— Anonymous
Anger is a normal emotion for humans. Being angry is important because it allows us to feel enraged, which is not always a bad thing, sometimes it motivates us to act upon it. Anger can bring out the worse in some people but knowing how to manage and control it can be useful. However, feeling angry for a long period of time can turn into deep hatred, therefore this emotion should not be ignored. Long duration of anger can lead to hatred. Hatred takes away peace from your body and soul. Baldwin writes “I imagine that one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, that they will be forced to deal with pain”. I think some people use anger and resentment as an excuse not to move on not realizing that pain is part of the healing process. Anger can be good emotion for humans to express and feel but I also understand why some people hang on to their resentment. Without anger, how would we know when enough is enough or when to stand up and speak up for ourselves. I cannot imagine Baldwin’s life, knowing his words meant nothing and there was little he could do to change this. Baldwin did not how little his words meant until he was faced with the harsh reality. He finally understood “the weight of the white people in the world” after he was faced with discrimination. He understood why his father lived with resentment and kept a distance from everyone. Baldwin father’s death gave him the chance to do things differently, knowing that his father’s path was not the best way to live. Although Baldwin did not fully comprehend his father’s bitterness until his death, but by doing so, he became stronger and was able to learn from his father’s mistake. He became more aware of the social reality.
