In English 1310: Introduction to American Literature, we were discussing two different pieces of literature — one by Booker T. Washington and the other by W.E.B. Du Bois. Although the writers had two different ways of thinking, both men were discussing the same thing: educating blacks and assimilation into white culture. Washington thought blacks should all be educated for trade jobs, all-too-similar to the occupations they held as slaves. Contrarily, W.E.B. Du Bois thought blacks should be individually educated like any other race. Booker T. Washington’s argument that blacks should only be educated for trade jobs was an effort to have blacks assimilate into white culture.
Although Du Bois thought assimilation into white culture could work for other groups, like the Italian and Irish immigrants who were trying to assimilate into American white culture at the same time, it could never work for blacks because of differences in physical attributes. Because blacks do not look similar to whites, he argued we will always be too different for them, therefore any effort to please them and assimilate into their culture will be lost. The closest any black could come to assimilating into white culture would be to stay where white people preferred them, as Washington suggested, by only holding jobs similar to that of a slave.
While sitting in class, I realized that this is an argument that blacks still have to this day. Actually, it’s an argument I had just a week or two ago. I had shown a friend a creative writing piece I had written that won a Silver Key in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards. The piece is called “Strange Fruit on White Walls,” inspired by the song “Strange Fruit” sung by Billie Holiday. My piece tells multiple fictional stories about slaves, their sympathizers and the cruelty that came upon them; an extremely dark story, but a piece I’m extremely proud of. After hearing the story, my friend asked if a Silver Key was the equivalent of second place in this competition. When I confirmed that it was, he immediately said: “It was good, but if you hadn’t written about that subject then you would have won first place. It was dumb to submit that piece.”
It wasn’t as if the thought had never crossed my mind; if I had not made the judges uncomfortable I probably would have won first place, but by no means did I believe it was dumb to submit the piece I had submitted. “Strange Fruit on White Walls” is the piece that needed to be submitted. My friend proceeded to look through all The Maneater articles I had on my bed and comment: “If you hadn’t titled it this way, more people would read it. Everyone knows what you’re talking about, there’s no need to be so hostile. It turns people off.” While walking out, he implied that no one would like me for being the diversity columnist.
My question is this: why do some blacks believe that if we don’t bring up certain subjects, they’ll just be forgotten and everything will be fine? If we don’t bring up what happened to our ancestors or those unfortunate souls today, white people will feel more comfortable giving us awards. Why should I hide one of the best pieces I’ve ever written because it’ll make some white people uncomfortable?
I admit, there’s a time and place to call white people out, but you should never dumb yourself down or quiet your own voice to make it a comfortable space for them, as Washington’s passive approach suggests. Instead, we should strive for Du Bois’ approach. We cannot sit passively to make white people more comfortable around us. You need to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done, because they are not going to just hand you what you want; you have to take it for yourself.
