The glorification of one race and the consequent debasement of another—or others—always has been and always will be a recipe for murder. There is no way around this. If one is permitted to treat any group of people with special disfavor because of their race or the color of their skin, there is no limit to what one will force them to endure, and, since the entire race has been mysteriously indicted, no reason not to attempt to destroy it root and branch.
James Baldwin in The Fire Next Time, published by Vintage Books Edition, New York, USA, 1993 (pp 82-83). Originally published by The Dial Press, New York, USA, 1963.
James Baldwin (1924-1987) is an American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist. He is the author of more than twenty works of fiction and nonfiction. Among the awards he received are a Eugene F. Saxon Memorial Trust Award, a Rosenwald Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Partisan Review Fellowship, and a Ford Foundation grant. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1986.
jfwknifton said:
And if you do “treat any group of people with special disfavor because of their race or the color of their skin,” you take an enormous risk that one day they will turn on you. And the tragedy with a black v white conflict is that it is impossible to distinguish the good whites, who are treated like the rest.
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J. L. James said:
To treat any group of people in an inhumane manner that consistently puts their lives at risk, though unequal opportunities to raise their children, provide for their basic needs, and target them for incarceration to feed into penal system that is on the stock exchange is to delay the inevitability that that they will seek to end the injustice and systemic racism.
To call what is happening in U.S.A today a black and white conflict is to not understand that people are no longer just black and white. America had a former president who had a black father and white mother, and because of historical of segregation needed to make him one or the other. There really is only the human race and dividing people along the colour lines serves those whose wish to maintain their power base.
To say this is a “black and white” conflict is simplistic way to deny the intellectual capacity of those who have been on the receiving end of overt and mirco aggressions based on the colour of their skin, the ability to recognize those who supported the “special disfavor” and those who did not. It is not actually about “good” and “bad” whites. it is about those who remain silent and and enjoy the benefits of systemic racism and believe that they are not part of the problem.
For example, the same excuse was one used to deny Black South Africans their democratic right to vote when they were the majority of the country. It was thought that they would turn around and treat the minority descendants of settler population the same way they had been treated since 1948 when apartheid was introduced into law. When apartheid was abolished, everyone was still standing and those of all colours who had stood against injustice received recognition.
If one looks at enough news clips regarding the current protests it is encouraging to see so many young people of all shades out there refusing to remain silent, knowing that they are part of the change and at the end of the day they will all have to live together without the yoke of injustice on their necks.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
JL, I thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts on this critical issue of racial injustice. I agree when you say, “There really is only the human race and dividing people along the colour lines serves those whose wish to maintain their power base.” But this goes far beyond the power base to the entire capitalist system built on the exploitation of human labor, especially non-white bodies and that of women, for creating capital.
I agree, too, when you say: “It is not actually about “good” and “bad” whites. It is about those who remain silent and enjoy the benefits of systemic racism and believe that they are not part of the problem.” I would like to add that our white brothers and sisters who fall within this category are unaware, through their upbringing and education, that they have been and continue to be indoctrinated by the ruling capitalist class for the sole purpose of maintaining control and domination over the “human stock capital,” to borrow a description recently used by one of our administration’s economic advisers.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, John. This is, indeed, the conundrum of race relations. There is good and bad in every one of us, regardless of the pigmentation of our skin. The day that we end racial discrimination will be the day that we can appreciate our diversity as members of the same species.
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Sunshiny SA, Kavitha said:
Well said Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for dropping by, Kavitha 🙂
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derrickjknight said:
Excellent quotation, Rosaliene
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Derrick. Glad that you could appreciate its wisdom and insight.
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drgeraldstein said:
The documentary on James Baldwin, “I Am Not Your Negro,” is recommended viewing.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for the recommendation, Dr. Stein. I’m happy to say that I have watched the documentary and bought a copy of the book. It was my introduction to his life and work. I’m catching up.
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Robert A. Vella said:
Powerful words of truth.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
They are, indeed, Robert.
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Laleh Chini said:
I don’t understand how racism even exist. Every country has different people, how did human divided each other to better or worse?
I only can divide a person by its personality.❤️
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Laleh, the roots of racism run deep and wide. Difficult to uproot.
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JoAnna said:
I hate that it has come to this and that some white people are still in denial as to the extent of systemic racism in the US. My hope is that this horrific wake up call will rouse enough people in authority to make the changes that are way overdue. There are signs that we are learning.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
JoAnna, I’m heartened by the signs of growing awareness among our white population. But, we have lots of difficult work ahead to end systemic racism in America.
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JoAnna said:
I agree: a lot of difficult work.
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Sean said:
A very timely and powerful quote. I hope we can all find a way to make things right. Things clearly need to change and in this moment it actually feels possible!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Sean, change will only come when we the people of all colors work together to make it happen.
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cath said:
Thank you for sharing the quote, Rosaliene. It’s one that should be shared, and shared.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Cyril, thanks for sharing my post with your readers. Much appreciated 🙂
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DutchIl said:
Thank you for sharing!.. hopefully with today’s technology, in time the decades of closed minded thinking will be overcome and everyone will realize Martin Luther King’s dream.. 🙂
“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Dutch, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Imagine how much we could achieve as a nation if we got together to make Martin Luther King’s dream a reality!
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Sha'Tara said:
Racism isn’t about color but about identifying a target for one’s blind rage. History shows colour or religion or gender or race all serve as targets for innate Earthian rage. When I as an individual accept that this rage lives in me like a virus then I can develop my own very personal immunity to that disease and never be stuck down by it. Racism is innate and it is always a personal choice to give in to it and run to those of like mind or fight against it.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Sha’Tara, I don’t share your view that racism is innate. From my observations of infants and kids, I believe that we are taught to be racist.
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Sha'Tara said:
I realize it’s been a while since this discussion played but I think I can make a valid point to your assessment of my comment. True, on the surface it seems that little children aren’t racist yet shouldn’t one admit that “racism” had to have a beginning, therefore wasn’t taught, technically? Children also have little interest in sex, certainly do not engage in sexual intercourse and yet you can be sure that during puberty it’s going to happen, no teaching required, quite the opposite in fact to keep things under some sort of perceived need to control it. Before people are enjoined not to be racist they must already be racists or the subject would not come up. It is obvious to me that the Earthian creature is definitely a morally failed one. Doing evil is enjoyable and even more so when it directly impinges on a victims “rights” to life, liberty and happiness. I’ve observed that throughout my life but then I did not go through this life with eyes wide shut and I didn’t have my fingers in my ears. Based on simple observation, are people naturally evil or naturally good, their goodness being taken away from them by force and evil being forced upon them? Or is it the other way around? Another way I would put it is, is man’s civilization propelled by general kindness, mercy and justice, or do we find the opposite when we study and observe it? Man, it is assumed, created his civilization so why with each passing day does it become more corrupt, more threatening to life on earth? These are the questions I ask myself all the time.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Sha’Tara, I share your conclusion that “the Earthian creature is definitely a morally failed one.” I believe that we are still in the process of spiritual/moral evolution. How long will that take? Only the gods know.
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Atul said:
well quoted. such glorifications have caused so much harm to the humanity.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Indeed, Atul. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Atul said:
My pleasure!
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cigarman501 said:
I have no words. Thanks.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Glad you stopped by, Don 🙂 Changing minds and hearts will not be easy.
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AnuRijo said:
Good read 👍🏻..when I read the title I thought twice should I read it or not 😂..bdw, Keep going..I have nominated you for bloggers award http://lafemina.home.blog/2020/06/12/vincent-ehindro-blogger-award/
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for dropping by, Anu, and thanks for the nomination 🙂
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Bette A. Stevens said:
Powerful reminder!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for dropping by, Bette 🙂
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Otto von Münchow said:
The words of James Baldwin are so spot on. And still we keep disfavour and suppress people that are different than we are ourselves. When will be be able to show compassion for all people of the earth?
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Otto, I live in hope that compassion would one day revolutionize our world. Let compassion begin with me ❤
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Daedalus Lex said:
Baldwin always inspires! Thanks for sharing, Rosaliene!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Gary, I’m glad that you also find him inspiring 🙂
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TC said:
Couldn’t agree more. Thank you for sharing this wonderful quote!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Glad you dropped by, TC 🙂
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parneetsachdev said:
I would agree wholeheartedly. We cannot evolve as long as we find issues to justify murder. Be it colour, language or anything else. A murder has to be treated as one.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Parneet, thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts on my post 🙂 In a country where some people are treated as less human than others, justice is not always served.
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parneetsachdev said:
I agree Rosaliene. Justice maybe delayed. But it shall come
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da-AL said:
too true, Rosaliene. Baldwin was a genius, taken from us too soon…
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
He was, da-Al. I’m slowly catching up on reading his writings.
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