Double consciousness
The United States of America, since its inception, has been a "melting pot" of different nationalities. While the term melting pot sounds friendly, this is not the case in reality. Many times cultures collide due their differences in ideology, culture, and geographical proximity. Such culture clashes have marked the history of the United States. Race is usually thought of in the physical sense with difference in skin color, hair, facial features, and language. Although race usually follows along physical lines, it is much more far reaching and extends into the social and cultural beliefs. In the past, the dominant trend was to keep these beliefs separate, consequently increasing the feeling of racial unity and racism in society. History has shown us that man has used segregation as a method of not only keeping the peace, but also of keeping the purity of a race in tact.W.E. Dubois writes that he believes that the conservation of races is the cornerstone of keeping the Negro race pure and intact. Thus, for him, race preservation is not backed only with racial motives, but to help society better itself as a whole. The history of the world is outlined by the histories' of different groups and races, so
Unfortunately, Dubois admits that the Negro race is in a bad situation in America. Many people try to discard their race identity in return for a national identity. Any other course of action would lead to racial prejudice, a struggle that people have fought throughout the course of time. This rejection of racial pride leads to a stifling of combined racial action, lack in race accountability, and the languishing of race enterprises. Dubois also mentions that the best energy, the best blood, and the best talent cannot be harnessed to do the bidding of the race. The African-American by birth, citizenship, political ideas and language may be American. However, before being American, the African-American is a member of a vast historic race that has been in existence since the beginning of creation. The Negro has to realize that his race is not what America is made of. Giving Negroes more than enough sense of pride and reason to strive for race solidarity. It should not be the destiny of an American Negro to be absorbed into white society. If an African loses his distinct racial identity, then how can he begin to convey his message to society? While American society is pluralist, white society is excluding of Black people. Dubois believes African Americans should come together and create a new set of answers to give to the world. Although the Negro race is dealing with the concept of racial identity in America, there has to be a solution that allows African Americans to speak their voice. Dubois feels that it is absolutely possible for two races two live in economic, politic
Some common words found in the essay are:
United Race, Talented Tenth, Negro Academy, Unfortunately Dubois, African Americans, United America, American Negro, negro race, American African-American, Giving Negroes, talented tenth, , racial identity, society history, negro message, african americans, black people, white society, economic political, racial culture,
Approximate Word count = 1065
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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