Question

Read the following excerpt from "Notes of a Native Son" by James Baldwin:

All of my father's texts and songs, which I had decided were meaningless, were arranged before me
at his death like empty bottles, waiting to hold the meaning which life would give them for me. This
was his legacy: nothing is ever escaped. That bleakly memorable morning I hated the unbelievable
streets and the Negroes and whites who had, equally, made them that way. But I knew that it was
folly, as my father would have said, this bitterness was folly. It was necessary to hold on to the
things that mattered. The dead man mattered, the new life mattered; blackness and whiteness did
not matter; to believe that they did was to acquiesce in one's own destruction. Hatred, which could
destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated and this was an immutable law.
It began to seem that one would have to hold in the mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in
opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and
men as they are: in the light of this idea, it goes without saying that injustice is a commonplace. But
this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one
must never, in one's own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all
one's strength.
Analyze the author's message in this excerpt. How do the structure and style contribute to its
power? In particular, consider its use of societal commentary and figurative language. Be sure to
include specific details from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

James Baldwin's excerpt from 'Notes of a Native Son' grapples with the tension between acceptance of life as it is and fighting against injustices, exemplified through powerful figurative language and societal commentary. His balanced approach emphasizes the necessity to resist succumbing to hatred while acknowledging the reality of endemic racism.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the excerpt from Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin, the author's message explores the conflict between acceptance of the grim reality of racial injustice and the necessity to resist and fight against this injustice in one's own life. Baldwin uses figurative language to express his thoughts and emotions, comparing his father's teachings to 'empty bottles' that are ready to contain the meaning that his own experiences will pour into them. This metaphor signifies the potential for personal growth and understanding that can arise from life's challenges. The societal commentary is evident as he mentions the 'unbelievable streets' reflecting the societal divisions and the legacy of segregation. Baldwin's recognition of the immutable destructive power of hatred is expressed through the idea that one must perpetually balance two opposing concepts—acceptance and resistance—which is crucial for personal and collective progress.

The structure and style of Baldwin's writing contribute to its impact by weaving personal reflection with societal issues, thus creating a resonant argument that is both introspective and outward-looking. The somber tone, combined with moments of clarity and resolution, helps to convey the complex emotional and intellectual journey one must navigate when confronted with structural racism and personal legacy. This duality is further exemplified through the thematic tension of the need to confront prejudice without succumbing to bitterness or defeatism.