Demonstration of Racial Segregation in The Work of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois

Racism has been a persistent blight in humanity. The discrimination of people based on their skin color and physical attributes has contributed to adverse consequences in human history, including slavery and genocide. As such, this topic has been the center of literary focus for ages on issues concerning social inclusion and racial equality. W.E.B. Du Bois was a crucial figure in the struggle for equality and civil rights among African Americans. Du Bois’ contribution to the equal rights movement was vital in mobilizing African Americans behind a strong and positive message on the need for equality and the end of segregation. His fictional afro-futuristic short story centers on the relationship between African Americans and white Americans (Du Bois 54). The narrative helps identify the inconsequentiality of equality and the inevitability of racial discrimination. It suggests that despite significant efforts to achieve equality and its undeniable existence, lay futility of trying to achieve an egalitarian society.

Biography of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois is considered one of the most important civil rights figures in American history. Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, he was fortunate enough to obtain a quality education in social sciences that propelled him to research issues concerning African American Freedom. He had been born in a post-Civil Rights that glorified segregation, especially in the American South. Consequently, he developed a keen interest in race relations and issues involved, which pushed him into undertaking social sciences studies intended to help illuminate the folly of racism and facilitate an egalitarian society. However, upon the realization of this futility, he became a propagandist intent on disproving racial inequality. ‘In refuting nineteenth-century theories of ‘Negroid’ inferiority and ‘Caucasoid’ superiority, his work comported with the best science of the day while serving stinging hammer blows against the system of white world supremacy’ (Olson 118) This quote refers to the focus of Du Bois on the race concept and the need for equality by undermining white supremacy. Du Bois achieved successes, such as creating the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1909. He also established The Crisis, a popular magazine that addressed African American issues in America. His work on racial equality and against white supremacy remains significant to date. In essence, he was an integrationist rather than a segregationist in favor of African Americans. Du Bois believed in the ability to develop an egalitarian society where all members co-existed in harmony. This sentiment is expressed in The Comet.

Brief Summary of The Comet

The Comet is an Afrocentric assessment of race relations in the early to mid to 20th century. The narrative begins with an African American messenger tasked with presidential duties. This scenario takes place at a time where a comet is expected to pass close to the earth, which generates substantial conversation. However, he follows the president and others to an underground bunker to wait through the comet’s passing. After being locked down in a hidden cellar, he emerges to find death all around him including those in the bunker. He obtains a meal from a segregationist restaurant. In shock, he ventures further outside only to realize the catastrophic truth that everyone is dead. He obtains a vehicle on the street dodging dead bodies and drives away. At some point, he encounters another person. She had been developing photographs in a cellar when the event occurred sparing her of the calamity. The messenger meets the wealthy white woman and helps her look for her father at his office. After failing to find the father, they head to Harlem to investigate the messenger’s family leading to the conclusion that they are all gone. They return to her father’s place of work, where they develop a relationship that overcomes adversity and racial differences. However, upon the arrival of her father, they discover that the incident was centered in New York. Her family goes on to treat Jim, the messenger, as a lowly African American despite his efforts to help the young woman. She also looks away and leaves, returning to her cultural perceptions of African Americans.

Analysis of the Narrative

The narrative addresses the primary theme of race relations between African Americans and white Americans in New York. The messenger, Jim, worked in a lowly position that was reserved for African Americans. His position made him insignificant despite his ability to find safe shelter as the tail of the comet passed through New York. This dynamic helps indicate the pervasiveness of racism during this period. People of color were often relegated to menial positions while white occupied positions of power. The messenger’s entrance into the restaurant further indicates this racist culture since he could not obtain a meal in the restaurant before the event. It can be adequately described through a quote from Du Bois’ book The Souls of Black Folk. The ‘Negro’ was veiled and denied self-consciousness, ‘…but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world’ (Du Bois 2). The white-dominated society held a biased perception of African Americans as lower class and lacking ambition or smarts. This situation is also reflected in the young woman’s perception of Jim. She is afraid to be left with an African American man during such a situation to a point that she flees his security. This segregation and racist culture dominated the city of New York and facilitated the mistreatment and underestimation of African American people.

Further assessment of the narrative indicates the possibility of integration and equality in the era. The interactions between the messenger and the young woman moved from prejudicial to one of admiration. Despite focusing on the color of his skin, she changes her position and starts to admire the manly African Man who had helped her during a period of peril. It shows that the indiscriminate nature of the calamity equalized races since everyone was gone and there was no opportunity to engage in racist perceptions. This moment is reflective of Du Bois’ integrationist ideology. It indicated that individuals from different races could co-exist in a conflict-free world. However, this understanding is quickly extinguished after the appearance of other white men. They still viewed Jim as a ‘Negro,’ further proving the persistence of racist values among the dominant class. They even asked whether he had had his way with the young white woman, which links to the sexual aspect of racism that was present during the time. Du Bois addressed sexuality, reproduction, and genealogy to replace the dominant concept that claimed, ‘…the nation in which he resided was a majoritarian racial entity, and the majoritarian memory of the nation was racist insofar as racialized reproduction…’ (Weinbaum 17). Even after the realization that Jim saved the young girl, the white men cannot appreciate his work other than through a cash gift and further mention of the derogatory term for African Americans. Overall, this narrative indicates the possibility of integration and the inevitable persistence of white supremacy.

Conclusion

In summation, Du Bois’ story helps indicate the pervasiveness of racist views in early 20th century New York. This racism included segregation and African American inferiority in the face of white dominance. The narrative fits into Du Bois’ perspective of possible integration but the eventual continuation of racist perspectives. This understanding is evident in today’s society, albeit implicitly.

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