Race and the American Novel: Personal Synthesis

Uncle Tom's Cabin is an interesting novel to read when dealing with the issue of racism-the fact that it was written by a white women is controversial enough. There is so much criticism, and some warranted, but at the end of the day I think it all leads us to one place. The idea that much progress has been made and that racism is a thing of the past is just absurd.

 Sometimes I wonder if the critiquing of the person telling the story is a form of perpetuating the problem as well. Does it really matter who tells the story, so long as it gets told at all? But that is easy for me to say since I am white. What is that saying? "Blind are the privileged." Anyway, Baldwin made an astute observation when he pointed out the light-colored skin of Eliza and George. I don't know if I can agree with him that their differing fate was based on this fact, but then again, that may be my white privilege talking. It certainly seems possible, but would that not be an accurate representation of what went on in those times? Lighter-skinned African Americans did fair better than their darker counterparts. Had Stowe portrayed it the other way around, she would probably be criticized for painting a false, "rose-colored" picture of the times. And people would have been angry for her making it seem as though light-colored African Americans did not get preferential treatment and darker people sometimes did. So either way you look at it, it seems as though nobody can win when it comes to writing an accurate representation of that time period.

I was not there, so I have no idea what happened and what did not; I can only do my best to educate myself with the available information. But that is part of the controversy-what is accurate? If we just go by who is telling the story, then I don't know that any of it is. Slave narratives are not even telling the whole truth, so is anyone? I guess, in the end, I take all of it with a grain of salt. But, overall, this has given me a better understanding of what went on during the slavery years, both with black and white people, and it has also lead me to realize it is far from over. We have only made minimal progress-racism is just more subtle today. It may be politically frowned upon, but it is still morally justified, with some individuals. That is why classes like this need to exist and continue to teach the value of human life and dignity, and to understand and love one another, even when they are different from you.