The Magnificence that is Baldwin's Letter to his Nephew, James
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James Baldwin’s letter to his nephew, James, was absolutely astonishing. Baldwin was an incredible writer, and it is just amazing to see how his beautiful words are not only reserved for his public works. As I read My Dungeon Shook, I could not help but see Baldwin almost talk to his younger self. He repeats many times that his nephew is named after him, and I feel like he takes this opportunity of telling his nephew of the harsh reality to also comfort his younger self that was also confronted by the same harshness.
Moreover, Baldwin managed to write such memorable passages in every page, and each sentence of this letter still resonates with many people of colour today. Baldwin forewarns his nephew of white normativity that surrounds them. A quote of a similar concept that stuck with me was from page 22, in which Baldwin states: “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear”. This reminded me of Yancy’s work and of how the act of pointing distorts the body of a person of colour. The finger will try to convince a person that they are inferior, but behind that same finger is someone who is controlled by ignorance and intolerance. I think Baldwin’s use of inhumanity is perfect in this case, as only someone monstrous could judge and hurt another simply based on their skin colour or ethnicity.
Baldwin’s bluntness also truly adds something incredible to his letter, I simply cannot find the words for it. He is telling the truth as it is, and sometimes, that is how one must learn of the unfairness in this world. People do not always have the privilege of a silver lining.
Another great statement Baldwin made was with his metaphor of the stars: “Well, the black man has a functioned in the white man’s world as a fixed star, as an immovable pillar: and as he moves out of his place, heaven and earth are shaken to their foundations” (p. 23). This quote really puts into perspective of just how important Black people, and people of colour, are to the foundation of Western institutions. This same quote also reminded me of a topic discussed in last week’s lecture. Professor Khan had brought up the idea of the necessity for the success of racialized workers. It was more important to have them incorporated into the system because, if they were excluded and reached critical mass, they would have the power to change that same system instead. When the immovable pillar moves out of his place, the white man’s world is the one that will suffer the consequences, just as the white man’s system would suffer from the backlash.
Baldwin’s letter to his nephew, James, told of the oppression that Black people face every day. While the topics that are brought up are disheartening, Baldwin still adds hints of hope throughout, for example, by reassuring James and by emphasizing the importance of love in a “loveless world” (p. 21).
Baldwin has such a unique was of talking about these topics that affect people every day. In this letter, we see the topic of race, oppression and whiteness, and in Giovanni’s Room (a novel by Baldwin), we see him carefully demonstrate toxic masculinity and sexuality. I am really glad we read this work in class and love how we can incorporate it into other works like Yancy’s interpretation of the signifier “Look!” and even the Kominas’s music video that parodies the white normativity found in the TV Show, Friends.