Baldwin on discrimination
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James Baldwin’s No Name in the Street was a very interesting read. It sheds light on the experiences that Baldwin had during his time in Paris, where he faced discrimination different than in the United States and delves into the struggles of Algerians in France. Indeed, Baldwin witnessed first-hand the injustices faced by the Algerians, who were subjected to marginalization and violence. In his early years in France, Baldwin recounts Algerians being called “les misérables” (Baldwin, 2). They lived apart in dirty, cramped spaces and barely had enough food to survive (2). They were viewed as lazy for not being able to find work, however, Baldwin observes the unfairness of such a statement (2). This narrative upholds what is known as the myth of meritocracy. The idea that with enough hard work and talent, success is possible for anyone. This completely disregards systemic inequalities and the additional barriers that Algerians in France are faced with. It is not a level playing field, and thoughts such as that perpetuate cycles of oppression. This rhetoric is seen in North America as well, where Canada and the United States completely disregard their colonial past and ongoing systematic inequalities and instead blame marginalized communities when they do not succeed.