Malcom X.2.That Monkey Business.

 

So today in class we had a lovely discussion about the "Stimulus Chimp" cartoon published earlier this week in the New York Times. This controversial cartoon sparked arguments, often between whites and blacks, about whether or not the cartoon was in fact, racist. I personally feel that the cartoon was most likely racist because of the historical stereotype of blacks drawn as monkeys. This offensive caricature hints towards the idea that blacks are closer to animals than humans (or they never fully evolved from monkeys in the first place). I think that it was in fact, insensitive of both the cartoonist and editor of the paper not to think that this cartoon would be taken as offensive.

People often feel a strong connection with those of their own race, which you can definitely see when viewing arguments about topics such as that of the cartoon. I saw this family-like feeling a lot between the blacks while reading the next two chapters of Malcom X. For example, as Malcom became a part of the muslim, black community, he both taught and was taught of the evils the white people had done to them as a whole. He encouraged this sort of reverse racism. While talking to his congregation, he said, "Turn around and look at each other, brothers and sisters, and think of this! You and me, polluted all these colors-and this devil has the arrogance and the gall to think we, his victims, should love him!" (Haley 206). This blunt statement got me thinking. It shows how close the community of blacks were and how they were united even further by their hatred for another race. I felt it was a hypocritical statement, but at the same time, I can understand it. African Americans were in fact mistreated to the point where it would become extremely hard to forgive. Then, even after the abolition of slavery, racism continued. Blacks of Malcom's time felt oppressed each and every day. They didn't believe they would amount to anything because the white men told them this. The African Americans therefore, had one thing in common. They had the reason to hate the white race. Everyone wants to belong and feel a part of something and so they did. They unified themselves with this hatred. 

...And so, the blacks side with the blacks, and the whites with the whites. In

the controversy over the political cartoon, I feel that both sides are a bit disillusioned by the stereotypes and racist thoughts they have of each other. I feel that I can't truly empathize with blacks on this topic, because I am a white middle-class female. I also don't think that an African American would be able to understand that a white cartoonist could have, in fact, only drawn a chimp to represent the stimulus plan because of the monkey that had recently been shot for attacking its owner's friend. I also think that both parties have stereotypes of each other that blind them in seeing the overall picture. Man are we messed up...

Another thought I had, was how this is not the first time a president has been represented by a monkey or ape. For example, type in "Bush

monkey cartoon" to google images, and a myriad of images will come up, comparing the former president to the animal. No one took offense to that. No one debated whether or not George Bush was in fact smarter than 

a chimp. I also know that I would be offended if I was depicted as an animal. Its a knee-jerk reaction to being compared to something not as smart as me. I would be offended. 

Now, I understand that there is a huge difference between these situations, because of the chimp stereotype of blacks. I also know that no matter what, there will always be racial tension in the world *Sigh*. However, I think that what people need to learn from this situation, is that we need to be sensitive of each other. We need to think about if what we are doing will be offensive to someone because of their race, hobbies, jobs, etc. We need to do our best to try and eliminate "superiority thoughts". Racism will most likely never be completely eliminated from the earth, but we can do our best to stop it, one teeny, tiny step at a time.  

Malcom X.1.wowzers.

Wow...

That is how I feel about chapters seven to ten. Wow...

I guess we often feel that great leaders come from difficult backgrounds. Divorced parents maybe, a bad neighborhood, motherless, fatherless, the loss of a close sibling, poverty-stricken, sickness, etc. Many leaders are conquerers of some sort of challenge or misfortune, able to stand back up and lead others to do the same. Malcom X, however, went through a heck of a lot more than most people do. I was shocked as I read through the book at just how low he stooped and how involved he got. He was reduced to an animal addicted to drugs, involved in scandals and robbery. Malcom describes his mental situation in chapter nine:

"I viewed narcotics as most people regard food. I wore my guns as today I wear my neckties. Deep down, I actually believed that after living as fully as humanly possible, one should then die violently. I expected then, as I still expect today, to die at any time. But then, I think I deliberately invited death in many, sometimes insane, ways." (Haley 141)

Though Malcom's story of his teenage years amazed me, his ability to overcome it, and the way he decides to overcome it, shocks me still. Although I have not read to the point where he actually decides to turn his life around and start living for his god, Allah, I know enough about his life to realize the difficulty of that act. Its amazing that someone coming from his situation would be able to turn his life around so thoroughly. There were also a few passages in chapter 10 that showed his amazing self restraint and self motivation. Malcom had an incredible power over his body. For example, when Malcom's brother Reginald writes to him and says that he should stop eating pork and stop smoking cigarettes for a chance to get out of prison, Malcom immediately obeys for the chance at freedom. Malcom wanted to be free so badly that he was able to stop his addiction to cigarettes, and did not smoke ever again after 1948. He had no struggle in doing this, he writes about his quitting in one simple paragraph. I can't imagine, how much strength it takes for someone who had been living like him to give up something so simply. Mind over matter, I suppose, or just finally having hope. Malcom's ability to take control of his life just plain amazes me.

I also have a friend who overcame drug abuse when he became a Christian. Joe, as I will call him, had become completely dependent on drugs. He doesn't like to talk about the details of his teenage years, but I know that he was depressed, immoral, and overall, unhappy with the way his life was turning out. Joe was eventually introduced to Christ through family and friends. He was able to turn his life around, quitting drugs and other immoral acts he was involved in. Joe has since then become a missionary in Africa. He spent more than a year witnessing to muslims in Morocco, learning their language, forming personal relationships with them, learning to love as unconditionally as possible, and realizing how important it is to be strong and sure in his faith. His life is completely dedicated to Christ, and I am inspired by that fact. The following link has videos of many different inspiring Christian testimonies: http://www.precious-testimonies.com/TestimonyCategories/SampleTopics/BAvideosIndex.html . The second has various muslim testimonies: http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/index.html . It is clear that no matter what the religion is, testimonies are powerful and show just how much, even the hope of having a God, can change a person's life. 

So wow...

Black People in White Minds

The movie today in class clearly explained typical stereotypes of blacks during the antebellum period. It was shocking to see the caricatures that were created of the African American slaves. Whites made them look like grown up children who needed the master to keep them out of trouble. There were six specific stereotypes: the southern sambo, the northern zipcoon, the mammy, the brute, the urban coon, and the pickaninny. 

The southern sambo was the "happy slave". It was a beaming, laughing, black man who was lazy, dumb, and dependent. This stereotype was created to assure the white population that the slaves were happy where they were. Whites often felt that if the people involved were happy, then slavery must be a good institution. 

The northern zipcoon was an attack on free slaves living in the north. These men were portrayed as unable to speak clearly, though they tried their hardest to act and copy the white man. This stereotype "proved" how the black men were unable to live among whites and that they were not smart enough to survive when in competition against whites. 

The mammy is a loyal, ugly, black, woman servant. This character was always dependent on the white masters and took charge of her own family. She was the head of her family, unlike in white society. The mammy was "manly" in a sense. She was portrayed this way because in reality, she was a threat to the mistresses of the white household. The white masters often took advantage of the black servant women and so white society created mammy in order to delude themselves. White women didn't want to think of black woman as attractive or as competition for their own husbands. 

The brute was the dangerously aggressive black man. This caricature was created as the southern slave holders found that

 their "grown baby" sambo wasn't going to cut it. They needed an even bigger argument to keep people afraid to help the African Americans. Negroes were portrayed as murderers and rapists who attacked young, white virgins. They were reduced to savages, following their animalistic instincts. 

The urban coon was similar to the zipcoon, except that he had extremely low moral standards. Coons were drawn gambling and dancing with razors. They were a consequence of Minstrel groups, or black faced white men who portrayed black men. 

And finally, there was the Pickaninny. The Pickaninny was a black child who was 

dirty, unkempt, often unclothed, with bulging eyes and big lips. The children were often portrayed as being eaten by a crocodile or eating a large slice of watermelon. These drawings portrayed them as animals, helpless and terrifying all in one. 

 I find it amazing how brutal and wrong these portrayals were. I find it even more amazing that we still have some of these stereotypes worked into our brains. Do I purposefully put myself above other races? No...but do I still stereotype people? Yes. Its fascinating, yet alarming how these caricatures were created. This part of history, better not repeat itself....

Malcom X

So far, Malcom X has been one of the best written books that we read this year. Although it isn't exactly the most interesting topic to read about, the writing makes up for it. So far, I have read chapters 1-3 and learned about Malcom X's origins. About how he felt he was "brainwashed" by society into feeling that no matter how hard they tried, blacks would never be as good as whites. For example, while staying in Lansing, Malcom experiences this racism from his english teacher, Mr. Ostrowski, when he describes his aspirations to become a lawyer. 

"Malcom, one of life's first needs is for us to be realistic. Don't misunderstand me, now. We all here like you, you know that. But you've got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer--that's no realistic goal for a nigger. You need to think about something you can be...Why don't you plan on carpentry? People like you as a person--you'd get all kinds of work" (Haley 38). 

This quote shocked me in a way. It shows the outright superiority whites felt. Even though Malcom works harder, gets better grades, and is liked by all, he is still held back by the color of his skin. This passage also made me realize how far we have come. Society has become much more open to different races and although racism still exists and is still a huge problem, a lot has changed since Malcom's time.