Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • James Baldwin On Deluded White People

    Uploaded by

    Michael Jones
    327 views3 pages
    The document summarizes a quote from James Baldwin's book "No Name in the Street" where he argues that many white people live in a state of delusion about themselves and the world due to their privilege. Baldwin asserts that white children are raised with a weak grasp of reality and would be seen as mentally ill if they saw the world as characters like John Wayne. However, black people have not been able to maintain such delusions due to the necessity of examining reality and learning from their situation of historical oppression.

    Original Description:

    Something to think about when you wonder why "black" folks are so angry.

    Original Title

    James Baldwin on Deluded White People

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The document summarizes a quote from James Baldwin's book "No Name in the Street" where he argues that many white people live in a state of delusion about themselves and the world due to their privilege. Baldwin asserts that white children are raised with a weak grasp of reality and would be seen as mentally ill if they saw the world as characters like John Wayne. However, black people have not been able to maintain such delusions due to the necessity of examining reality and learning from their situation of historical oppression.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    327 views3 pages

    James Baldwin On Deluded White People

    Uploaded by

    Michael Jones
    The document summarizes a quote from James Baldwin's book "No Name in the Street" where he argues that many white people live in a state of delusion about themselves and the world due to their privilege. Baldwin asserts that white children are raised with a weak grasp of reality and would be seen as mentally ill if they saw the world as characters like John Wayne. However, black people have not been able to maintain such delusions due to the necessity of examining reality and learning from their situation of historical oppression.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    James Baldwin on deluded white people | Abagond

    http://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/james-baldwin-on-del...

    Abagond
    500 words a day on whatever I want
    Feeds: Posts Comments

    James Baldwin on deluded white people


    Sat 12 Jul 2008 by abagond This is from No Name in the Street (1972) by James Baldwin. It seems as true to me now as the day when I first read it years ago: (http://abagond.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/james-baldwinnyc.jpg)White children, in the main, and whether they are rich or poor, grow up with a grasp of reality so feeble that they can very accurately be described as deluded about themselves and about the world they live in. White people have managed to get through entire lifetimes in this euphoric state, but black people have not been so lucky: a black man who sees the world the way John Wayne, for example, sees it would not be an eccentric patriot, but a raving maniac. People who cling to their delusions find it difficult, if not impossible, to learn anything worth learning: a people under the necessity of creating themselves must examine everything, and soak up learning the way the roots of a tree soak up water. As people still held in bondage must believe that Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make ye free. See also: Apple-pie America (../2008/07/24/2008/03/24/apple-pie-america/) CIndy McCain: Always proud of her country (../2008/07/24/2008/07/21/2008/06/21/cindy-mccainalways-proud-of-her-country/) white privilege (../2008/06/21/2008/07/11/white-privilege/) In defence of Michelle Obama (../2008/06/21/2008/07/24/2008/07/21/2008/06/21/in-defenceof-michelle-obama/) black patriotism (../2008/07/24/black-patriotism/) white patriotism (../2008/07/30/white-patriotism/)

    1 of 3

    7/22/2013 1:23 AM

    James Baldwin on deluded white people | Abagond

    http://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/james-baldwin-on-del...

    Posted in 1970s, 1972, America, james baldwin, patriotism, white people | 6 Comments

    6 Responses
    Stephanie on Tue 15 Jul 2008 at 14:40:09 James Baldwin was one man who tell it like it is whether people want to listen or not. I admire him for his candor and honesty about the state of American affairs, especially racial matters. RIP, James Baldwin Stephanie B.

    Felicity on Fri 18 Jul 2008 at 02:35:26 That is true and their world is crashing around them, the system of buying and selling is falling around a lot of peoples ears. I have come to realise that UK, where I live is in a very very very bad state.

    abagond on Sat 19 Jul 2008 at 03:28:59 I like his writing, but more than that I like how he told the truth and did not play along with what people wanted to believe.

    Matari W_O_R_D! : ))

    on Thu 5 Feb 2009 at 16:00:24

    Josh on Wed 15 Jul 2009 at 20:34:24 I am reading Another Country right now and, as a white man, I feel that Baldwin has a pretty accurate view of the misconceptions that both races espouse behind close doors about one another. He is a beautiful, insightful writer and I am glad that I bought this book while walking on Astor Place one hot afternoon last month . . .

    Shakilah Sanders on Fri 5 Feb 2010 at 00:41:44 Im a young lady who chose this wonderful man to do on mi blavk history project. I choose him because of his lovley bookes and quotes. I love this man and all his accomplishments

    Comments RSS

    2 of 3

    7/22/2013 1:23 AM

    James Baldwin on deluded white people | Abagond

    http://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/james-baldwin-on-del...

    Blog at WordPress.com. The MistyLook Theme.

    Follow

    Follow Abagond
    Powered by WordPress.com

    3 of 3

    7/22/2013 1:23 AM

    You might also like