In “Letter to My Nephew,” author James Baldwin most certainly demonstrates his agenda and his audience. The era in which this piece was written was a dire time for most African-Americans, as the white male reluctantly allowed the black man into society. In fact, James Baldwin could not have portrayed it any better, as the black man molded into society was as much of an “upheaval to the universe” for the white man as “the stars aflame.” The letter was, in reality, a demonstration to the readers that black men, as much as white, were as personable as can be, and have families and nephews. This writing was intended to show that African-Americans can love, care and look out for other people as well, if not better than, anyone else. However, James Baldwin really strikes his note when he suggests that not only should his nephew not retaliate the behavior towards his white counterparts, but that the youth should love and embrace them. He realizes the notion that love is the only way to mend relationships between one another. But the courage it must have taken to write that to his young nephew, who most likely at that time was suffering in a segregated life and looked down upon, is an even greater feat. If there were not tears on his paper as he wrote I would be surprised, as throughout all the suffering he endured, James Baldwin still weathers the situation incredibly and better than anyone can expect.

The real tragedy, Baldwin writes, is that the whites are “trapped in a history they do not understand,” that they cannot comprehend being an equal. It is truly ironic since our Constitution clearly states that “all men are created equal.” So to say that that African-Americans are not equal is to say they are not men, not human beings. That is how ridiculous the “history” the whites were stuck in was, so much so to contradict basic biology. Heavy hearts is all that can be expected from people suffering in these situations, and the fact that Baldwin endured the storm and kept his head high to be a great influence on his young nephew, and embrace love does wonders for him as a person. We need more people like James Baldwin in this world.

The time to take a step forward is now, and James Baldwin’s, “The Fire Next Time- My Dungeon Shook,” recognizes this truth. During its publication in 1962, the timing could not have been more perfect because the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak and the United States of America was at racial unrest. We know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a national protest to highlight the inequalities against African Americans and this relates to Baldwin’s work as a written protest to those who were losing hope in themselves and White America that had a lack of opportunity for Blacks.

The letter written by Baldwin was addressed to his nephew as a stylistic choice, but was meant to raise the consciousness of the young Blacks, especially men, to see beyond the societal ills of their time and work towards a prospective future for all Americans. In the passage, what Baldwin said, “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear,” was meant as a mean to elevate African Americans way of thinking from hate to love without being blinded by naivete.

The choice to make this piece a letter is most important because it signifies solidarity and strength in a personable way.  Young African Americans can relate to accepting advise from an older relative, while the older African Americans could see it as an affirmation to the truth and ideal way to encourage the younger generation to seek strength in unity amongst all Americans than segregation from whites.

This was my first time reading this piece, and I thought it was brilliant and extremely well written. The emotion with which Baldwin writes makes the reader feel engrossed and personally connected.

What I thought was most meaningful about the piece is that the author, the uncle, repeatedly tells his nephew that he cannot be defeated unless he lets everyone’s comments get to him. It is an extremely powerful message- we are in control of our own emotions and reactions. We are in control of our position. Other people might be trying to knock us down, but we are only knocked down if we let them knock us down. They can’t do it without our permission.

Another part that I found brilliant was when he said “they are trapped in a history that they do no no understand, and until they understand, they cannot be released from it.” I found this metaphorical language comparing the history to a prison- something that they are trapped in- very strong.

It also lends to the topic because it makes a comparison to the fact that the African Americans were trapped- trapped in the positions they were thrown into, trapped in slavery, and trapped in the stereotypes of society. But although the the White people seem to have been the free ones- not in slavery of any sort, they are too, trapped. There are all kinds of trapped- and in this case, it may not be a physical imprisonment, but rather, being trapped in the racist history of their ancestors.

Going even further, this lends to common ground between the two groups. While one may  have been the slaves, and one the slaveowners, they are both trapped in the same history, and both are having a hard time being released.

Baldwin’s piece shed light on some of the many underlying problems in American society.  Throughout the nation’s history, we have seen slavery and racism be what really defined what this nation was all about.  One can say America is the land of opportunity, but that does not necessarily that opportunity will be given equally to all.

One physical trait is all it took for people to turn its backs on their fellow human beings.  Much of the country’s history has been about the struggle blacks had to face.  Oppressed by the whites, they were forced to act upon what they believed was right.  While some held true to who they really are, those who ended up “believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger,” were victims of a system that set them up for failure.  Even the “freedom” granted from the Emancipation Proclamation doesn’t really mean all too much in the grand scheme of this if blacks are “free” to do as they please only if it is within the boundaries of what the oppressors had in place.  What is history can forgotten is one of the main takeaways from his line “no one’s hand can wipe away those tears he sheds invisibly today, which one hears in his laughter and in his speech.”  A nation who had said “all men are created equal,” should really have said “all white men are created equal.”  It is not just the struggles of blacks that plagues our past, but the women as well.  A “melting pot” is what you can call America, but whether or not you choose to assimilate or integrate, you will still lose sight of who you once were.  The hardest facts to accept is that “you must accept them,” because if you don’t everyone will keep on moving along without you.

In his lengthy letter, “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation,” to his nephew, James Baldwin portrays the actual reality of the “one hundred years of emancipation.” Even though the white men might have been celebrating this day, Baldwin had warned his nephew not lower his guard and accept this day as a success. He continued to reminded his nephew, James, of the segregated world they live in, where black folks were forced live and die in their ghetto communities, separated from everyone else. In these ghettos they would never be equals; most of the time black kids weren’t even given the proper education to even spell their names out correctly. Baldwin also stated, “This is the crime of which I accuse my country and countrymen, and for which neither I nor time nor history will ever forgive them.” He strongly believed that what their ancestors had to suffer through should never be forgotten nor forgiven.

If one looks hard enough in his text, he or she could see a hint of optimism in his letter. Although he and his brother (the nephews father) have been battered, demoralized, and dehumanized their entire lives; Baldwin had dreams of a better tomorrow and wanted his nephew to understand. He believed that if the black populace was able to convince the white populace of the crimes they did, then just maybe they could bring real change to the world. A major point Baldwin also made is “you can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger” Baldwin reminded his nephew that it is important to remember who he truly is and never let anyone put him down in order to succeed.

James Baldwin’s letter was certainly very inspirational and important to his nephew. James most definitely took his uncle’s words to heart and they probably helped him achieve greatness in his life despite all the hardships he had to endure.

Hand-written letters from loved ones will forever hold a special place in my heart. When I moved to the U.S. from Poland, my grandparents sent me numerous letters that kept me sane during days that I especially longed to see my friends and family. The letter written to James immediately brought me back to the times when an envelope in the mail was enough to make me feel at home. Having asserted my views on hand-written letters, I feel that this letter in particular can make anyone feel as if it were written especially for them. I am aware that I am not James nor am I black, but I am able to empathize and understand the struggles that Negroes were and still are forced to face.

Although I have personally done nothing wrong, I feel a tinge of guilt when James Baldwin refers to the “white world” and its condescending actions against blacks. His words are full of pain but they also inspire hope. Baldwin tells his nephew that the real problem is not that African Americans need to be seen as white in order to be accepted, but that the white people need to realize how terrible their actions are. They need to be able to see how cruel and unfair they have been towards other human beings who only vary from them with the color of their skin. I agree with Baldwin, through love and care for one another we can eliminate the terrible stereotypes and stigmas we have created over the years. The quote, “The very time I thought I was lost, My dungeon shook and my chains fell off”, is one of the most inspiring messages I have ever encountered. It tells us that even when we feel that there is no way out and we have done everything in our power, not everything is lost.

“And I remember with pain the tears which my hand or your grandmother’s hand so easily wiped away, but no one’s hand can wipe away those tears he sheds invisibly today which one hears in his laughter and in his speech and in his songs.”

It’s what hits closest to home that we, as humans, wish most to protect. In, “Letter to My Nephew,” by James Baldwin, all of the pain, the hope, the worry, the strength that has built up through his own struggle and experience comes out and works beautifully into a heartfelt piece of advice that Baldwin wanted to pass on to his young, developing, still open-hearted nephew. You can tell solely by his use of words how much thought and emotion is poured into effort. He warns and reminds his nephew of all the trouble he and people alike will always have to go through because of the stigmas and the stereotypes and the fear and whatnot that has built over years and years prior to his birth to bring immediate hatred towards his entire race. Baldwin pleads with his nephew, exclaiming “please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity and fear.” He encourages a sense of faith and optimism instead of guilt and revenge against all the bad that could turn him so. What gets me the most is the forgiving nature that Baldwin seems to carry. Despite all he has witnessed and been through, he still believes that the only way to bring the world back to good is to preach love and acceptance. He has a light quality to him, one that can only be known by what he’s been through himself yet he still knows passion and respect and tenderness for the people who have shown him so wrong. I feel it’s this kind of thinking that gets the world moving to a better place. It’s this kind of mentality that keeps us sane while everyone around us may not be, and it’s this kind of heart that knows how to love and be loved in a world that says otherwise. It’s individuals like Baldwin, intelligent, compassionate, still so deeply engrained with warmth in a cold society that can really make a change. He makes me feel this sort of way, and honored to be able to have read his innermost thoughts. It’s really something.

Emily Weiss

02.18.2016

I found James Baldwin’s My Dungeon Shook exceptionally intriguing because it showcased and emphasized the racism that was prevalent during that time period. Baldwin begins his letter by explaining to his nephew about who he is and what it means to himself and his father. He goes on to discuss the effect of white culture on African-American culture and how racism has effected his own life, and what he should expect growing up as an African-American in America. Baldwin tells his nephew that he shouldn’t settle with the expectations that America has set up for him due to his color and race. He points out that his grandfather believed he was inferior to white people and says that he should not think like this because it would destroy any dreams or goals that he wants to achieve in his life. Towards the end of the letter, Baldwin tells his nephew to be proud of his background and should not be afraid of his race, because many other people have died in order to further the lives of future African-Americans. 

I agree with all of the points that Baldwin makes throughout the letter to his nephew. Growing up as a Muslim, I suffered from derogatory remarks, especially post 9/11. Many of these remarks were because of ethnic background as well as my religious background. During this time, my parents gave the same advice that Baldwin gave his nephew. They told me to not think I was inferior to those who insulted me and encouraged me to aspire to become better than those people. This inspired me to treat others the way I would want to be treated and not discriminate against any one. I believe this one of the key elements that James Baldwin is trying to convey in his letter to his nephew which is basically not to take shit from anyone, and aspire to become the best person you can be. 

This powerful essay by James Baldwin is, unfortunately, just as true and just as relevant in 1963 as it is today. We have come quite a long way in terms of legislature and in respect for one another, but we are sadly far from equality; both in society and in many of our hearts. In this essay there is a clear separation being made of two societies, white America and black America. It describes two races, two peoples, living in the same country, in the same states, same cities, under completely different conditions. This notion is not lost on us today. James instructs his nephew, his namesake, to not be a product of what white society wants him to be. It is a heartfelt survival guide, not mean for his physical well being, but for this survival of his spirit. Young James needs to break the mold that was crafted for him before he was even born. White America is in denial of the realities that the blacks were facing during this time; calling their struggle an ‘exaggeration’. It is scary how reminiscent this is of issues today. James portrays that whites do not understand the true degree of their crimes against humanity. He calls them “the innocent” in a sarcastic tone. This essay in my opinion is less painted with hatred for white people than it is with love for his nephew. There is a great deal of pathos being used in this essay, it greatly appeals to your emotions. As his nephew was born, they were instantly worried, ‘trembling’, of what his life might hold for him, as a black man. Yet they were filled with joy at their baby boy. James says that the whites had a loss of identity after slavery was abolished, the more prominent blacks became in society the more afraid whites became. The cultural demographic was changing and this made people terrified. James powerfully states that they are celebrating 100 years of freedom ‘100 years too soon’.

One of America’s greatest crime is its long history of discrimination and racism while it poses as the “land of the free”. African Americans were brought up in ghettos and faced discrimination solely because of their race. They were raised believing that they were “worthless human being”. Just like Uncle James stated “this is the crime of which I accuse my country and my countrymen and for which neither I nor time nor history will ever forgive them, that they have destroyed and are destroying hundreds of thousands of lives…”(8). The urgency of the letter was affluential to the point I felt as if the letter was being addressed to me, the reader. The pathos was definitely a strong point of  this letter.

The small problem I had was that Uncle James was too considerate when he said “most of mankind is not all of mankind”. Take a moment to understand what America has done to your people, to your culture and to your future. Racism would not have been such a controversial issue today if not for what happened in the past. This letter was written to offer sagely advice. Shortly before the advice, there was a list of grievances against society, which shed light on the psychological effects of being born black. They were taught that they were worthless, that they would settle happily on being mediocre, and that they could not aspire to excellence. Uncle James then urges his nephew to turn a deaf ear to his countrymen and trust only his experiences. But most importantly Uncle James cautions against conforming to the whites. From what I perceived, whites have not experienced discrimination and danger. So when any changes come about, they will react with fright and terror. Growing up in the harsh ghettos allows you to function in other environments. In ghettos, there are low chances of upward social mobility. There are no connections as opposed to other ethnic groups such as enclaves. When African Americans accept whites, it will be a time when whites are no longer prejudiced, when they recognize that they are at the same level as African Americans.

It’s time to make a step. From the first sentences of this letter when the author is saying that it took him five times to write it, you can feel that it’s not going to be easy to read the letter. Right then I felt the pain, life experiences, his way of life. It took me three times to read it, before I was able to try and write a review and personal opinion about it.
Race and color of the skin are still most demanded topics in peoples’ life. You hear stories of a white police officer killed a black kid on the street, black man robbed the deli and shot the indian cashier and so on. But how many years have gone by since Afro-Americans received equal rights in US? Not long ago, we were talking about human civilization, I can see that the author knows the history of his people and I think he was one of those who fought for freedom, and now he’s trying to explain to his nephew that the fight is over and the best thing he can do is to forgive the rebels which are still out there and who’s thinking that the fight is not done yet. I can be wrong, but I feel like the author is trying to show that some white people are now more slaves of their prejudices then the black people back in the days. That it took so many years to open the eyes of humanity, but still there are some with closed ones.. He’s asking to forgive them because they are stuck in their mind and there is no way for them to be free from their own prison they are in. In the last part of his letter he gives advice not only to his relative, but to mankind, he says that we need to get rid of the chains, shook our dungeon to be able to make a next step in our bright future, without it we are still going to be in the dark ages.

James Baldwin, in a letter to his 15-year-old nephew upon the 100^th anniversary of emancipation, instructs his nephew not to be bitter towards white people or to hold against them the racist beliefs they hold.  He instructs his nephew rather to be welcoming and loving of them, and to try to change them into who they should be.  This involved the breaking down of the illusions that prop up racist mindsets.
This is a very bold and brave idea and is a testament to Baldwin’s strength of character.  Although he may sound cynical at times when speaking of the obstacles placed in front of his nephew, I think writing off his warnings to his nephew as cynical is a superficial analysis of his ideas.

Perhaps Baldwin takes honesty this seriously because he understands the dangers of illusions.  Racist idea’s themselves are examples of illusions, which, as Baldwin says, enhance the holder’s sense of identity.  Likewise, Baldwin would not want to put his nephew under the illusion that America was giving him a fair shot.  In this sense, what initially appears as cynicism is in fact and example of hope defying the odds, as Baldwin affirms that the way America treats his nephew is not right and is not normal.  Baldwin nudges the reader toward envisioning an America free of these illusions, where his nephew is treated as he should be.

My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation by James Baldwin is an emotional and very truthful letter. This letter that uncle James writes to his nephew tells him what to expect in the future about his race. This letter is about the existence of racism that African Americans have to encounter with everyday. Uncle James tells his nephew some of his experiences that he had as a young adult, so he won’t experience them like him.

He first began to explain to his nephew about his identity and who he is.  In other words, he told him he can’t be destroyed unless he doesn’t know who he is. For example, the last sentences of the first paragraph explains part of the letter. “You can only be destroyed by believing that you are what the white world calls a nigger” (7).  If he (nephew) believes that he is what the white world calls him, he knows he wont be accepted. He shouldn’t settle down and expect to make peace with mediocrity. Uncle James tells his nephew that in todays world, his ambitions and future is already set for him based on one reason. That reason is the color of skin, him being black meant he was a “worthless human being.” But he’s loved in this world by family and hopes that it will make him feel at ease and strengthen “against the loveless world.”

Uncle James continues to tell his nephew his opinion on what the white society thinks of his culture and that the opinions of the white people do have on impact on the African Americans. However, uncle James states that “acceptance and integration” is something that his nephew should act on. He mentions that he shouldn’t become a white man but just accept them. He knows that some of the white people understand the history of his race and some don’t. He explains that for years men believed or still believe that black men are inferior to white men. That’s why uncle James tells his nephew that he should accept them love because there are two different types of people.

At the end of his letter he points he points out that his nephew shouldn’t be afraid of who he is. (going back to the last sentence of his first paragraph). That in fact he should be proud, his past has created a better future. He has come a long way. He past included men who picked cotton or dammed rivers but have created monumental dignity. He knows that while his past created that dignity they still have to fight their freedom. “You know, and I know, that the country is celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too soon.  We cannot be free until they are free.” Uncle James tells his nephew its going to be hard to achieve his accomplishments, including his freedom but they will do it. Overall, this chapter was interesting. There was a lot to analysis and there were many topics to write about but the main important topic was racism that can be connected to todays society.

Inequality has sadly been part of our culture for centuries. Even today, our freedom and equality is limited. In “Letter to my Nephew”, James Baldwin fills this letter with emotions and life lessons. Baldwin wanted to make his nephew, James, aware of the reality his whole family had to gone through over the years. His grandfather in particularly , lived with the believe of what white people saw him as “a negro”(7). Refusing to see another family member fail and fall into this idea, Baldwin suggests a different and better life for James. Becoming a “strong, tough and philosophical” (8) man, would give him value to make himself worthy in the eyes of those who only see the color of his skin. Baldwin mentions that the idea of the life he is supposed to have (in the eyes of  white americans) should not make him live by it, he should not feel inferior to anybody, because he is smart and capable of being who he choses to be. Baldwin describes the white Americans to be afraid of losing their identity if they get involved with African Americans, without realizing the narrowness and unfairness they are creating.

James Baldwin’s letter to his nephew, also shows his acceptance towards the white americans, even after the treatment they offer. He says with love everything is possible. With love from your close family, anybody could over come a loveless world. They were not at fault of growing in Harlem, thats what destiny had for them, but that should not scare or limit them. They have to over come these obstacles in order to be accepted, matter fact, Baldwin mentions that the white will never accept them, but them, as the bigger person, should accept the white and love them. He uses the word “integration in order to make America what America must become”.

Through out the years African Americans have been accepted, however, there is always a few segments that still live with that resentment because of different situations still occurring.

This is such a wonderful rhetoric. Instead of saying “I’m your uncle,” he states “I keep seeing your face, which is also the face of your father and my brother” (7). I don’t know about you, but I think that’s brilliant. If it was me who wrote this, I would be like “you look like your father, who is my brother.” James emphasizes “we have not stopped trembling yet, but if we had not loved each other none of us would have survived” (9). This quote is significant because it shows that if these African Americans do not love who they are and stand together, then there will be no change.

This reminds me of Joshua in the play Cloud Nine. Joshua is played by a white male possibly because Joshua wants to be a White man and desires what white people have.  He said he hated his own people and that they are bad.  Even when his parents died, he didn’t go to their funerals.  This definitely shows that he is disgusted with the black race and prefers to be associated with whites–to the point of being white himself. James, however, wants his nephew to love and appreciate himself, and that goes for every colored people. Do not let anyone’s judgment become reality. Do not try to be white. If you do not accept yourself, how can you make others accept you?

James then goes on and make a move about don’t trust anyone, including himself, and trust your own experiences. This is true because everyone experiences their lives differently, and the world changes everyday. Wow, the letter started with “Dear James” and ended with “Your uncle, James.” The uncle does not want his nephew James to follow the similar footsteps as their family. It sounds like as if Uncle James does not want his next life to be what he had been through. This letter should be to the world, but Uncle James made it to his nephew James to establish a connection.

In James Baldwin’s Letter To My Nephew, from the beginning it’s full of emotion and hope for his nephew as well as a sense of desperation that had been faced by past generations of African Americans. The letter to his nephew is one that speaks of the types of racism that he will unfortunately have to face in his life as an African American man in the United States. Both institutionalized and internalized racism are depicted in a highly personal way which is evident when Baldwin says “They have had to believe for many years, and for innumerable reasons, that black men are inferior to white men.” Even though this piece was written many years ago it seems like it’s still relevant now with what is currently happening in the U.S.. In some situations it’s as though people still believe that others are inferior or not good enough because of their color or their background. In this piece he is essentially telling his nephew that racism is alive and well and that others don’t want to see him prosper but he should ignore what is being said about him and do what will be best for him. He tells him not to conform to what white people and others want and expect from African Americans and explains to him all that his family and others have gone through to get to the position that he is in today.

While reading this I was surprised by how such an emotional and powerful message from an uncle to a nephew could encompass so much of what people of color, in particular African Americans face because of their skin color and origin. The piece perfectly captures the desolate outlook older generations of African Americans faced and all of the struggles that they had gone through to give their children and future generations a better life than they have had. The letter gives advice to the nephew while also dispensing bits of family background as well as words of encouragement and strength to help him get through whatever he may face in the future. This piece was truly one that made me think about all of the racism and struggles that people face and how the perception of color and social constructs have caused this to become a constant struggle that people still deal with now.

In the short reading, “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation”, James Baldwin writes a somber yet somewhat hopeful letter to his fifteen-year-old nephew who was named after him. In it, he states quite clearly and straightforwardly that, “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger” (7). Baldwin in essence is trying to build up his nephew’s confidence and self-worth. He doesn’t want him to think that a description of color be the reason for any distinction or discrimination against him. He says, “Please try to remember that what they believe as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear” (10).

What I found interesting was Baldwin’s approach to whites. Instead of “fighting fire with fire” (again, another metaphor!) by differentiating and distinguishing between whites and blacks (as the white people of the time wished to do), instead he chooses to unite them in a sense. Baldwin shows no interest in returning the hostile attitude that the whites have demonstrated towards the blacks. In fact, when referring to the countrymen (specifically those who acted cruelly towards black people), he says “my country and my countrymen” (8). He still demonstrates love and devotion to his country; a sort of willingness to be a part of it. Shortly after, he describes the white people as “innocent and well-meaning people” (8). And when Baldin speaks of having to accept them (white people), he says to do so “with love”, for they are “still trapped in a history which they do not understand” (10), again showing understanding for the position they are in that has led them to be so ignorant.

Given the sensitive history that blacks have endured, I find his words commendable. A letter like this could have had a much different tone and attitude, like anger or hatred (justifiably so). Instead there is a sense of maturity (which must be very difficult for him on his end) in his approach to the problem.

In the “Letter to my Nephew”, it details a writing by an uncle to James. The writing demonstrates the helplessness and desperation the older generation of African-Americans have, trying to persuade the younger generation of the same. Many African-American minds were broken by the socialization that their ethnic group was a “worthless human being” (9). There were no expectations from them and they were forced to accept the mediocre life that is being handed to them. The numerous younger generations of African-Americans are obviously unable to accept such a fact–the fact that their life was already decided before they were born. They want to be able to have the American dream life like the Whites and have them to be able to accept that they are equal. In the letter, the uncle desperately pleas that James doesn’t do such a thing.

These tragic stories illustrate the strength of socialization at a young age has to define the future attitudes of any children. In the letter, the uncle tells of the socialization of the Whites, they are brainwashed, in a sense, to believe that they are the superior race compared to Blacks. After being told numerous times at a young age, it became reality to them, something natural. Obviously in nature, nothing is written that Blacks are inferior to Whites–it’s a social construction. As said by the uncle, “they have destroyed and are destroying hundreds of thousands of lives and do not know it and do not want to know it” (8). It’s socialization at its finest. Even when reality is breaking for them, they refuse to accept it.

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin had a very interesting suggestion for the other James, his namesake and nephew. It was very hard for James to tell his nephew what he thinks about his past as he wrote this letter to him for the fifth time. Rather than teaching his nephew to strive for a greater good, James informed his nephew that he is inferior because he is of color. I find this to be a discouraging message interesting in the sense that James told his nephew there is nothing wrong with his past and he should get accustomed to it because times have not changed and races will never be of equal rights. James is trying to convince his nephew that he is living in pretty similar circumstances of his ancestors picking the cotton and building railroads and it is not as different today that people claim it to be. He tells James he is born in unfortunate circumstances, but he should not try to change it. The only positive thing that got them through those hard trembling times was the love that surrounded them and bonded them as a family. That is the most important part and reason for survival and the reason to continue on and be strong for him and his family’s future. James degradingly tells his nephew that because he is Black society sets low standards for him and determines his limits, making him have to live in a world where white people must accept him. This is because James believes the past still stands and isn’t really the past, for it is more similar today than most people are able to realize and admit to. James at the end, assures his nephew to do good and that he has ancestors that have been very accomplished and in fact, he too, has the capability to go a far way, against many odds.