A Revolutionary Change

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The idea of subordination through violence is a reoccurring theme in the stories about the South in the 19^th century and in Remembering Jim Crow. There are so many stories of brutality and cruelty towards Blacks. One story in particular, called Fire and Cloud, connected the stories we are reading about in Remembering Jim Crow.  Written by Richard Wright, Fire and Cloud depicts a Reverend attempting to maintain his Black congregation and appease the Whites who govern the town during the Great Depression. In the beginning he is a leader who has an impulse to compromise with the Whites. Like Booker T. Washington, the Reverend does not challenge the notion of segregation in his many speeches. Reverend Taylor grapples with the needs of his people and the demands of the White mayor. In the end, he decides he must tell the Mayor that he cannot let his people starve. For this, he is whipped almost to death and forced to take the God’s name in vain. He is filled with hatred and questions the role of Christianity in his life and in his congregation’s life. He realized praying for food was futile, and instead, taking action was key. The story emphasizes the role of community, of people uniting and taking action together. 

Perhaps, this also is the emphasis of the some of the stories in Remembering Jim Crow. Despite this violence that encourages and underscores Black inferiority, Blacks rose up and responded together. The book is a testament to how Black Southerners pushed back against a system that manipulated and exploited them. Furthermore, it touches on the key theme in Soul by Soul. Both books emphasize the positive way in which Blacks have responded to this violence. They have responded by creating institutions that foster education, religion and the needs of Black society. 

What truly amazes me is when you compare what is going on with African Americans during the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century to other races and classes that have been oppressed and violently beat down in different countries. It is easy to me to make the comparison between my Revolutions in World Politics course to how African Americans are responding to their oppressors. Although we are not learning about a particular revolution in our African American History course, what I have learned from my Revolutions course is that when different opposition groups rise up together, a complete overthrow of the system is possible. Although other factors play a role in this overthrow, such as the leadership and the potential instability of the state, the will and unity of the people matters. It is nothing short of revolutionary that these African Americans were able to rise up and thrive in such a debilitating environment.  It is a testament to how black southerners fought back against the system, raising children, building churches and schools, running businesses, and struggling for respect in a society that denied them the most basic rights.