Stripping my identity for forced assimilation (just to threaten the society with my baklava)?!
-
I want to begin by noting that both songs have a common symbolism in the lyrics, especially when discussing “skin.” From “my skin was burning,” to “I’m losing my skin,” it translates into this idea of forced assimilation and an identity crisis. The topic for today’s class, “seeing through whiteness” is apt for the phrase I’m losing my skin, which reflects this sense of being stripped away from his or her origins of culture. Our skin color and the way we dress plays such a role in western society that people of color are given no choice but to change themselves. Okay, also the food metaphor, the story begins with the white box containing baklava, which is inherently ethnic. In the entire song, we see the visuals of the pizza parlour and them consuming it. I can’t stop myself but thinking that there is a deeper meaning and a connection to why they choose to show pizzas in particular, was it like a mockery? Another phrase that caught my attention was “killing us all” which reflects the collective impact of cultural erasure, risking being overshadowed by the dominant narrative of whiteness.
James must accept white people because the uncle knows it’s truly a dead end, the history and societal complexes would never get better so he suggests, “Don’t become them, accept them.” Baldwin argues that white people are trapped in a history they don't entirely understand, which has forced them to see Black people as inferior. While some may now realize the falsehood of this belief, they fear acting on it because it threatens their identity, the very notion of “whiteness” they hold dear. This fear stems from the potential loss of their perceived superiority and control over society. For them, this challenge to the “natural order” they’ve accepted as normal creates a deep sense of insecurity. So Baldwin suggests not to fight but rather survive in this reality. His acceptance of white people is not an admission of inferiority, but rather a needed step in navigating a society built on false ideas of superiority.