“Whatever white people do not know about Negroes reveals, precisely, … what they do not know about themselves”
These were words famously spoken by James Baldwin, a Harlem born novelist, playwright, and activist. James Baldwin grew up in poverty, and faced ridicule from his religious stepfather, who also physically abused him. Not only this, but the color of his skin meant that he would face tons of persecution and racism, just for being black. This was very common at the time, though, and segregation only instilled racism into the minds of people back then. When James Baldwin also famously said “I am Not Your Negro” he was implying that he will not conform to the depiction of African Americans that white people had imagined (lack of dignity). By doing so, he proved the exact opposite of what white people had thought of black people, and in turn, showed how truly ignorant their mindsets were.
Michael
Yves
Xavier
