foundation, self esteem, and hope. Nation of Islam gave the people such sense of security. Now this is strength! Further more their discipline. And yet James thought of another strength [Page 66] “I began to see that Elija’s power came from his single-mindedness. There is nothing calculated about him; he means every word he says.”
However, James saw weakness in what was offered to us, black people.[Page 49] “ we were offered, as a Nation of Islam doctrine, historical and divine proof that all white people are cursed, and are devils, and are about to be brought down. This has been revealed by Allah Himself to His prophet, the Honorable Muhammad.”
James does not believe all white are devils. He has friends who are white. Some of the words said seem unrealistic and just as cruel as they, whites, have been to us, blacks. Some what seems similar to what the Germans were trying to do to the Jews.
I personally found ‘white God’,’ black God’ to be extremely racist. Regardless of how they, Nation of Islam, put it to me God is God. I believe God’s color was used in vain to give depth to their message. God’s color has nothing to do with the struggle we are in. When it comes to their earthly skin they say color is only skin deep and that we are the same, when it comes to God, there, they make a difference. [Page 57] “We human beings now have the power to exterminate ourselves; this seems to be the entire sum of our achievement. We have taken this journey and arrived at this place in God’s name. This, then, is the best that God (the white God) can do. If that is so, then it is time to replace Him-….. The white God has not delivered them; perhaps the Black God will.”
Makda
Dung Le
9-10am
3/20/2008
1. What themes reoccur in this essay? Why do these issues concern the writer?
There are many different themes that reoccur throughout Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” essay, one of the dominant themes is oppression. As Baldwin stated,
“My friends were now “downtown,” busy as they put it, “fighting the man.” They began to care less about the way they looked, the way they dressed, the things they did; presently, one found them in twos and threes and fours, in a hallway, sharing a jug of wine or a bottle of whiskey, talking, and cursing, fighting, sometimes weeping: lost, and unable to say what it was that oppressed them, except that they knew it was “the man”-the white man” (19).
Though racism was the prelude of the negative effects that have cause the downfall of many Blacks, it was oppression that really crippled them. Unlike racism where it’s mostly the Whites agianst the Blacks, oppression affects the Blacks and they spread it among themselves. Feeling depressed they pull others along with them to alleviate their stress. Because of oppression they now have an excuse to degrade themselves, and instead of blaming themselves they use “the man” for their fualts.
2. Describe how Baldwin uses repetition of certain key words or terms to drive his point home.
Baldwin uses repetition of words for comparisons and descriptions, and sometime also linking them to his own experiences. This style of his has many advantages, for when he uses the words twice it capture the reader’s attention and redirect it towards the word. With the given attention he then gives two definitions, one as the general definition and the other as his own. As Baldwin said, “As I look back, everything I did seem curiously deliberate, though it certainly didn’t seem deliberate then (27).”
5. What does the term "fire" imply here? What is the burning? Who's at greatest risk?
The “fire” as described in Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” essay is racism and oppression. The burning is an analogy for the contagiousness of racism and oppression, for one a fire burns, it spreads. When a fire spreads, it spreads everywhere, everyone is at risk, for when it affects the Blacks, they will affect the Whites thus the continuation of a never ending cycle.
6. Baldwin escapes into the church as his "racket instead of some other and surrendered to a spiritual seduction" (29). What does he mean by this and how did the church and his charade fail him?
As Baldwin said, “I was so frightened, and at the mercy of so many conundrums, that inevitably, that summer, someone would have taken me over; one doesn’t, in Harlem, long remain standing on any auction block” (28). Baldwin describes the choices that one living in Harlem was given and must make. Living in Harlem, one is always bombarded with different types of groups such as pimps, drug dealers and many other racketeers. Unless one is already in a group, pressure is a daily struggle and before long one starts to give in.
Baldwin like many others goes through the same struggle, refusing to join the pimps and racketeers he was forced to join the church. His decision to join the church wasn’t out of free will, but rather seduced by a woman pastor who used god as an invitation. He describes the church as his racket because the reason that he joined it was not that he believed in god and wanted to become a minister. He joined it because he needed a refuge to “escape” and protect himself from the negativities and pressure that his environment produced.
Baldwin said, “Every Negro boy-in my situation during those years, at least-who reaches this point realizes, at once, profoundly, because he wants to live, that he stands in great peril and must find, with speed, a “thing,” a gimmick, to life him out, to start him on his way” (24). In an environment where so many of your friends are criminals or becoming one and you’re critiqued and judged because of your nationality, it can very difficult to defend yourself especially when you’re alone. You need a “gimmick,” protection, support, a sanctuary so you can feel safe, motivated and at ease. For Baldwin that gimmick was the church.
The church failed him, but also in a way was also a success. Before joining the church Baldwin had a different image, he thought the church was a representation of God, that it represents love, peace and what’s good in the world. After joining he realized that the image he once had is rather distorted. The church shields him from the negativities and taught him that “holy” is really not holy and even within the house of god people capitulate to greed and hatred. As Baldwin said,
I don’t refer merely to the glaring fact that the minister eventually acquires houses and Cadillacs while the faithful continue to scrub floors and drop their dimes and quarters and dollars into the plate. I really mean that there was no love in the church. It was a mask for hatred and self-hatred and despair. The transfiguring power of the Holy Ghost ended when the service ended, and the salvation stopped at the church door. When we were told to love everybody, I had though that meant everybody. But no. It applied only to those who believed as we did, and it didn’t not apply to white people at all (39-40).
Midterm comments
Rudy:
Great essay. There were a few areas that needed clarifying such as in paragraph 1—D@C commas—quotation mark. Delete HAD—Although Baldwin… COMMA
Nice thesis—talk @ 3-part essay, give Rudy the handout
Nice quote….when posting use the PREVIEW so you don’t lose the formatting.
Races COLON LED not LEAD/fear INTO yet CONTROLS / save—preserve his self-respect
Nice quote (310)
Muhammad finger painting? Explain
Too many gerunds (ings) obscure the meaning…rewrite. Try IF… THEN…
But THEY still… (342)
Love is the answer, that LOVE will take …STARS not STARTS
READ YOUR ESSAY ALOUD BEFORE SUBMISSION NEXT TIME—grade before revisions 5/6
Dung Le
Your responses are too short. IMPACTION? NOT A WORD. #1 IS A GOOD RESPONSE. You were to use one paraphrase, one block quote and one direct citation. Each answer should be about 75-100 words. Grade NC
Deon
Needs editing my friend.
Suggestion: The saying love conquers all is heard too often in our daily lives…James Baldwin casts doubt on this assumption or James Baldwin doesn’t agree. (Who is he anyway? Introduce him.) Combine the next two-three sentences: He illustrates…in his augmentative and autobiographical essays…. Here the author brilliantly… NICE THESIS!
BALDWIN describes fear as…and love as…. He said he joined…. NICE QUOTE. IMPROPER CITATION FORMAT (DELETE THE COMMA)
VERB “READ” NOT READS the bible…only to realize that (WHAT? YOU NEED A WORD HERE, TRY “IT”) was strictly…. Check your verbs…He thought…”will” NICE REASONING RE: THE BIBLE.
Rewrite the last sentence. WHAT IS A CONGRESSIONAL CHURCH?
DID BALDWIN SAY THE NOI FEARED WHITE PEOPLE? I DON’T THINK THIS IS TRUE. IF YOU HAVE PROOF, CITE IT OR CHANGE THE STATEMENT FOR ACCURACY.
REWRITE: BECAUSE BLACKS ARE STEROTYPED AS UNCIVILIZED…AND FUELS THE LABYRINTH OF SUCH ATTITUDES….
NICE QUOTE ABOUT MIRRORS (94) WHAT’S WITH THE COMMAS AFTER THE CITATION? DELETE THEM
MERELY? PERHAPS YOU MEAN NEARLY?
YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE AUTHOR’S WRITING IS MARVELOUS!
YOUR CONCLUSION TAKES THE AUDIENCE TO ANOTHER PLACE, ONE NOT INDICATED NECESSARILY IN THE INTRODUCTION AND NOT NECESSARILY ANTICIPATED IN YOUR CRITIQUE OF THE FIRE NEXT TIME. I’M NOT CERTAIN IT WORKS AS WELL AS IT MIGHT IF YOU MENTIONED OR CONNECTED THIS DIVERSION TO THE THEME OF LOVE BEING THE ANSWER.
IT WORKS AND THEN AGAIN IT DOESN’T BECAUSE I AM LEFT WONDERING, WHAT LOVE’S GOT TO DO WITH IT.
GREAT JOB THOUGH DEON! GRADE BEFORE REVISIONS, 5/6
Great start. See comments and revise. You have a 3/4. Revise the thesis, right now it is a statement of absolute fact, nondebatable. I give you a suggestion. Also, expand the introduction. Talk about Baldwin dilemma when he reaches puberty.
Dominique West
English 1A
Sabir 8am-9am
March 24, 2008
Baldwin Midterm
Question:What themes reoccur in the essay? Why do these issues concern the author?
In James Baldwin's essay, "The Fire Next Time," I can't help but notice HIS INTENSE TONE when he discusses in discussion on-DELETE the church. Most churches FORM the ETHICAL basis of who we are when WE'RE growing up. It tells us how we should live our lives and why we should follow God's plan. Baldwin analyzes and gives HIS personal experience in dealing with the church AND…. REWRITE YOUR THESIS WITH A CLAIM. For instance you could write: Baldwin analyzes his beliefs in a Christian God and the church and finds the institution a farse.
"I rushed home from school to the church, to the altar, to be alone there, to commune with Jesus, my dearest friend, who would never fail me, who knew all the secrets of my heart" (34). Many people when dealing with the church felt this way. Baldwin had this experience and when you've been doing it for so long it seems as though it is the way of life. The way Baldwin describes it, COMMA church soon becomes the life that he lead VT. He was consumed with it and it made him, it was—DELETE who he was. This daily routine soon became habit and it felt so right, because it was what was right.
There does come a time as a Christian when your faith is tested. Baldwin had just that test. When he began going to school and handing out leaflets he noticed that others were laughing. "This meant that I was surrounded by people who were, by definition, beyond any hope of salvation, who laughed at the tracts and leaflets I brought to school, and who pointed out that thE Gospels had been written long after the death of Christ"(35). USE BLOCK QUOTE FORMATION That information would make a Christian man and woman want to find out how true this could be--DELETE That's when Baldwin decided to read the leaflets himself. Through reading them he found a sort of "blackmail" in them. Why would he feel this way? As he put it, "People, I felt, ought to love the Lord because they loved him, and not because they were afraid of going to Hell" (35). It's like saying in order for things to happen for you, you have to first please me to get what you want or this and that will happen to you.
It was when he realized that the bible had been written by white men that he saw a problem. IF black people ARE descendants of Ham, AND Ham was cursed in the bible, THEN black PEOPLE WOULD forever BE in the bottom of the barrel. BALDWIN FELT WHITE CHRISTIANS believed that black people were to be at the bottom no matter what and things would never change.
This issue seems to concern the writer AND this still happens today. There are people who question the Christian religion and what it really is. THIS IS why many people covert to other religions. THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, AND it's hard to decipher what's real and what's not, what's true from what's false when the leaders seem to have agendas (43-47). IN THE FIRE NEXT TIME, BALDWIN SAYS THIS AGENDA IS THE WHITE MAN'S INABILITY OR REFUSAL TO…. Reading the bible will make a person question what is the bible really saying about the black race. BALDWIN SAYS THE BIBLE IS MISINTERPRETED TO PROMOTE WHITE SUPREMACY. HE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT What things are not being said AND What needs to be said THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL BELIEVERS.
BIANCA, THIS ESSAY NEEDS A MORE COMPELLING INTRODUCTION THAT ANSWERS THE QUERSTION. BY THE WAY, WHAT IS YOUR THESIS?
NOTE THE COMMENTS, ALSO PROOFREAD, ESP. THEN VS. THAN. SEE HACKER AND A FEW OTHER GRAMMATICAL ERRORS YOU CAN CATCH. ALSO THERE IS NO BLOCK QUOTE.
GRADE SO FAR: 3/4
Bianca Jauregui
English 1A 8-9am
MIDTERM: Question # 2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
James Baldwin at first did not really think much of Elijah Muhammad. WHO IS HE? He had heard about him along with others ever since he could remember and the speeches never stood out to him. James thought that everything Elijah (USE A MORE FORMAL WAY OF ADDRESSING HIM, SUCH AS: ELIJAH MUHAMMAD OR MUHAMMAD) would say was unoriginal because he would here so many speeches and they all sounded the same to him. Also when he would hear about WHAT ARE YOU (QUOTING? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE; PUT IT IN CONTEXT) "Dismissed the Nation of Islam's demand for Black economy in America," it was all nonsense to James. (p.48)To him everything was about the same issue, the same story and everything. But as time went by and situations changed, James noticed how people were reacting to Elijah Mohammad and thats when his view on him started to change.
The first issue that caused James to start listening to the speeches was the attitude of the police. There was so much police brutality going on, and for no reason. James noticed how police's attitudes changed from when they would be in power to when they were over-powered by people.Then secondly, James was surprised to see how the crowd reacted to Elijah and the speeches he gave. He noticed that the speeches were deeper then just words. These words were affecting the listeners. Like James said, " the speakers had an air of utter dedication, and the people looked towards them with a kind of intelligence of hope on their faces-not as though they were being consoled or drugged but as though they were being jolted." (p.49) Power was what Elijah along with other speakers provided their followers with!
The Nation of Islam also took a great part in how James Baldwins attitude changed. With the Nation of Islam, James along with followers were given proof that whites were "cursed and are devils, and are about to be brought down." (p.49) It was said that the white man would lose complete power in about 10 to 15 years. The Nation of Islam was like a back bone for people, it was like a security blanket, to let them feel that everything would be ok, and that their would be change in the future for the better!
BIANCA, THIS ESSAY NEEDS A MORE COMPELLING INTRODUCTION THAT ANSWERS THE QUERSTION. BY THE WAY, WHAT IS YOUR THESIS?
NOTE THE COMMENTS, ALSO PROOFREAD, ESP. THEN VS. THAN. SEE HACKER AND A FEW OTHER GRAMMATICAL ERRORS YOU CAN CATCH. ALSO THERE IS NO BLOCK QUOTE.
GRADE SO FAR: 3/4
Bianca Jauregui
English 1A 8-9am
MIDTERM: Question # 2. Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its weaknesses?
James Baldwin at first did not really think much of Elijah Muhammad. WHO IS HE? He had heard about him along with others ever since he could remember and the speeches never stood out to him. James thought that everything Elijah (USE A MORE FORMAL WAY OF ADDRESSING HIM, SUCH AS: ELIJAH MUHAMMAD OR MUHAMMAD) would say was unoriginal because he would here so many speeches and they all sounded the same to him. Also when he would hear about WHAT ARE YOU (QUOTING? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE; PUT IT IN CONTEXT) "Dismissed the Nation of Islam's demand for Black economy in America," it was all nonsense to James. (p.48)To him everything was about the same issue, the same story and everything. But as time went by and situations changed, James noticed how people were reacting to Elijah Mohammad and thats when his view on him started to change.
The first issue that caused James to start listening to the speeches was the attitude of the police. There was so much police brutality going on, and for no reason. James noticed how police's attitudes changed from when they would be in power to when they were over-powered by people.Then secondly, James was surprised to see how the crowd reacted to Elijah and the speeches he gave. He noticed that the speeches were deeper then just words. These words were affecting the listeners. Like James said, " the speakers had an air of utter dedication, and the people looked towards them with a kind of intelligence of hope on their faces-not as though they were being consoled or drugged but as though they were being jolted." (p.49) Power was what Elijah along with other speakers provided their followers with!
The Nation of Islam also took a great part in how James Baldwins attitude changed. With the Nation of Islam, James along with followers were given proof that whites were "cursed and are devils, and are about to be brought down." (p.49) It was said that the white man would lose complete power in about 10 to 15 years. The Nation of Islam was like a back bone for people, it was like a security blanket, to let them feel that everything would be ok, and that their would be change in the future for the better!
FROM WS
Sushil Pathak
English 1A
8-9AM
Midterm Question#2
Talk about Baldwin's extensive analysis of the efficacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam's approach to that of racial inequities in this essay Down at the Cross. What does he see as its strengths and its
weaknesses?
James Baldwin, a black American writer wrote the nonfiction book, “ The Fire Next Time” comprising 2 essays in letter form which was published in 1963. The first essay is “My dungeon shook, a letter addressed to his 14 year old nephew and namesake, James, who represents the younger generation for blacks struggling for Civil Rights. The second essay is “Down At The Cross,” where Baldwin appraising the Black Islam Movement writes his personal beliefs and thought about the movement and comes with the striking conclusion that black people have been formed by this nation(America), for better or for worse, and do not belong to any other NATION not to Africa, and certainly not to Islam.(Baldwin 81)
I HAVE EDITED THIS. NOTE YOUR ORIGINAL
In the second essay Baldwin writes about meeting with Elijah Muhammad and MEMBERS OF THE Black Muslim Movement IN THE LEADER'S HOME. Honorable Elijah Muhammad was THE leader of Black Muslim movement and was trying to convince the black people to join Islam to end the Devil’s(white people’s) rule. But Baldwin thinks the other way. He thinks that the movement against white people is full of hatred and hate cannoT change the situation. Not only that, Baldwin thinks that the logic given by Honorable Elijah Muhammad to convince black people to join Islam has no point (WHERE DOES BALDWIN SAY THIS? I THOUGHT HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE POINT, AND AGREED WITH MUHAMMAD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. HE JUST DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE METHODOLOGY). Baldwin thinks whatever Elijah has been able to do, is not truly done by him, but the time and circumstances has done that. REWRITE THIS SENTENCE; IT IS CONFUSING, OR JUST QUOTE BALDWIN. GIVE THE CONTEXT OF THE QUOTE FIRST. HE SAYS IT BETTER THAN YOU DO. “Well, in a way- and I have no wish to minimize his peculiar role and his peculiar achievement- it is not he who has done it but time.”(Baldwin pg51)
Baldwin'S experience with the Christian SP-chruch prior to his meeting with Elijah helped him analyze the Nation Of Islam. HOW?During the meeting with SP-Bladwin, Elijah speaks a lot about the deeds of white people trying to prove them as devil and at the same time trying to convince Baldwin, a black man, to join their movement. Elijah comes with one point after the other in the meeting to convince Baldwin to join the movement. Elijah believes that black people were THE only the reason god(Allah) permitted America to endure so long; MUHAMMAD also states that there were no single ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHAT HE SAYS? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE white men at the beginning of the earth. According to Elijah, god allowed deivls to carry out experiment thereby mistakely creating whiteman(Devil.) WHY NOT JUST USE THE QUOTE? YOU DON'T ADD ANY INFORMATION WITH THE SIGNAL PHRASE.
“Allah allowed the devils,through his scientists, to carry on infernal experiments, which resulted , finally, in the creation of devil known as white man.”(Baldwin 67). The bottomline of Elijah Muhammad and HIS theire movement was to INVITE black people to Islam by which they thought they can destroy the regime of Devils(white people). But Baldwin thinks the idea as a recipe being used by Elijah to change the mind of black people to join Islam. “There is nothing new in this merciless formulation expect the explicitness of its symbols and the candor of its hatred.”(Baldwin 67). Elijah’s heart and mind full of hate to white people cannot convince baldwin and he thinks that love should come before the seggregation and one has to love each other before hating each other for color. “I love a few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn’t love more important than color?”(Baldwin 71).Baldwin thinks the most dangerous creation on earth is the one who has nothing to lose and Elijah is one of them. After seeing his father Lynched before his eyes, baldwin thinks elijah had nothing to lose and is very dangerously determined in his mission. “ And Elijah, I should imagine, has had nothing to lose since the day he saw his father’s blood rush out-rush down, and splash, so the legend has it,down through the leaves of a tree, on him.”(Baldwin pg71)
By and large, The Fire Next Time” is a historical document of a tubulent era and a sublime piece of literary craftmanship. Living during the time when nation of Islam was growing power and Elijah was a topic of conservation everywhere, baldwin did not believe what Elijah Muhammad had to say. Baldwin thought Elijah Muhammad, while leading the Nation Of Islam destroyed the credibility of organised religions.
THIS NEEDS SERIOUS EDITING. SEE COMMENTS.
Nadia
Midterm Question
Q:2 talk about Baldwin’s extensive analysis of the efficiency of the Honorable Elijah Mohammed and The Nation Of Islam approaches to the racial inequities in this essay down at the cross. What does he see as it strengths and it weaknesses?
James Baldwin’s paid very little attention to what he heard about the Honorable Elijah Mohammed and the Nation Of Islam Movement. The messages did not strike him as original. He dismissed the Nation of Islam's demand for a separate black economy in America, which he thought a mischievous nonsense. ARE YOU QUOTING? He SAW how police officers weren’t doing ANYTHING because they were stunned BY what the black Muslims were doing. HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS? WHAT PAGE IT IS ON? The Nation of Islam had historical and divine proof that all white people are cursed and are devils and are about to be brought down. (49)
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT I EDITED AND REWROTE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. THERE WERE ERRORS IN SYNTAX AND GRAMMAR (SUCH AS VT AGR., SV AGR) THAT AFFECTED THE MEANING--TOO MANY ERRORS. SEE HACKER GRAMMAR AND CLARITY.
LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL AND WHAT I PROPOSED. ALSO, YOU MAKE STATEMENTS, I PRESUME PARAPHRASES AND DON'T LET THE READER KNOW WHERE IN THE TEXT THEY APPEAR. I EDITED A BIT MORE PAST THIS POINT.I AM NOT CERTAIN WHERE YOU ARE QUOTING, BUT I CAN TELL THE LANGUAGE IS NOT YOURS. YOU DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN QUOTATIONS, ALTHOUGH YOU DO GIVE PAGE NUMBERS.
IT NEEDS TOO MUCH WORK. YOU AND I NEED TO SPEAK, ESP. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. I WANT TO SEE THE RESEARCH ESSAY BEFORE YOU SUBMIT THE FINAL OR EVEN ROUGH DRAFT. COME SEE ME DURING MY OFFICE HOURS THURSDAY. I AM IN THE WRITING CENTER 10-12.
GRADE NC
The strengths that James saw in Elijah Mohammed was HIS ABILITY TO HEAL HIS COMMUNITY, SOMETHING welfare workers and committees and "resolution" ? and reports and housing projects and playgrounds HAD failed to do. THE NATION OF ISLAM redeemED drunkards and junkies, AND covertED people who have-VT come out of prison and to keep-VT them out, to make men chaste and women virtuous, and to invest both maleS and femaleS with a pride and serenity that hang about them like an unfailing light. He had done all these things which the Christian church has failed to do. (51) ARE YOU QUOTING? he seen-VT that Elijah Mohammed was making a big impact on how people were now situated and how more there getting to believe what he always perched about how white people are devils. But the weakness he saw was that, The Nation Of Islam always putted white people down and said how black people shouldn’t talk or be friends with them. He had them in there own box.
James had a meeting with Elijah Mohammed at his house. He saw a big difference up close and personal. He imagined someone very powerful and big. He saw a small and slender really very delicately put together with a thin face, large warm eyes and a most winning smile.(pg63) it very true when you see someone very small that people always make them look very big and powerful. He had dinner with them and James expressed how he wasn’t with the church anymore and they seen where he was coming from.. For a second he thought they wanted him to join. But that wasn’t his plan. He was a writer and didn’t want to get involved in that. James saw the good and the bad from Elijah Mohammed. When you read the book you always catch his name somewhere remembering on what he said or thought of him.
GREAT ESSAY. NOTE THE CHANGES. YOU OVER USE THE SEMICOLON. SEE HACKER, ALSO, YOU USE THE PASSIVE STRUCTURE TOO MUCH, WHEN MORE DIRECT SPEECH WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
THERE WERE A FEW GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, MOSTLY SV AGR AND WORD ORDER.
GRADE 4/5. PASSING.
Aiko Nillo
Eng.1a
9-10am
James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time discusses Baldwin’s experience during the 60's; in which, a lot of turmoil between African Americans and whites were-VT at ITS height. Baldwin analyzes the effect of this rift between African Americans and whites, (SEE USE OF SEMICOLON IN HACKER) and the effect it will have and has had in America. The title of this essay comes from a passage in the bible; its about how the world was destroyed by the great flood, then an earthquake, and now THE NEXT TIME THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH will be destroyed by “fire.” The “fire” that is produced between these two races.
“The price of this transformation is the unconditional freedom of the Negro; it is not too much to say that he, who has been so long rejected, must now be embraced, and no matter what psychic or social risk, he is the key figure in his country, and the American future is precisely as bright or as dark as his. And the Negro recognizes this, in a negative way. Hence the question: Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house”(94)?
Baldwin here discusses the African American’s role in the future of America. Baldwin explains that for the future of America and the welfare of the people living there, they must liberate the African Americans. DOESN'T HE SAY THAT THE TRUE SLAVES ARE WHITE AMERICANS? Because without a united nation, America will not be able to move forward. It will be caught by the burning fury of African Americans and whites. Therefore the future of America is in great risk.
Not only IS THE America nation AT great risk, the people living there ARE (SV AGR) in great risk as well. Baldwin discusses this in the beginning of his essay, HOW as a child he experiences this but tries to avoid it by attending church. It was either the church or the streets, HE SAYS (PAGE NUMBER?). The streets were full of pimps, drugs, and junkies which he did not want to be part of. But as he discovers, the churches were the same. The ministers fed the church-goers “the word” and were paid by their donations (PAGE NUMBER). Like the drug dealers feeding the junkies with drugs. As soon as he saw this he left the church and pursued writing. He was one of the lucky ones WHO WERE not caught in the “fire.”
To rid AMERICA OF these great risks, BALDWIN SAYS African Americans must be liberated. “The price of the blacks-the total liberation, in the cities, in the towns, before the law, and in the mind”(97). NOTE THE CHANGE And if this was not pushed forward the “fire” would continue to be fed and grow.
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