The novel If He Hollers Let Him Go By Chester Himes - Essay Example

Color Bar Upheaval The story revolves around an African American working in Los Angeles and operating as a crew leader in a naval shipyard during the Second World War. It is a four-day long story of Bob Jones who is the central character of the novel depicted as a black who just moved in Los Angeles from Ohio. Although he has a particular level of college education, it does not serve him equal to the others, as 1945 was a time when one could face imprisonment, beating or unruly language for only being black (Himes 17). However, it was also a time when black workers started receiving some decent wages and some newfound authority due to the concerted efforts of unions. Readers of this novel can paint a graphic picture of how life was in Los Angeles in 1940s as Chester Himes uses Bob Jones who is an intellectual and keeps on reflecting the ways of his actions and options and how the overall American racism and system of violence circumscribes him. The novel depicts presence of racism in Los Angeles since the city was fraught with frequent conflicts of race due to large influx of white people and the African Americans who came to work in at the defense industries. Surprisingly, Jones is the leader of crew within Atlas Shipyard, which is an African American crew ship, but he cannot lead effectively since his authority does not receive assistance from the other white lead men (32). In addition, the other white lead men cannot even offer him their white workers during job projects. Racism is prevalent throughout the novel. White people insult and use abusive language while addressing African Americans. For instance, Madge Perkins is a white woman working in the same base with Jones. She calls Jones nigger. However, when Jones returns the result, he faces immediate demotion while Madge goes untouched. In this case, the novel exposes both race and sexuality at a diverse angle of complex intersection through Jones’ interaction with Madge. Additionally, the novel describes a situation where Jones encountered Madge accidentally in a bunkroom (69). According to Jones’ impulse, he should flee, however he hesitated for long and Madge locked the door from inside and suddenly screamed ‘rape’. This bizarre encounter triggered furor among the whites and fortunately Jones escapes lynching but receives enlist charges in the armed forces. The novel perceives that, the whites did not base Jones’ promotion on merits. Their aim was to use him garner more support of the African America soldiers so that they could use them in the forefront during war. Upon discovering the motive, Jones has to live with paranoia of anti-communist and white resentment at his place of work. This illustration shows how minds of people were full of racist thoughts (84). Furthermore, racism dwelled in the actions of African Americans since the white used white women as baits to trap black men. These actions cripple Jones’ dreams, passions, as well as his aspirations as he manifests fear all the time. Racism is no laughing matter and it has nothing positive that people would want to associate themselves. Throughout the story, all that race and racism depicts is malign and rogue. Jones had dreams of wanting to build something for himself within California. Nevertheless, due to racism in United States, he could not achieve his goal since he spent most of his time dealing with resentment and mockery from the white people (109). Due to color bar, he has to keep fighting back all those rowdy feelings he has towards race such as the urge to rape, kill, and fight. This shows that, America had several wars to fight including race and racism and all that it brought into the American soil. Racial conflicts surround the whole story with the main characters being protagonists. Their usual places of residence depict a division of location based on color and social class. Alice Harrison who is Jones’ girlfriend lives in a different place comprising of African American of a social middle class. She keeps on convincing her boyfriend to let of the feelings of animosity he has towards the whites and change his way of living by joining in the middle class neighborhood but Jones declines the offer due to his naivety (122). This sense of difference of residence among different people of diverse social classes depicts presence of race within classes of wealth. Jones’ naivety shows insecurity among people Negros of lower social class and the kind places that they have live due to their lack of material gains. Although Jones is learned, he has his mind lingering in the midst of racism, what he can or cannot do to change that and loses the bearing of his life. It is funny for an educated, working man to have no class within the society. Feelings of Jones trying to get even with whites lead him to rape Madge because he considers her as a sign of ‘whiteness’. If it were not for color bar, Jones would not commit such an inhuman act. Nevertheless, the victim happens to flow with rhythm and later expresses sexual attraction towards Jones and when he declines her desire, she even asks Jones to rape her. Since he always lives in fear of whites using females as baits, he does not proceed on with the ordeal (136). It is clear that, Madge ends up developing sexual attraction towards Jones but she cannot establish a relationship with him due to vagaries of racism. During these days, racism traversed from all aspects of life ranging from work, residence, and class. It is possible that, Alice, a light skinned-girl, was able to work as a social worker because of her father, Harrison. He was very rich during this time and could influence the social work body to give his daughter a position within the organization in favor of his material gains. She lives in an upper-middle-class niche. She does not seem to care about Jones’ feelings of oppression, however, since Jones is her boyfriend, she persuades him to carve out his current domestic life (159). Her struggles of trying to get Jones out of his current location depict tangible evidence of societal discrimination. In conclusion, the presence of racism within the novel is the true nature of inequalities faced by African Americans during those times and had no choice but to learn to deal with the situation. Black people underwent many tribulations with Jones portrayed as a common person who nothing much or less of just fair and equal treatment amongst all Americans in spite of their complexion. However, racism, differentiation of color amongst Negros, discrimination within working places, as well as white and black divisions coupled lives of many people in America. Work Cited Himes, Chester. If He Hollers Let Him Go. London:Profile Books, 2011. Print. Read More