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.