African American Society: Racism and Prejudice - Essay Example

574311 Du Bois and Chestnut When W. E. B. Du Bois used the term "double consciousness," he was talking about a coping method that African Americans use in white society that has little or no respect for them. The term “double consciousness” goes beyond being just a coping method; it is also justifies one’s actions as well as explains those of the Other. The term defines the way African Americans see themselves as individuals and as a group, but not just through their own eyes. They see themselves through the lens of the Other, the dominant culture. Du Bois says it is "always looking at ones self through the eyes of others, of measuring ones soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity" (Du Bois). This produces what Du Bois calls a "twoness,--an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body” (Du Bois). Understandably, being constantly aware of others’ perception and confounding, exploiting, and denying that view causes conflict within a person. Sometimes action may not be exactly ethical like the actions of the characters in “The Goophered Grapevine.” The conflict within African Americans occurs because the white American disrespected, humiliated, and dehumanized them. “Double consciousness” describes the African Americans’ desire to contribute and participate in all the country has to offer; yet knowing that the wealth denied them was gained by the sweat of the brow of their ancestors. African Americans want to be both black and American, true to their culture and their country. However, even after Emancipation, it took more effort with much less return. Some deterrent is always thrown into the path of African American advancement—segregation, bussing, prejudice, unemployment. Charles Chestnutt’s story illustrates this double consciousness which influences every contact black Americans have outside their own culture. The story’s structure reveals the way the dominant culture views African Americans, narrated by the vineyard owner recounting Uncle Julius’s story. The vineyard owner shares it with the world seemingly without Uncle Julius’ permission. Of course, Uncle Julius asked the indulgence (read: permission) of the vineyard owner and his wife to share the story with them. “I wouldn spec fer you ter blieve me less you know all bout de facs. But ef you en young miss dere doan min lisnin ter a ole nigger run on a minute er two wile you er restin, I kin splain to yer how it all happen" (Chestnutt). Uncle Julius prefaces his tale with his doubt that the vineyard owner will believe him, a result of the double consciousness. Uncle Julius expects his tale will be treated with derision and disbelief. Hearing the story, readers wonder why the slaves did not feel threatened enough by Dugal to avoid his vineyard, and the grapes continue to disappear. Apparently the slaves do not fall into Dugal’s traps. They know he cannot do much to them because if he punishes them too severely, the slaves may not work hard to harvest his grapes. Not only that, since they are the ones who do the work to make the grapes profitable, surely a few grapes are their due. This way the double consciousness serves them well. But it also backfires because Dugal knows what frightens them: the slaves believe the grapes are hexed. Dugal pays Aunt Peggy to hex them even though he does not believe they are truly bewitched. Otherwise, Dugal would not sell the scuppernong grapes and cause the death of anybody who ate them. He would be allowing people to die and killing off his own customers. Dugal’s purpose in “goophering” the grapes was that he knew the slaves believed in the conjuring. If they believed that the grapes were cursed, they would not eat them. The spell worked except for Henry who ate them without knowing of Aunt Peggy’s spell, which actually turned out fortunate for Dugal. Dugal thinks he is clever. The $10 he paid Aunt Peggy was a wise investment, especially since it provides income through repeatedly selling Henry. Then the Yankee shows up and dupes him. He does not realize he has been beaten at his own game, but the slaves do. They see how Dugal fooled them because they can see themselves in Dugal. Uncle Julius sees himself as the vineyard owner sees him: superstitious and unfortunate. Otherwise, why did the vineyard owner offer Uncle Julius a job rather than running him off the place? Maybe Uncle Julius got just what he wanted. The vineyard owner hires Uncle Julius to make sure none of the cursed grapes go into the wine. Frequently exploited African American’s “superstitions” might more accurately be considered something else. Perhaps African Americans a sense of the supernatural, a connection to their ancestors, to their origins as Du Bois says, “These powers of body and mind have in the past been strangely wasted, dispersed, or forgotten” (Du Bois). Rather than respecting African American tradition, Dugal sees the slaves as ignorant, misguided, silly and superstitious. Their ancestors once believed in supernatural ability, but they no longer knew what to do to combat the magic. Yet the belief in the spell’s power clearly held sway among the African Americans who witnessed the manifestation of Aunt Peggy’s spell in Henry. Their belief gave the spell power, that power caused the yearly change in Henry, which provided an income for Dugal. While Dugal thought the slaves’ belief in the power was ignorant, he exploited it and ridiculed it, and made money off of it. They illustrate Du Bois’ double consciousness. The vineyard owner is aware of the double consciousness too. He figures Uncle Julius tells the story to scare him away. “I found, when I bought the vineyard, that Uncle Julius had occupied a cabin on the place for many years, and derived a respectable revenue from the neglected grapevines. This, doubtless, accounted for his advice to me not to buy the vineyard, though whether it inspired the goopher story I am unable to state. I believe, however, that the wages I pay him for his services are more than an equivalent for anything he lost by the sale of the vineyard” (Chestnutt). Perhaps Chestnutt meant the story to demonstrate the effort by the vineyard owner to reach out to Uncle Julius even if he did not fully understand him. Perhaps it demonstrates some version of the vineyard owner’s double consciousness. Perhaps readers experience double consciousness when they read “The Goophered Grapevine.” After all, they expect the vineyard owner to be as cruel and exploitative as Dugal was, but he proves them wrong. Americans have a history of considering people different because of their skin color. Many believe the stereotypes are true, but stereotyping is just another way to perpetuate the myth that skin color determines a person’s actions, dress, speech and beliefs. Superstitions occur in all ethnic groups, and characterizing black people as ignorant because they believe a vineyard can be haunted is just as unfair as categorically dismissing all supernatural experiences as intellectual weakness. People who believe that a man once changed water to wine are not usually considered crazy. People distrust difference. This often leads to fear, racism and prejudice. African Americans should not be expected to conform to white society any more than white society should have to comply with black society. No one should completely lose what makes them distinctive. The unique set of traits each person has should be respected and encouraged, and not viewed as differences so great that they are something to fear. Instead, people should recognize the humanity each person has and allow for environment, upbringing, interests, and other cultural traits that make us all different from one another. Works Cited Chestnutt, Charles. "The Goophered Grapevine." 2011. Fiction Eserver.org. 27 September 2011 . Du Bois, W.E.B. "Chapter 1: Our Spiritual Strivings." 1903/2011. Bartleby.com. 27 September 2011 . Read More