Notes of a Native Son - James Baldwin

   Notes of a Native Son

[alert-success] Notes of a Native Son - James Baldwin

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        "Notes of a Native Son", one of the essays in the 1955 collection of essays by American author James Baldwin, explores the author's personal encounters with racism. In this essay, the author discusses his difficult relationship with his father as well as the riot that occurred in Harlem, where he and his family used to reside.

        Baldwin begins his essay by stating that his father passed away just hours before the birth of his last son. Baldwin feels terrible about not being with his father on his deathbed since he fled out of hatred for himself. After his father passes away, he must deal with racial discrimination in society. Because his father has a tendency to be resentful of his children, Baldwin and his father have a problematic relationship.

        Baldwin's father makes an effort to be a happy person for his kids, but the kids have already experienced past bitterness and are unwilling to respond to their father's happy idea. As a result, the father ends up being harsh to his kids. Because of a psychological issue, Baldwin's father can't effectively express even the best of intentions.

        Baldwin's father is suspicious of white people, despite their good intentions. Baldwin's father once refused to go with his young, white teacher, even though she was one of the most sincere people he had ever met. Baldwin's mother exclusively deals with White Welfare Workers and bill collectors that visit their home.

        Baldwin at first has no idea of the racism that exists in his nation, but over time he develops an understanding of all kinds of things. When he visited a self-service store in New Jersey, the employees there had to tell him that they were closed to black people. Not just there, but everywhere, he has been turned down because he is a black man.

 I could not get over two facts, both equally difficult for the imagination to grasp, and one was that I could have been murdered. But the other was that I had been ready to commit murder.

        This is his state of mind after assaulting the waitress at a posh restaurant after being turned away for dinner because he is a black man. He thinks that he must either commit murder or be murdered. Due to his anxious state, he is forbidden from going out to supper with his white companion because he is a black man. Baldwin then understands that because black people do nothing to stop this cruel treatment, they are suffering from blind fever. Baldwin now thinks as though I have betrayed his friend in the strangest, most horrible way. He consequently left New Jersey.

The Negro’s  real relation to the white American…prohibits, simply, anything as uncomplicated and satisfactory as pure hatred.

Because he was not allowed to attend most of their parties because he is a Black man, he was unable to establish a strong bond with his white friend. Baldwin is awful and pitiful for exhibiting this kind of prejudice. Baldwin's father passed away on the day of his birthday while being cared for by his aunt and was hospitalised in the interim. With the assistance of his white buddy, Baldwin travelled there to attend the funeral of his father. He concludes this essay by stating that the relationship between whites and blacks is extremely complex.