In a child’s first few years, the dangers and dark spots of society are usually hidden away. With those who have not in society, that is far from the truth. Those dark spots are not only out in the light, the marginalized are trapped within them trying to both understand it and escape it. These people are exposed to the fallacies of the social contract of society.

Trevor Noah speaks directly on the social contract and the meaning behind it. The social contract is an agreement that holds a society together. Unfortunately not all who agree to the contract are treated the same. That lies the fine print present within the contract. Those who are exposed to the fine print or the fallacies, are not the full citizens. Most of those who sign the social contract are exposed to some clause of the agreement that entails some short comings and prejudices against them. These full citizens are those who have much more control and say over the contract. In American society, those who are fall within the intersectionality of Christian white, straight men are full citizens. The mental frame (white racial frame) of these citizens are treated as the norm within this society and spreads as a plague throughout. James Baldwin described the dynamic of innocence and immaturity that is allowed within that small community and those who benefit on smaller scale. White people can be the monsters who loot the souls of BIPOC and be seen as pure whereas BIPOC are only demonized. With their privilege, its as if they give out this contract using predatory methods on BIPOC. As this contract does not have the thoughts and words of the other citizens – who should be full citizens but our treated as if they’re empty – full citizens are often shocked by how the ’empty’ retaliate and challenge the system.

James Baldwin’s work ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ speaks on the fragility of the contract and how it has been challenged during his specific time. He does so by discussing three men that attacked this social contract and weakened it on such a level. Each of these men represented an important entities or organization within the black community. Martin with black Christianity, Malcolm with the Nation of Islam and Medgar with the NAACP. Each entity Baldwin said he couldn’t officially join each institution due to the separation of the black and white church with Christianity, the notion that all white people are evil with Islam and the focus on black affairs that the NAACP. Baldwin at the point of this writing grew tired, exhausted of the fight but felt it necessary to discuss the story of these three different men who all represented the same thing, the black plight. They all were more alike than many gave them credit for and all of these people Baldwin expected to outlive him as he was the oldest. It broke his heart with each of them passing before the tender age of 40. I like how Baldwin addresses this social contract and who benefits from it, who created it and those who upkeep it. It was a powerful piece. He saw the overall narrative as now that black people, who play a significant role in building the nation, are treated as if they are no longer needed, therefore no needed within the country by white counterparts. The innocence of white people or full citizens is spared and guarded but that is not the case with ’empty’ citizens. All in all, the piece just moved me and this contract, with people challenging the fine prints is going to bring up ‘the wrong ways’. The cause is more important that effect. Baldwin and Noah both speak a bit about the connection between events or movements. Baldwin states the future of the nation is indicative of the future of blacks and Noah noticed the dominoes that fell in order before Floyd’s death.