The article titled Stranger in the Village is written by James Baldwin. It nuances a clear picture of unfair treatment of the black people. Baldwin argues that, racism is a vice that has developed roots in the western world. The major issue in the article is racial discrimination. Baldwin wrote the article in Leukerbad Switzerland in 1953 addressing the black people. I find Baldwin thesis convincing because like his audience I am one of the people advocating for the rights of the minority groups and I believe that if the racism is discouraged the black people will be comfortable.
Racism is a subject addressed in details by Baldwin and it refers to the discrimination that the black people go through in the western world. He nuances a couple of scenarios that depicts the vice among the white people that he interacts with. The author portrays the unfavorable treatment he is accorded in the Swiss village. Besides he shows the ways in which the black people are convinced to change their culture. Baldwin unfolds various occurrences on how the black people are ill-treated. He says that even small children make fun of the black people he explains that he is shouted at witfully by the white children saying Negger negger a statement that did not please him. The white Americans disregard the black people and do not view them as rational human beings. They are also ignorant of the black peoples culture.
To convince his audience, he uses real life experiences of what he went through in the Swiss village where he looked strange to the people who had never seen a black man. The paper analyzes the racism that the black people go through in the society of the whites. The author contends that being black in America or Europe means being different from fellow human beings the author says they treat the blacks with utter contempt and discrimination
Analysis
In his article, Baldwin sets the stage by describing what he would meet in Switzerland. He uses allusion to describe the strangeness of the village and how strange he was to the people. It is important to point out this element because Baldwin uses it to introduce his being different in the eyes of the white people. He explains the scenario where he is a black person in a Swiss village who draws the attention of the villagers. He uses the ethos appeal to convince his audience. He employs his expertise and knowledge of the he gained in the America and the continents he travelled. He further contends that, he thought the people in Switzerland might not have seen a black person and because he is an American he may not appear so strange. The author continues to describe the scene of the village, and he argues that the village is strange because it does have so many activities being carried out. He says that they touched him and behaved like people who had an electric shock If I sat in the sun for more than five minutes, some daring creature was individual to come along and gingerly put his finger on my hair as though he was afraid of an electric shock. It depicts the discrimination he faced while he interacted with the white people.
Baldwin further explains that he does not like the place though he goes back the second time during the preceding winter he is still strange to the people. He adds that everyone in the village knows his name but never use it. He explains that the people know that he comes from America though they do not believe it. The behavior of the individuals in the village is an indication of disregard and discrimination of the black people. He describes. But I remain a stranger today as I was the first day I arrived. was while the author's audiences are made up of the black people in the American nation, I am convinced that the target audience is well addressed. As a result, his argument was persuasive to me because it critiques in depth the life of a black person in a white dominated society.it is coupled with several examples of the experiences that Baldwin encountered.
Throughout his piece, Baldwin uses expertise terms that define racism in a society with the majority and minority groups the words strengthen his ethos appeal and help build his argument. The names include Herrenvolk a German term which means master race a term that defines a system of ethnocracy during the Jews and the Nazi regime. The author uses this terms about the racial discrimination against the black people in America. The ethos that he portrays from his right expertise and knowledge appeal makes sense to his audience because it draws attention to what he experienced Every time he visited the village.
Adding to his ethos appeals is his description of history he explains that history is a night mare because it cannot be erased and keeps speaking of the past of people. He says people are trapped in history and history is caught up in them. Baldwin expounds that there is a culture that repeats itself where Africans are bought every year to be converted to Christianity.it depicts suffocation of identity and ill treatment of the black people. The children could touch him to test if the color of his skin could come out. I see a society full of racism from the young children to the adults. It is depicted when children shout at him Negger Negger as he walks along the streets. Baldwin nuances a clear picture of racism in America. The purpose of this article is to ensure the prevalence of discrimination of the black people.
Additionally, Baldwin makes appeals on pathos middle and end sections of his piece. His tone is full of emotionally charged words that create a sympathetic mood to people who are oppressed by a mighty force. Baldwin notes that and despite the terrorization of which the Negros in America endured and endures sporadically until today despite the cruel and inescapable ambivalence of his status in his country" he brings a sad mood that attracts sympathetic emotions of the audience. The same time it creates a mindset of the need to fight for freedom.
Finally, his last statement in his piece Baldwin contends that in the battle that is almost coming to an end effects will be left that will be felt by the generations to come. He argues that white man is fighting to protect his identity while the black man is striving to obtain an identity in a white dominated society. He gives hope to his audience that despite the terrorization that the black people in America go through the battle against racial discrimination has already been conquered. The blacks in America are not aliens but citizens
Response
It is paramount to note that the authors voice is that of concern for the black people. The Americans disregard for the culture, lifestyle, and freedom of the Africans is the epitome of Baldwin writing. They have treated the black people differently from the whites who have the same features except for the color of their skin. I am seeing an author who strongly advocates for the upholding of the rights of the black people. The author is a voice of the minority group in the white dominated society. I can, therefore, say the author has succeeded in persuading his audience through the use of moral expertise and knowledge. His use of pathos is excellent in creating an emotional feeling of the unfair treatment that the black people go through in the white dominated society.
He nuances a picture where the rights and freedom of the black person are infringed. He ends piece with a firm tone on the victory of the black population .he contends that, after a long battle that has finally been worn, the blacks are the American citizen and not strangers.it is vital to note that his piece is an excellent representation of the voice of a black person. The one who has long been fighting to obtain identity.
Conclusion
In summary it is vital to note that the author has nuanced a clear picture of racial discrimination faced by the black people. He argues that it is depicted in everyday life as they interact with the white man. His article seeks to awaken the black people to fight for their rights.
Works cited
Baldwin, James. Stranger in the Village. Notes of a Native son. Beacon Press, 1955.n.pag Houston community college http://swc2.hccs.edu.kindle/baldwin.pdf
Request Removal
If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the customtermpaperwriting.org website, please click below to request its removal:
