privilege

by

The Dark side of Dutchman

Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman took a possible controversial situation in society between and black person and a white person, specifically a black man and white woman. There are various moments in the storyline that are quite disturbing while observing the interaction between Lula, the white woman and Clark the black man. From the beginning of the woman, has a seductive, carefree nature, however as you engage further, she becomes sinister, taunting and disrespecting Clark to no end. Lula’s interaction seems strategic, almost to keep Clark a bit confused to her motives. The dark vibe of the storyline is horror-like and this can be because there was (and may still be to some) a time where their interaction was dangerous for a black man and punishable by death. Considering Dutchman, the white woman is the black man’s poison, he should have known nothing good would have come from Lula. Lula’s intention was to control and destroy him, and she succeeded in the end with no punishment, she was privileged in society to take down any black man she wanted. Lula makes the statement “And with my apple‐eating hand I push open the door and lead you, my tender big‐eyed prey, into my … God, what can I call it … into my hovel.” Referring to Clay as her prey and tender, she is implying that she knows he is unsuspecting and lead him to his demise. Experiencing the way Lula would expose herself as a liar and one who knows everything but knows nothing, felt like what something that resembles the devil or demon nature would admit. The scary undertone concept of Dutchman is relevant to the possibilities of what can and has happened black men regarding white women. It is undeniable and supported in various situations in history.

Snake and Apple Adam and Eve Garden of Eden | Apple tattoo, Eve tattoo, Snake

by

The Potential of Black Masculinity

The characters of Silas and Jim in “The Chip Woman’s Fortune” were able to communicate the unique position that black men are in. Silas, for example, internalized the anti-Black racism he experienced and unleashed it onto the black women in his home. When unfairly suspended from work, Silas suggested that Aunt Nancy either contributed to the household financially or leave.  Silas says to Emma, “ Everythin’ you sayin’ is true, but she’s either got to give us some money for stayin’ her or she’s got to go” in regard to Aunt Nancy (Richardson, 8).  It’s interesting that once his singular emblem of wealth (the victrola) was at risk it was almost as if he practically traded her in for it. It’s evident that he invested his self-worth and masculinity into this item and he found Aunt Nancy (and her contributions) to be of less value than that. It’s within this window of time that he also reveals that he has been surveilling Aunt Nancy and what she’s been doing with her money. “Ah know because Ah been watchin’ her the last week or so,’ admits Silas (Richardson, 9). He felt entitled to her money, hence why he was watching her save it and felt comfortable enough to police what she did with it. The vulnerable state of Silas’s masculinity motivated him to treat Aunt Nancy with the same distrust that cost him the security of his job.

 

 Is Silas’s perspective in all of this completely rational? Of course it is––– his wife is sick and his daughter is a little too young to work; where else could he possibly look for help? But ultimately, he held Aunt Nancy accountable for something that he purchased and failed to recognize the contradiction in considering her as both dead weight and his only hope.

 

Jim, on the other hand, used his privilege as a man to aid the issue. The money was Jim’s and the decision of what to do with it was completely his. Jim gave more than enough money to Silas for the victrola and he urged that his family keep the extra money: “No, you keep it. You all been good to Ma, and ain’t nothin’ Ah got too good for you,” (Richardson, 22). He chose to help Silas because he saw the value in Silas (and his family) housing Aunt Nancy–– unlike Silas himself.  Jim embodies a responsibility to protect and value Black women and their work. Jim’s character also presents solidarity as a solution and safe space amongst Black people, specifically  between Black men. Jim could’ve thought about himself and the financial burdens ahead of him but he was there for Silas. In the same way white people can be in union when perpetuating white supremacy, Black men deserve a sense of solidarity when facing that white supremacy.

 

Silas and Jim are two sides of the same coin; they both showcase what Black men can do with their identity. They can allow their bodies to be agents of white supremacy by seeking dominance over Black women as a way to salvage their own masculinity or they can use their privilege to protect other Black folk.