Cite your favorite quote from The Pin Drop Speech (Baldwin), and discuss why this particular quote resonated with you. Your response should be at least four sentences long.
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“I’m not a ward of America; I’m not an object in a missionary charity. I’m one of the people who built this country.”
This resonated with me the most in Baldwin’s speech. It stood out to me because when he said it, I was thinking about how degrading it must be to have to defend your humanity and your right to basic human decency. One of the main themes of his speech is: he is an American and is as much a part of this nation as any of them. He is really trying to get them to see the way in which black people are treated and how it wouldn’t be acceptable if done to them. Also, he says that they built this country which is part of another theme of trying to show them that it isn’t just their country that it is also black people’s country, too. It is their labor that served a part in building this country; and in several wars, they fought for their country despite their treatment in it. Throughout his speech, he is building a realistic image of the black experience and the unfairness of it. Therefore, I feel as though this quote is the foundation of his speech and summarizes what he is trying to convey throughout it.
“That image not come about through any legislation on the part of any American government, but through the fact that Africa was suddenly on the stage of the world and Africans had to be dealt with in a way they’ve never been dealt with before”
This quote resonated with me, because it reminded me of something that my mother told me a few days ago; “they’re talking about it because they have to, not because they want to”. It’s impossible to simply ignore such a big chunk of a country’s population that you see everyday. Black people spoke up and wouldn’t let out until they were heard. They weren’t acknowledged because white people wanted to acknowledge them, but because black people were suddenly on the stage in front of them and they were forced to do something about it. Racism is simply being hidden by some people, not eradicated.
“When I was growing up, I was taught in American history book, but Africa had no history and neither did I. I was a savage about whom the less said the better.”
This resonated with me since I believe that American history books or even history books that we were taught in school were about the American history or about the European history. There may have been some days where the teachers talks about Asian countries, but out of a whole school school year, it does not even take up three days to finish talking about it. There has been teaching about the global history when entering high school, but the emphases on American history and European history is definitely more important than others even though the country was built with variety of groups. It was not until I got a little older that I knew that Chinese people actually took part of the building of the railroad across the country. Also when I was growing up, I was implemented the thought that Chinese people remain quiet when certain things happen.
“One has used the myth of Negro and the myth of color to pretend and to assume that you were dealing with, essentially, with something exotic, bizarre, and practically, according to human laws, unknown. Alas, it is not true. We’re also mercenaries, dictators, murderers, liars. We are human too.”
This resonated with me because it is a statement of fact that people needed to hear. During the time of Baldwin, white America did not even consider negros as humans, and they, the whites, needed to hear Baldwin say that they are. Baldwin was just stating in my opinion quite bluntly about how racism degraded African Americans as non-humans. Baldwin even said that not every human is great, they lie, murder and such, but that even African Americans were too. This quote is telling us that we need to see each other as equals and as humans.
“…cleaner, whiter, richer, safer, than where you are, they collect the garbage, people obviously can pay their life insurance, the children look happy… and you go back home and it would seem that, of course, that it’s an act of God that this is true that you belong where white people had put you.”
This quote resonated with me because it is a representation of feelings, emotion, and resentment evoked as a result of white America. America never accepted the thought of black people as human, on the contrary, they were dehumanized in ways that were unimaginable. Moreover, because of the cruel treatment endured for years, I believe a person can only begin to question their fault in all of it. In doing so, people begin to lose faith and accept defeat which is what James Baldwin refers to by saying, “that it’s an act of God that this is true that you belong where white people had put you.”
Until this day there are still many changes necessary to truly achieve equality, if possible.
“When I was growing up I was taught in American history books that Africa had no history and neither did I. That I was a savage about whom the less said the better, who had been saved by Europe and brought to America. And of course, I believed it. I didn’t have much choice.”
I think this quote is really powerful. I believe that the most terrifying thing about our history is that history is written by the victors and conquerors. The ones who are in power can try to justify everything bad they did or are still doing by writing history the way they want. By making other people bad guys and by convincing everyone that these people deserved it. When you are raised hearing, reading how some people are bad, unworthy, you would probably believe it with your heart. If everyone around you seems to agree with this idea, you would not doubt it. This is the tragedy of a single story and I hope that everyone can avoid it to see the reality.
“I’m not a ward of America, I’m not an object in a missionary charity. I’m one of the people who built this country.”
This quote resonated with me the most because it defines how America was formed. Being born and raised in New York has pushed me to realize that America is a huge melting pot and for a specific race to be overlooked because of their skin color is very upsetting. Basic human rights are something that people must have when they are considered residence in America. His entire speech revolves around how being a person of color has limited their freedom as humans. Racism is something that will always be present within the world and Baldwin pointing it out to such a huge crowd of people of diversity, people must be willing to change. Accepting that racism is a subject is a huge step and the time that Baldwin made this speech was a time when people thought it was normal. By giving the speech, he has created a new thought that people must face and seek change.
“When I was growing up I was taught in American history books that Africa had no history and neither did I. That I was a savage about whom the less said the better, who’d been saved by Europe and brought to America. And of course I believed it, I didn’t have much choice. Those were the only books there were.”
This specific part of the speech was very important to me, it was a strong introduction to his speech. It reminded me of something Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discussed in her TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” she mentioned books in Nigeria had only white characters in them and it reminded me of Baldwin because these books influence the way a child is shaped. Similarly, I’ve been taught in school that most history books only discuss their own glories such as history textbooks in NYC may discuss the harmful actions of the south during the Civil War, a textbook from Alabama will discuss different facts and only focus on the good. Children will believe what they’re taught in school, it’s a place for learning so we trust all information is correct, however, it’s important to realize how biased the information may be. Baldwin believed Africa and Africans didn’t have history because Europeans promoted books which made them look glorious so it’s what he was conditioned to believe. It’s extremely harmful to shape children this way because they grow up to not appreciate their own background but instead appreciate the wrong people and are usually blind to the truth of the matter.
“If the American pretensions were based on most solid, a more honest assessment of life and of themselves it would not mean for – when someone says urban renewal that – are simply going to be thrown out into the streets. Which is what it does mean now.”
This quote resonated with me most because it is such a clear message to how different people in America are valued. The displacement of Black people and other POC in America has been an issue in James Baldwin’s time and in our current time. Urban renewal and the displacement of communities of color in James Baldwin’s is a pattern that is seen time and time again in neighborhoods that were once disinvested. This topic peaks my interest, because in New York City, today it feels like everything is changing and prices are raising for everyone, everywhere. More specifically, for me, my neighborhood of Sunset Park Brooklyn has been changing and rent us becoming unaffordable. From over policing, to increased public transportation funding to make the train station prettier, the installation of city bikes every few blocks, and the construction of newer and more expensive buildings, it is beginning to become too expensive for the people that once lived in my neighborhood. Small businesses are closing and more and more people have moved. It leads me to wonder what will become of this neighborhood and wonder where will everyone go, and I also wonder why this is the same story I have heard many times over of neighborhoods that are now occupied by richer white people and have displaced so many POC. Neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Clinton Hill, Red Hook, and even parts of Crown Heights. It scares me that the displacement of people of color has been an issue for so long and continues to happen, which is why this quote from Baldwin had resonated with me so much. It shows me what low income communities and people of color mean to the rest of America, we are just an opportunity to gain wealth at the cost of our displacement, and that scares me, just a little bit.
A quote from The Pin Drop Speech that resonated with me is, “when I was growing up, I was taught in American history books that Africa had no history and neither did I, but I was a savage about whom the less said the better who had been saved by Europe and brought to America and of course I believed it. I didn’t have much choice. Those are the only books there were.” Even though people of color are an important part of American history and deserve just as much recognition as white people received in the American history books that Baldwin spoke about, people of color were left out. This resonated with me because it reminded me of how important it is for schools to teach unbiased American history and have mandatory lessons on racism in America. Without this education, the quote shows that several individuals including Baldwin were forced to believe people of color were savages since there wasn’t any other form of education to teach that this information is false.
“I remember when the Attorney General, Mr. Robert Kennedy, said that it was conceivable that in 40 years in America we might have a negro president”.
After this quote, Baldwin explains that at the time white people were largely taken aback by this statement. This quote resonated with me the most because it shows just how much as a society we have changed. There are still terrible events that happen in America, but most people would not think twice over having a black president. President Obama already broke that barrier and currently America’s Vice President, Kamala Harris, is also a person of color. When I heard this quote from Baldwin, it made me appreciate that I was not born in that era.
“ We’ve been here for four hundred years and now he tells us that maybe in forty years, if you’re good, we may let you become president.”
This quote resonated with me because of how outlandish the statement was. Black people were the actual laboring force that built America! From their slave labor American farmers were able to establish themselves as unbelievably wealthy humans and spent the money on developing buildings and stores which raked in more money. The free labor was unboutly the root cause of their success, yet ignorant statements like this were still made. The fact that the quote above was made by a Kennedy blew my mind even more because he was a well educated man but somehow still blatantly ignorant to the severe mistreatment of African Americans.
“I am not a ward of America, I am not an object of missionary charity, I am one of the people who built the country until this moment, there is scarcely any hope for the American dream because the people who are denied participation in it, by their very presence, will wreck it and if that happens, it’s a very grave moment for the rest.”
This part of Baldwin’s speech resonated with me because of the message that black people are equal to white people and are humans who have a right and should be treated as such. He states that he is not a symbol, he is another person who built the foundations of the country. He is just as important. White people and others who believe black people to be below them can try their best to ignore that significant group, will find themselves faced with a fight back. They will find that the undermined groups will voice their opposition and take back what they deserve to have as equal human beings. There is no American Dream if not all people in America can participate in it, which also applied to the present day.
“It is a terrible thing for an entire people to surrender to the notion that one-ninth of its population is beneath them.”
Baldwin made many remarks that stuck out to me. However, this quote, in particular, put everything into perspective. This statement resonates with me in the way that so much has changed from people advocating for their rights and giving a voice to the voiceless. But to belittle and degrade such a large percentage of people in your own country is terrible and disturbing. Looking at dates, this did not happen too long ago, as it was in the 60s. Much has changed since then but realizing one-ninth of the population was oppressed and treated as lesser is horrifying.
“There is scarcely any hope for the American Dream because the people who are denied participation in it by their very presence will wreck it and if that happens it’s a very grave moment.”
This quote from Baldwin’s Pin Drop Speech resonated with me because I found it interesting that in the past around the time the speech was made that there was someone as knowledgeable and intelligent as James Baldwin. This quote had also resonated with me because what he said in the quote was true and accurate. If you wrongfully prohibit someone from doing or participating in something they will most likely rebel or retaliate because they don’t agree with what is happening. Situations like this have happened many times and people are aware of it now but in the past it wasn’t as common for people to kind of predict or be as knowledgeable about certain things especially if you were African American.
“I am one of the people who built the country, until this moment there is scarcely any hope for the American Dream because the people who are denied participation in it by their very presence will wreck it.”
I’ve often thought about the American Dream and how it entices immigrants to come to America to have a chance at a stable and fulfilling life. I remember watching an old commercial about a white suburban family showing off what it means to achieve the American Dream. Visually, all of their belongings were what they considered to be the American Dream. The lifestyle shown in that video was extremely hyper idealized and does not depeict the struggle many go through to achieve a happy lifestyle. I’ve always wondered what the American Dream was to the people who built this country. I think it’s interesting how Baldwin says “wreck it.” I think it means that because there is little to no hope for those people who built America to achieve the American Dream, visually these people are standing out and wreck the idealized imagery of what the American Dream is.
“When I was growing up I was taught in American history books that Africa had no history and neither did I. That I was a savage about whom the less said the better, who had been saved by Europe and brought to America. And of course, I believed it. I didn’t have much choice.”
This quote resonated with me because it illustrates the struggle of double consciousness that many black people faced. They are taught in history classes that Africans were primal and that they were animalistic in comparison to the Europeans. The light of the hero shines among the Europeans while as black people are seen as those that need saving. The main culture taught in history books are that of European countries. Taking a deeper look within this you can realize how deeply rooted racism has been and still is. History was written in a way that stretches away from the truth and closer to a story that benefits the imperialist or conqueror. Thus making the opposition, in this case black people, feel as if though they have been the the biggest sinners to exist. That’s when double consciousness begins to form and they feel like they need to assimilate in order to feel normal or accepted in society during the time period of Baldwin’s time.
“It seems to me that the City of New York, for example – this is my last point – It’s had Negroes in it for a very long time. If the city of New York were able, as it has indeed been able, in the last fifteen years to reconstruct itself, tear down buildings and raise great new ones, downtown and for money, and has done nothing whatever except build housing projects in the ghetto for the Negroes. And of course, Negroes hate it.”
This quote resonated with me because the reason why most black people live in poor conditions is that the government decided to build housing projects in the ghetto. Schools and businesses get affected because of this and it’s one of the reasons why it’s hard to leave the ghettos. Drug dealing and other criminal activities happen and the government is not able to do much about it. No one wants to grow up in a bad neighborhood where crime rates are astonishingly high and education is low. This quote shows how much the government didn’t care for black people and now black people have to pay the price for it.