,TRUE TO ,\R ,NATIVE ,L& 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,*RI/OPH] ,Z4 ,HOBSON 

,TEXT 3 

,9 ?IS >TICLE ,I WANT TO EXP& ON SOME PO9TS ,I MADE 9 A BRIEF RESPONSE TO ! V]DICT 9 ! ,TRAYVON ,M>T9 TRIAL1 PR9T$ ELSE:]E 9 ?IS ISSUE ( ,! ,UTOPIAN4 ,I WANT TO >GUE = TWO IDEAS AB\T ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' VIEWPO9T T[>D ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,!SE >E BAS$1 REALLY1 ON A FAIRLY LONG LIFETIME ( ?9K+ POLITICALLY AB\T ?IS ISSUE1 & ON EXP]I5CE1 AL?\< !Y WILL BE BACK$ UP BY EXAMPLES FROM MY S*OL>LY WRIT+ & READ+4 ,!RE=E1 ,I C]TA9LY CAN'T SAY ,I AM GO+ TO 0PROVE0 ! PO9TS ,I MAKE H]E1 BUT RA!R1 ,I WANT TO (F] MY [N S5SE ( ?IS ISSUE = READ]S TO CONSID]4 

,! FIR/ IDEA IS ?AT ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS DEF9E !MSELVES AS ,AM]ICANS--NOT)/&+ A LONG & HONORABLE M9ORITY POSITION ( ,BLACK SEP>ATISM--& ?AT ?IS DEF9ITION REPRES5TS A VOLUNT>Y *OICE MADE HI/ORICALLY OV] 7R\<LY7 ! LA/ #bbe YE>S4 ,IT IS NOT1 AS SOMETIMES ?\<T1 A COMPROMISE ) UNCONTROLLABLE CIRCUM/ANCES ( 5SLAVEM5T & EXILE FROM ,AFRICA1 OR A RESULT ( ! SUPPRESSION ( ,AFRICAN CULTURE1 AS SOME ,BLACK ,NATIONALI/S URGE4 ,MO/ ESPECIALLY IT ISN'T A RESULT ( A K9D ( DEF5SIVE /ANCE 9 :I* ,AFRICAN-DESC5D$ PEOPLE IMITATIVELY EMBRACE ! IDEAS1 CULTURE1 &_/OR IDEALS ( !IR OPPRESSORS 9 AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP !IR HEADS D[N & SURVIVE1 OR ( A DESIRE TO DISC>D RACIAL DIFF]5CE & BL5D 9TO ! SURR\ND+1 OPPRESS+ SOCIETY4 ,ALL !SE IMPULSES HAVE BE5 PRES5T1 ( C\RSE1 BECAUSE EV]YONE IS COMPLICAT$ & CONTRADICTORY1 BUT ON BALANCE & AS A :OLE1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' SELF-ID5TIFICATION AS ,AM]ICANS REPRES5TS SOME?+ ELSE4 ,IT REPRES5TS A POSITIVE ASS]TION ( A RI<T TO LIVE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES AS FREE & EQUAL CITIZ5S & TO %>E EQUALLY 9 ! WEAL? ( ! L&1 :I* AFT] ALL WAS CREAT$ 9 MAJOR P>T BY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS !MSELVES4 

,! SECOND IDEA IS RELAT$ TO ?IS ONE4 ,IT IS ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' CLAIM TO A RI<T ( FULL FRE$OM & FULL P>TICIPATION 9 ,U,S LIFE CAN BE DESCRIB$ POLITICALLY AS 9TEGRATIONISM1 & ?AT ?IS 9TEGRATIONISM DOESN'T MEAN--AS ,BLACK ,NATIONALI/S & SOME RADICALS T5D TO CONCEIVE ! ISSUE-- ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS LIMIT+ !MSELVES TO :AT ! POLITICAL SY/EM WILL GRANT1 9 AN ATTEMPT TO GA9 M>G9AL RI<TS4 ,RA!R1 ?IS 9TEGRATIONISM MEANS SEEK+ FULL & COMPLETE RI<TS & FRE$OM1 PU%+ ,U,S SOCIETY TO *ANGE 9 ORD] TO MAKE ROOM = !SE RI<TS1 & AT ! SAME TIME /RUGGL+ TO GA9 & HOLD AS MANY RI<TS & AS MU* SOCIAL LEV]AGE AS POSSIBLE1 OV] TIME4 ,IT MEANS WORK+ SO ?AT :AT IS IMPOSSIBLE N[ BECOMES POSSIBLE 9 ! FUTURE4 ,I CALL ?IS POLITICAL \TLOOK PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM1 & 9 MY VIEW IT HAS BE5 NOT ONLY ONE ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN VIEW BUT ! DOM9ANT ONE1 = MO/ ( ! #bbe YE>S ,I M5TION$ ABOVE4 7,AGA91 !RE HAS BE5 A CONT9U+ VIEW ?AT ?IS K9D ( *ANGE JU/ ISN'T POSSIBLE 9 A C\NTRY AS DEEPLY RACI/ & DEEPLY HYPOCRITICAL AS ?IS ONE1 BUT ?IS HAS BE5 A M9ORITY VIEW47 

,I ALSO WANT TO BE CLE> ?AT BY 0PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM0 ,I DON'T MEAN 0REVOLUTION>Y 9TEGRATIONISM40 ,IT %\LD BE CLE> ?AT ?IS \TLOOK IS A K9D ( MILITANT RE=MISM--A DET]M9ATION TO *ANGE SOCIETY 9 PIECES1 BY CONT9UAL EF=T--& ?AT ?IS MILITANT RE=MISM HAS BE5 P>TLY1 BUT ONLY V]Y 9COMPLETELY1 SUCCESSFUL4 ,?IS RAISES SPECIAL ISSUES ?AT ,I'LL CONSID] AT ! 5D ( ! >TICLE 7)\T (F]+ ANY DEF9ITIVE ANSW]S74 ,NEV]!LESS1 ,I ?9K ?AT ?IS PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM IS AN ATTITUDE ?AT AN>*I/S %\LD RESPECT & HONOR1 & ALLY ) 9 ACTION4 ,:5 Y\ ?9K AB\T IT1 IT IS--9 MY VIEW AT LEA/--! ONLY WAY ( ?9K+ AB\T ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' POSITION & RI<TS 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ?AT MAKES REAL S5SE4 

,MY 0ANGLE0 = LOOK+ AT ?IS ISSUE WILL BE ! SONG 0,LIFT ,EV]Y ,VOICE & ,S+10 WRITT5 BY ,JAMES ,WELDON ,JOHNSON 7#a#h#g#a-#a#i#c#h7 & SET TO MUSIC BY HIS BRO!R ,JOHN ,ROSAMOND ,JOHNSON1 & FIR/ P]=M$ BY A S*OOL *OIR 9 ! ,JOHNSONS' HOMET[N1 ,JACKSONVILLE1 ,FLORIDA1 = A ,L9COLN'S ,BIR?DAY CELEBRATION 9 #a#i4 ,JOHNSON'S BIOGRAPHY READS LIKE A HI/ORY ( ! RACE'S TURN FROM MOD]ATE ACCOMMODATIONISM TO RADICAL 9TEGRATIONISM 9 ! E>LY #a#iS1 P>TICUL>LY 9 HIS TWELVE YE>S 7#a#i#a#g-#a#i#b#i7 AS FIELD SECRET>Y & !N *IEF EXECUTIVE (FIC] ( ! ,N,A,A,C,P4 ,HE WROTE POETRY1 A NOVEL1 HI/ORY1 SOCIOLOGY1 & 9VE/IGATIVE J\RNALISM4 0,LIFT ,EV]Y ,VOICE10 DESPITE A TRICKY V]SE =M & A DIFFICULT MELODY1 BECAME KN[N AS 0! ,NEGRO NATIONAL AN!M10 & IS /ILL KN[N EXTREMELY WIDELY 9 ! ,BLACK COMMUNITY4 ,I ?9K ?IS SONG EXPRESSES SOME IMPORTANT IDEAS ON MY TOPIC1 & ,I'VE US$ IT = MY TITLE & SUBHEAD+S4 

0,TRUE TO ,\R ,NATIVE ,L&0 

  

,! SONG'S LA/ L9E WILL S]VE TO GET US 9TO ! FIR/ ( ! TWO MA9 PO9TS ,I AM EXPLOR+4 ,:AT DOES IT MEAN = ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS TO S+--AB\T ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 NOT ,AFRICA--A PRAY] TO BE 0,TRUE TO \R NATIVE L&08 

,A %ORT ANSW] IS ?AT ! ATTITUDE ( ,U,S NATIONALITY REFLECT$ 9 !SE WORDS WAS SO DEEP & SO SETTL$ AMONG ! MAJORITY ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS ?AT1 9 #a#i1 ,JOHNSON DIDN'T EV5 HAVE TO ?9K AB\T IT4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES WAS 0\R NATIVE L&0 9 !IR VIEW & ?AT WAS ?AT4 ,A LONG] ANSW] W\LD PICK \T SIGNPO/S ( ?IS ATTITUDE'S DEVELOPM5T GO+ BACK = MORE ?AN A C5TURY BE=E ,JOHNSON'S TIME1 TO ! E>LY DAYS ( ! REPUBLIC1 & BEYOND HIS TIME TO \RS4 ,!SE >E SOME ?AT SEEM IMPORTANT TO ME4 

8,9 ,SEPTEMB] #a#g#h#i1 AN ORGANIZATION 9 ,NEWPORT1 ,RHODE ,ISL&1 CALL$ ! ,UNION ,SOCIETY ( ,AFRICANS1 ADDRESS$ A LETT] TO ! ,FREE ,AFRICAN ,SOCIETY ( ,PHILADELPHIA ON ! SUBJECT ( EMIGRATION TO ,AFRICA4 7,BLACK PEOPLE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES AT ?AT TIME CALL$ !MSELVES ,AFRICANS47 ,! ,NEWPORT LETT] M5TION$ ! 0CALAMIT\S /ATE0 ( ,AFRICANS 9 ! ,U,S1 AS 0/RANG]S & \TCA/S 9 A /RANGE L&10 TOGE!R ) GR[+ EVANGELICAL WORK 9 ,AFRICA4 ,! ,NEWPORT GR\P PROPOS$ A DAY ( PRAY] ON :I* 0TO ACKN[L$GE ! RI<TE\SNESS ( ,GOD 9 BR++ ALL !SE EVILS ON US & ON \R *ILDR5 & BRE?R50 :ILE ASK+ ,GOD'S ASSI/ANCE TO 0PROSP] ! WAY ( \R RETURN+ TO ,AFRICA40 ,9 REPLY1 ! ,PHILADELPHIANS TOOK A H&S-(F POSITION ON EMIGRATION1 SAY+1 0WE HAVE AT PRES5T LITTLE TO COMMUNICATE ON ?AT HEAD1 APPREH5D+ EV]Y PI\S MAN IS A GOOD CITIZ5 ( ! :OLE WORLD40 ,& !Y (F]$ A DI/9CT IDEA ( ,GOD'S 9T5TIONS4 ,OMITT+ ANY REF]5CE TO DES]V$ SUFF]+1 ! ,PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY CALL$ = DAILY PRAY] 0?AT ! ,LORD !REBY MAY BE PLEAS$ TO BREAK EV]Y YOKE1 & LET ! OPPRESS$ GO FREE4444 ,A HAPPY DAY ?AT WILL PROVE TO US ( ! ,AFRICAN RACE1 & MANK9D 9 G5]AL2 !N CAPTIVITY %ALL CEASE1 & BUY+ & SELL+ MANK9D HAVE AN 5D40 7,! /ATEM5T P>APHRAS$ ,ISAIAH1 *AP4 #e#h3#f47 

,I WILL LOOK AT ?IS RELIGI\S PO9T LAT]1 BUT = N[ ! IMPORTANT DIFF]5CE IS ON EMIGRATION4 ,! ,NEWPORT GR\P ASSUM$ ?AT ! PROP] HOME ( ,AFRICANS 9 ! ,U,S WAS 9 ,AFRICA ITSELF4 ,! ,PHILADELPHIANS' REPLY1 :ILE NOT TAK+ A DEF9ITE POSITION1 ACTUALLY ASSUM$ ! OPPOSITE IDEA4 ,IF 0EV]Y PI\S .<P]SON.> IS A GOOD CITIZ5 ( ! :OLE WORLD10 !N S_/HE IS FULLY 5TITL$ TO BE A CITIZ5 ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,?IS E>LY EX*ANGE ( VIEWS SUMM$ UP ! DIFF]5CE ?AT HAS CONT9U$ TO EXI/ BETWE5 SEP>ATI/S & NON-SEP>ATI/S ON :E!R ,AFRICAN-DESC5D$ PEOPLE ELSE:]E NATURALLY BELONG 9 ,AFRICA OR1 ON ! CONTR>Y1 BELONG BY RI<T :]EV] !Y MAY *OOSE TO LIVE4 

8,9 ,JANU>Y1 #a#h#a#g1 A REPRES5TATIVE ( ! NEWLY =M$ ,AM]ICAN ,COLONIZATION ,SOCIETY MET ) LEAD]S ( ,PHILADELPHIA'S FREE ,BLACK COMMUNITY4 ,! ,A,C,S'S PURPOSE WAS TO PROMOTE RESETTLEM5T ( FREE ,NEGROES 9 ,AFRICA 79 :AT SOON BECAME ,LIB]IA74 ,! ,PHILADELPHIANS--,BI%OP ,RI*>D ,ALL5 ( ! ,AFRICAN ,ME?ODI/ ,EPISCOPAL 7,A,M,E7 ,*UR* & SAILMAK] & COMMUNITY LEAD] ,JAMES ,=T5--LAT] CONV5$ A MEET+ ( #c1 P]SONS 9 ,ALL5'S ,BE!L ,*UR*4 ,AT ! MEET+1 ,=T5 LAT] WROTE1 !RE WAS 0NOT ONE SOLE ?AT WAS 9 FAVOR ( GO+ TO ,AFRICA40 ,! MEET+ APPROV$ SEV]AL RESOLUTIONS SAY+ 9 P>T1 0,:]EAS \R ANCE/ORS 7NOT ( *OICE7 W]E ! FIR/ SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATORS ( ! WILDS ( ,AM]ICA1 WE !IR DESC5DANTS FEEL \RSELVES 5TITL$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! BLESS+S ( H] LUXURIANT SOIL1 :I* !IR BLOOD & SWEAT MANUR$10 & ADD+1 0.<,W.>E WILL NEV] SEP>ATE \RSELVES VOLUNT>ILY FROM ! SLAVE POPULATION 9 ?IS C\NTRY40 

8,T5 YE>S LAT]1 9 #a#h#b#g1 ,ALL5 WAS ASK$ TO WRITE HIS VIEWS ON 0COLONIZATION0 = ,FRE$OM'S ,J\RNAL1 ! FIR/ ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN NEWSPAP] PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 7,IT LA/$ ONLY AB\T A YE>47 ,ALL51 ! F\ND] & FIR/ BI%OP ( ! ,A,M,E ,*UR*1 !N ! L>GE/ & TODAY /ILL ONE ( ! L>GE/ 9DEP5D5T ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN *UR*ES1 WAS AN 5ORM\SLY IMPORTANT P]SON 9 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN HI/ORY & CULTURE4 ,HIS LETT] 9 ,FRE$OM'S ,J\RNAL REJECT$ 0COLONIZATION10 P>TLY REPEAT+ ! LANGUAGE ( ! #ahag MEET+3  
  

0,WE W]E /OL5 FROM \R MO!R C\NTRY1 & BR\<T H]E4 ,WE HAVE TILL$ ! GR\ND & MADE =TUNES = ?\S&S1 & /ILL !Y >E NOT WE>Y ( \R S]VICES4444 ,AFRICANS HAVE MADE =TUNES = ?\S&S1 :O >E YET UNWILL+ TO P>T ) !IR S]VICES2 BUT ! FREE MU/ BE S5T AWAY1 & ?OSE :O REMA91 MU/ BE SLAVES8 ,I HAVE NO D\BT ?AT !RE >E MANY GOOD M5 :O DO NOT SEE AS ,I DO2 & :O >E = S5D+ US TO ,LIB]IA1 BUT !Y HAVE NOT DULY CONSID]$ ! SUBJECT--!Y >E NOT M5 ( COLOR4 ,?IS L& :I* WE HAVE WAT]$ ) \R TE>S & \R BLOOD1 IS N[ \R MO!R C\NTRY & WE >E WELL SATISFI$ TO /AY :]E WISDOM AB\NDS1 & ! GOSPEL IS FREE40  
  

,! #ahag RESOLUTIONS & ,ALL5'S #ahbg LETT] CONTA9 SEV]AL DIFF]5T PO9TS4 ,ONE IS ?AT ! 0COLONIZATION0 MOVEM5T WAS MEANT TO PRES]VE SLAV]Y BY SIPHON+ (F FREE ,NEGROES 7! ,A,C,S LEAD]S 9CLUD$ ,H5RY ,CLAY & O!R PROM95T PRO-SLAV]Y PEOPLE74 ,F> MORE IMPORTANT1 ONE CAN SEE ! DEVELOP+ IDEA ?AT ,AFRICANS 9 ! ,U,S HAVE BUILT UP ! WEAL? ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & N[ HAVE A FULL RI<T TO :AT !Y HAVE BUILT4 ,EV5 MORE FUNDAM5TAL IS ! IDEA ( BELONG+ BY BIR? TO ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,ALL5'S LETT] TRANSF]S ! IDEA ( 0MO!R C\NTRY0 FROM ,AFRICA TO ! ,U,S1 & /ATES1 9 SIMPLE & RES\ND+ T]MS ?AT O!RS E*O$ = ! NEXT C5TURY1 ?AT ! 0L& :I* WE HAVE WAT]$ ) \R TE>S & \R BLOOD0 IS 0N[ \R MO!R C\NTRY40 ,IT WAS AT AB\T ?IS TIME1 9 FACT1 ?AT ! PEOPLE :O HAD REF]R$ TO !MSELVES AS ,AFRICANS BEGAN1 9 PUBLIC RESOLUTIONS OPPOS+ 0COLONIZATION10 TO CALL !MSELVES 0,AFRIC,AM]ICANS0 & SIMIL> T]MS4 

,! DECISION MO/ ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS MADE 7!RE WAS ALWAYS AN EMIGRATIONI/ M9ORITY7 HAS TO BE UND]/OOD AS A DECISION1 A *OICE1 RA!R ?AN AN ACCOMMODATION TO AN OV]:ELM+ & UNCONTROLLABLE REALITY4 ,IT IS P]HAPS A SURPRIS+ *OICE3 :Y %\LD A PEOPLE SO HAT$ & SCORN$ NOT WI% TO RETURN TO !IR ORIG9AL HOMEL&8 ,ONE CAN SEE 9 ?IS *OICE SEV]AL 9T]TW9$ IDEAS3 ,ALL5'S 0TE>S & BLOOD10 ! IDEA ?AT ?OSE :O HAVE BUILT ! SOIL >E 5TITL$ TO ITS FRUITS2 ! #a<i ,PHILADELPHIANS' BELIEF ?AT 0EV]Y PI\S MAN IS A GOOD CITIZ5 ( ! :OLE WORLD02 & ! POSITIVE ASS]TION ( AN EQUAL BIR?RI<T 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 ! NEW 0MO!R C\NTRY40 ,9 ANY CASE1 ! POSSIBLY P>ADOXICAL FACT IS ?AT ! V]Y MOM5T :5 EMIGRATION AID$ BY O/5SIBLY WELL-MEAN+ :ITES BECAME A REAL POSSIBILITY1 9 ! FIR/ ?IRD ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY1 IS ! TIME :5 MAJORITY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN OP9ION FIR/ DEF9$ ! RACE = C]TA9 AS ,AM]ICAN4 

8,SKIPP+ TO ,JOHNSON'S TIME1 AN 0,EPISCOPAL ,ADDRESS0 SIGN$ BY SEV5 ( ! EI<T BI%OPS ( ! ,A,M,E ,*UR*1 SYMBOLICALLY ISSU$ ON ,JULY #d1 #a#h#i#e1 >GU$3 0,?\< DEEPLY 9T]E/$ 9 ! WELF>E ( ,AFRICA1 WE >E CITIZ5S ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,! ACCUMULATIONS ( \R PREC$+ G5]ATIONS >E1 \R VALOR & \R SKILL2 \R HONOR & \R EXP]I5CES B9D US TO ?IS C\NTRY40 ,! LETT] WAS MEANT TO C\NT] ! VIEWS ( ! EI<? BI%OP1 ,H5RY ,MC,NEAL ,TURN]1 A /AUN* EMIGRATIONI/4 ,TURN]--:OM ,I M5TION 9 MY ,TRAYVON ,M>T9 >TICLE--WAS A UNIV]SALLY RESPECT$ FIGURE1 :O DID MAJOR WORK BUILD+ ! ,A,M,E ,*UR* BO? ?R\<\T ! ,S\? & 9 ,AFRICA4 ,NONE!LESS1 !RE IS LITTLE D\BT ?AT HIS EMIGRATIONISM WAS A M9ORITY VIEW1 BO? 9 HIS *UR* & AMONG ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS G5]ALLY4 

8,! SAME CRITICAL YET DEF9ITE BELIEF 9 A ,U,S DE/9Y1 F9ALLY1 IS %[N 9 FICTION 9 ,JAMES ,BALDW9'S #aigi NOVEL ,JU/ ,ABOVE ,MY ,HEAD1 ,BALDW9'S LA/ NOVEL4 ,! NOVEL'S PROTAGONI/1 A ,GOSPEL S+]1 REFLECTS ON HIS ID5TITY AS HE SITS 9 A ,FR5* \TDOOR CAFE ) A COMPANION3  
  

0,IF ,GUY .<! COMPANION.> IS SAY+ ?AT HE DOES NOT LIKE BE+ A ,FR5*MAN1 :AT W\LD HE ?9K ( ,>?UR IF ,>?UR PROCLAIM$ ?AT HE DID NOT LIKE BE+ A BLACK ,AM]ICAN8 ,&1 9DE$1 = ! V]Y FIR/ TIME1 & ALMO/ C]TA9LY BECAUSE HE IS SITT+ ON ?IS UNKN[N AV5UE1 HE PUTS ! TWO WORDS TOGE!R BLACK ,AM]ICAN & HE>S1 AT ONCE1 ! V]Y CRESC5DO ( CONTRADICTION & ! UNANSW]+ & UNANSW]ABLE ?UND] & TRU? ( HI/ORY--:I* IS NO?+ MORE & NO?+ LESS ?AN ! BEAT+ ( HIS [N HE>T1 HIS SONG40  
  

,MY /UD5TS F9D 0! V]Y CRESC5DO ( CONTRADICTION0 EASY TO 9T]PRET--C]TA9LY1 = A ,BLACK MAN TO CALL HIMSELF AN 0,AM]ICAN0 9 A C\NTRY ?AT /ILL ONLY HALF1 OR ONE QU>T]1 ACCEPTS HIM IS A CONTRADICTION4 ,!Y >E LESS SURE AB\T 0! UNANSW]+ & UNANSW]ABLE ?UND] & TRU? ( HI/ORY40 ,SURELY1 SOME SAY1 IT IS REF]R+ TO ! SAME PO9T1 ! CONTRADICTION8 ,BUT !N1 :Y W\LD IT BE 0UNANSW]+0 & 0UNANSW]ABLE08 ,IF HI/ORY'S TRU? IS ! CONTRADICTION1 !N IT W\LD BE A CONFIRM+ ANSW]4 ,DOESN'T ,BALDW9'S PHRASE SUGGE/1 9/EAD1 ?AT ! 0TRU?0 PROVIDES NO ANSW] TO ! 0CONTRADICTION0 & YET IS ALSO ABSOLUTELY UND5IABLE8 ,& SO1 SOME /UD5TS REALIZE1 ,BALDW9'S 0TRU?0 IS ?AT YES1 ,>?UR IS A BLACK ,AM]ICAN ) ALL ! CONTRADICTION ?AT IMPLIES1 AS ! \TCOME ( TWO HUNDR$ YE>S ( HI/ORY ?AT >E ALSO ! BEAT+ ( ,>?UR'S HE>T4 

,( C\RSE !RE IS A CRUCIAL O!R SIDE TO ,BALDW9'S PHRASE4 ,>?UR IS A BLACK ,AM]ICAN1 & ! ADJECTIVE IMPLIES A :OLE HI/ORY 79CLUD+ ! HI/ORY ( BECOM+ ,AM]ICAN1 P>ADOXICALLY 5\<7 AS WELL AS A CULTURE4 ,>?UR IS A ,GOSPEL S+]4 ,HIS SONGS1 TRANSCRIB$ FREQU5TLY 9 ! BOOK1 9CLUDE ,GOSPEL & HYMN CLASSICS LIKE 0,SAVIOR1 ,DON'T ,Y\ ,PASS ,ME ,BY10 0,! ,COM=T]10 & 0,DANIEL ,SAW ! ,/ONE 7,ROLL+ 9TO ,BABYLON70--! LA/ A MESSAGE ( ! APOCALYPTIC D[NFALL ( EMPIRE4 ,ALL ?IS IS P>T ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN CULTURE1 SO ?AT ,>?UR'S 0SONG0 9 ! QUOTATION ABOVE IS ! LIFEBLOOD ( A DI/9CT CULTURE ?AT HAS MEAN+ = ! :OLE WORLD1 YET ORIG9ALLY IS A REFLECTION ( ! UNIQUE EXP]I5CE ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS4 7,TODAY1 ! EQUIVAL5T W\LD BE ! HIPHOP CULTURE1 :I* HAS SPREAD ACROSS ! WORLD YET REMA9S BAS$ 9 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN EXP]I5CE47 ,?IS CULTURE REPRES5TS ONE HALF ( ! 0CONTRADICTION0 ?AT IS ALSO ! 0?UND] & TRU?0 ( ,>?UR'S HI/ORY4 ,SO ,BALDW9 7LIKE ,RALPH ,ELLISON A LITTLE E>LI]7 SEES ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS AS A GR\P ) A D\BLE EXI/5CE1 ,AM]ICAN & ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN AT ! SAME TIME4 

,! SAME WAS TRUE ( O!RS BE=E ,BALDW94 ,WRIT+ 9 #a#i#c#e1 ! !N SEV5TY-F\R YE> OLD ,REV]DY ,RANSOM1 AN ,A,M,E BI%OP :OM ,I'VE /UDI$ EXT5SIVELY1 >GUES ?AT EXCLUSION & D5IAL 0>E CAUS+ ,NEGROES 9 ,AM]ICA TO DEVELOP A CULTURE ( !IR [N4 ,I HAVE WAT*$ IT UNFOLD+ = FIFTY YE>S4 ,C]TA9LY1 IT HAS MU* ( ! G5]AL FEATURES ( ! CULTURE & IDEALS BY :I* IT IS SURR\ND$1 BUT IS BECOM+ LESS & LESS IMITATIVE1 BECOM+ MORE SURE ( ITSELF1 ( ! WOR?1 /R5G?1 & BEAUTY ( ITS IDEALS40 

,& YET ?IS PO9T DOESN'T D5Y :AT = ,RANSOM IS ALSO ?UND] & TRU?3 0,AM]ICA IS \RS10 HE CONT5DS 9 ! SAME BOOK1 0& ! ,NEGRO IS A FOOL :O DOES NOT /& ]ECT1 HOLD HIS HEAD HI<1 & CLAIM EV]Y?+ 9 IT FROM ,MY ,C\NTRY1 'TIS ( !E1 TO ,! ,/> ,SPANGL$ ,BANN]40 

,I CAN MAKE !SE SAME PO9TS AB\T MY /UD5TS--& DO1 ) SOME ( !M3 !Y DON'T NECESS>ILY LIKE BE+ BLACK ,AM]ICANS1 BUT >E4 ,!Y HAVE !IR SPECIFIC CULTURE & CELEBRATE IT1 YET >E ALSO P>T ( G5]AL ,AM]ICAN CULTURE4 ,&1 9 !IR HE>TS1 AW>E ?AT !IR RI<TS >E /ILL WOR? LESS ?AN ! BL9K ( A POLICEMAN'S EYE1 KN[+ ?AT MANY ( !IR C\NTRYM5 /ILL >E UNCOM=TABLE :5 !Y >E 9 ! ROOM1 !Y /ILL--LIKE ,ALL5 & ,RANSOM--CLAIM ! C\NTRY & EV]Y?+ 9 IT AS !IR [N4 

0,/ONY ! ,ROAD ,WE ,TROD0 

  

,IT'S NO SECRET ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS HAVE LIV$ ?R\<--& SOMETIMES NOT LIV$ ?R\<--APPALL+ SUFF]+ 9 ! #bbe YE>S S9CE ! ,PHILADELPHIA-,NEWPORT EX*ANGE4 ,!SE EXT5D FROM ! :IPP+ & MURD] ( SLAVES ?R\< TO TODAY1 TO ! AFT]MA? ( ! ACQUITTAL 9 ! ,TRAYVON ,M>T9 MURD] CASE1 :5 ,SYBR9A ,FULTON1 ,M>T9'S MO!R1 TOLD ! ,NATIONAL ,URBAN ,LEAGUE1 0,MY MESSAGE TO Y\ IS PLEASE USE MY /ORY1 PLEASE USE MY TRAG$Y1 PLEASE USE MY BROK5 HE>T TO SAY TO Y\RSELF1 ',WE CANNOT LET ?IS HAPP5 TO ANYBODY ELSE'S *ILD' 0 7,JULY #b#f1 #b#a#c74 ,BY & L>GE1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS HAVE WALK$ !IR ROAD ) /OICISM & GRACE4 ,AS ,BALDW9 WROTE 9 ,! ,FIRE ,NEXT ,TIME 7#a#i#f#c71 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' LONG /RUGGLE TO SNAT*1 0EA* DAY10 !IR 0ID5TITY1 \T ( ! FIRE ( HUMAN CRUELTY ?AT RAGES TO DE/ROY IT10 HELPS TO EXPLA9 0H[ !Y .<,NEGROES.> HAVE 5DUR$ & H[ !Y HAVE BE5 ABLE TO PRODUCE *ILDR5 ( K9D]G>T5 AGE :O CAN WALK ?R\< MOBS TO GET TO S*OOL40 

,UN=TUNATELY ?AT'S NOT ALL4 ,! FIRE ,BALDW9 SPEAKS (1 ! BITT]NESS ( CONTEMPT1 ! LACK ( REAL OPPORTUNITY1 ! CONSI/5T SOCIAL JUDGM5T ( PEOPLE ( COLOR AS LESS1 & ! SELFS]V+ LOGIC ( A SOCIETY ?AT CLAIMS TO HAVE SOLV$ ! RACE PROBLEM--IF SO1 IT CAN ONLY BE ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' [N FAULT ?AT !Y LAG BEH9D--PRODUCE AN ANSW]+ SELF-CONTEMPT1 A TORTUR+ NEGATION ( ONE'S [N DIGNITY & ?AT ( EV]YONE ELSE 9 SI<T4 ,I WALK PA/ TWO M5 ON MY /REET BELL[+ AT EA* O!R FROM A DI/ANCE ( FIFTE5 FEET4 ,! DI/ANCE %[S H[ S]I\S ?IS ALT]CATION IS3 !Y >E BO? BE+ C>EFUL NOT TO COME CLOS]4 0,:AT >E Y\ COM+ R\ND H]E =1 NIGG]80 ONE SCREAMS1 & ! O!R %\TS1 0,GET \T ( MY FACE1 NIGG]40 ,!Y >E BO? ,AFRO-,DOM9ICANS4 ,! WORD NIGG]1 SAID BY SOME TO HAVE BE5 0DES5SITIZ$10 EV5 RECLAIM$ AS A POSITIVE BADGE ( ID5TITY 9 HIPHOP LYRICS1 KEEPS ALL ITS RAW MEAN+ ( 0,BLACK0 AS WELL AS 0L[1 MEAN1 CONTEMPTIBLE40 ,MY FRI5D ,NI*OLAS ,P[]S WRITES AB\T HIS [N NEI<BORHOOD3  
  

0,9 ,B$-,/UY1 ! FE> ( VIOL5CE NEV] FADES BUT ?ROBS UND] ! SURFACE ( EV]YDAY LIFE4444 ,MANY ( \R Y\NG M5 >E LIKE OP5 B>RELS ( K]OS5E4 ,ONE WRONG LOOK OR WORD & !Y IGNITE 9TO A BL9D FURY ?AT 5DS ) DEA? 9 ! /REETS4 ,& WE :O KNEW !M1 RAIS$ !M1 >E ALSO AT TIMES SC>$ ( !M4444 ,! SAD TRU? IS ?AT ! WAY ,GEORGE ,ZIMM]MAN PR(IL$ ,TRAYVON ,M>T9 IS ! SAME WAY ?AT MANY ( US1 M5 ( COLOR1 PR(ILE EA* O!R40 7,! ,9DYP5D5T1 ,BROOKLYN1 ,AUGU/ #a#g1 #b#a#c74  
  

,MU* 9 ! COMMUNITY'S LIFE TODAY CAN MAKE ,JAMES ,WELDON ,JOHNSON'S ASSURANCE1 0,HAVE NOT \R WE>Y FEET _/ ,COME TO ! PLACE = :I* \R FA!RS SI<$80 S\ND UN9T5TIONALLY IRONIC NE>LY A C5TURY & A QU>T] AFT] IT WAS GIV54 ,! SITUATION ,P[]S DESCRIBES IS OBVI\SLY ! 5D PRODUCT ( ! C\NTRY'S FAILURE TO SOLVE ! CIVIL RI<TS DILEMMA3 H[ TO ADVANCE BEYOND EQUAL LEGAL RI<TS 7!MSELVES /ILL 9T]MITT5T & PREC>I\S7 TO REAL EQUALITY ON ! /REET1 ON ! JOB1 9 ! C\RTROOM4 ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+1 (F]+ HIS 0DREAM0 SPEE* FIFTY YE>S AGO AT :AT WAS (FICIALLY CALL$ ,! ,M>* ON ,WA%+TON = ,JOBS & ,FRE$OM1 DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSW] TO ?IS RIDDLE1 NOR DID ,MALCOLM ,X OR ! ,BLACK ,PAN!R ,P>TY1 & ,I DON'T1 BEYOND ! OBVI\S PO9T ?AT WE MU/ ALL FI<T TOGE!R = 7YES7 JOBS & FRE$OM4 ,I DON'T KN[ H[ TO GET !M1 & ,I CAN'T DEF9E AN AN>*I/ /RATEGY = GETT+ !M4 ,BUT1 RETURN+ TO ! FOCUS ( MY >TICLE1 ?IS IS A SPECIFICALLY ,AM]ICAN RIDDLE4 ,NO ONE IS ?9K+1 9 #b#a#c1 AB\T EMIGRATION AS A SOLUTION TO ! RACE'S PROBLEMS1 AB\T A SEP>ATE /ATE OR PORTION ( A /ATE1 OR EV5 AB\T A DI/9CT1 SELF-SUFFICI5T ,BLACK ECONOMY4 ,! 0/ONY ROAD0 LIES H]E4 

,?\ ,:O ,HA/ ,BR\<T ,US ,?US ,F> ON ! ,WAY 

  

,BY ANY /&>DS ! /RONG ,*RI/IAN BELIEF HELD BY V]Y MANY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS IS REM>KABLE4 ,AFT] ALL1 ,*RI/IANITY WAS ! RELIGION ( ?OSE :O KIDNAPP$ ,AFRICANS & BR\<T !M ACROSS ! SEA AS SLAVES2 :Y W\LD SLAVES OR FREE ,AFRICANS 9 ,AM]ICA WANT TO T\* SU* A FIL?Y DOCTR9E8 ,FUR!R1 :5 ONE ?9KS AB\T IT1 = ,AFRICANS 9 ,AM]ICA TO EMBRACE ! RELIGION ( ,AM]ICANS 9 ! EI<TE5? C5TURY--:5 ?IS %IFT OCCURR$--WAS1 9 EFFECT1 TO PRE-DECIDE TO BECOME ,AM]ICANS !MSELVES1 9 A P]IOD :5 ?IS *OICE HADN'T YET BE5 MADE4 

,!RE >E TWO IMPRESSIONS ?AT MANY ,M>XI/S & AN>*I/S HAVE AB\T ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN ,*RI/IANIZATION ?AT >E IMPORTANT TO EXAM9E4 ,! FIR/ IS ?AT ,*RI/IANITY WAS =C$ ON ,AFRICANS 9 ,AM]ICA AS A MEANS ( SOCIAL CONTROL2 ! SECOND IS ?AT ,*RI/IANITY AS WELL AS O!R RELIGIONS HAS FUNCTION$ TO DAMP D[N SOCIAL /RUGGLE AGA9/ OPPRESSION1 BY (F]+ A COMP5SAT+ HOPE ( FUTURE BLISS 9 HEAV54 

,BO? PO9TS >E BASICALLY WRONG1 AL?\< !Y CONTA9 SOME TRUE PO9TS4 ,IT IS TRUE1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT 9 ! N9ETE5? C5TURY--WELL AFT] MO/ ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS HAD BECOME ,*RI/IANS ON !IR [N--SLAVE [N]S & ! M9I/]S !Y CONTROLL$ W\LD PREA* OB$I5CE AS A RELIGI\S DUTY4 7,! SLAVES W\LD MOCK AMONG !MSELVES3 0,IF ,I GO 9 TO PRAY]1 ! MI/RESS WILL ONLY JU/ READ ',S]VANTS OBEY Y\R MA/]S1' %E WILL NOT READ ',BREAK EV]Y YOKE & LET ! OPPRESS$ GO FREE4'07 ,& ! ,NEWPORT ,UNION ,SOCIETY ( ,AFRICANS1 AS QUOT$ ABOVE1 DID SEE SLAV]Y AS A JU/ PUNI%M5T BY ,GOD 7PRESUMABLY = NOT BE+ ,*RI/IANS 9 ,AFRICA72 O!RS DID USE ,*RI/IAN HOPE AS A SUB/ITUTE = REBELLION 7ESPECIALLY :5 REBELLION W\LD HAVE BE5 SUICIDAL74 ,BY & L>GE H[EV]1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS CAME TO ,*RI/IANITY ON !IR [N1 &--AS ) !IR ATTITUDE TO ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & ! WEAL? !Y HAD BUILT 9 IT--MADE IT !IR [N4 

,AS DEMON/RAT$ BY HI/ORIANS LIKE ,ALB]T ,J4 ,RABOTEAU 7,SLAVE ,RELIGION1 #a#i#g#h71 ,ME*AL ,SOBEL 7,TRABEL9' ,ON3 ,! ,SLAVE ,J\RNEY TO AN ,AFRO-,BAPTI/ ,FAI?1 #a#i#g#i71 & ABOVE ALL ,SYLVIA ,FREY & ,BETTY ,WOOD 7,COME ,%\T+ TO ,ZION3 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN ,*RI/IANITY 9 ! ,AM]ICAN ,S\? & ,BRITI% ,C>IBBEAN TO #a#h#c1 #a#i#i#f71 & AS CONFIRM$ BY MEMOIRS SU* AS ,ALL5'S ,! ,LIFE1 ,EXP]I5CE1 & ,GOSPEL ,LABORS ( ! ,RT4 ,REV4 ,RI*>D ,ALL5 7#a#h#c#c71 SLAVE [N]S DID NOT MAKE /RONG EF=TS TO CONV]T SLAVES TO ,*RI/IANITY1 & ! FEW :O DID MET 9DIFF]5CE BECAUSE ( ! AU?ORIT>IAN1 EMOTIONALLY COLD ,ANGLICANISM !Y PREA*$4 ,RA!R1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS RESPOND$ ON !IR [N TO ! WAVES ( :ITE 7& A FEW ,BLACK7 ,BAPTI/ & ,ME?ODI/ IT9]ANTS ?AT SPREAD OV] ! ,AM]ICAN COLONIES1 ! ,9DIAN FRONTI]1 & ! ,BRITI% ,C>IBBEAN 9 ! MIDDLE & LAT] #a#gS1 PREA*+ TO ,BLACK & :ITE ALIKE A DOCTR9E ( UNIV]SAL LOVE4 ,H]E IS AN ACC\NT BY ONE ( !SE1 ,ELHANAN ,W9*E/]1 :O WAS PREA*+ 9 ,S\? ,C>OL9A 9 #a#g#g#i3  
  

0,AB\T ?IS TIME ,I BEGAN TO F9D UNCOMMON DESIRES = ! CONV]SATION .<CONV]SION.> & SALVATION ( ! POOR NEGROES1 :O W]E V]Y NUM]\S 9 ?AT P>T ( ! C\NTRY4444 .<,O.>NE EV5+ SEE+ A GREAT NUMB] ( !M AT ! DOOR ( ! H\SE :]E ,I WAS PREA*+1 ,I F\ND MYSELF CON/RA9$ AS IT W]E1 TO GO TO ! DOOR1 & TELL !M1 ,?AT ,JESUS ,*RI/ LOV$ !M1 & DI$ = !M1 AS WELL AS = US :ITE PEOPLE1 & ?AT !Y MI<T COME & BELIEVE 9 HIM & WELCOME4 ,& ,I GAVE !M AS W>M & PRESS+ AN 9VITATION AS ,I C\LD1 TO COMPLY ) ! GLORI\S GOSPEL4 ,?IS %ORT DISC\RSE ADDRESS$ IMM$IATELY TO !M1 TOOK GREAT] EFFECT ?AN CAN WELL BE IMAG9$4444 ,FROM ?AT V]Y EV5+ !Y BEGAN TO CON/ANTLY PRAY TO ! ,LORD1 & SO CONT9U$2 & HE WAS F\ND ( !M40  
  

,9 P>T ,*RI/IANIZATION CAN BE SE5 AS A UNIV]SALIZ+ CONCEPTION3 BY DOCTR9E1 ! ,*RI/IAN ,GOD WAS ONE ,GOD = ALL HUMANS4 ,FUR!R1 EMBRAC+ ,*RI/IANITY 9VOLV$ ! IDEA ( EQUALITY4 ,?IS IS TRUE 9 ! SUP]FICIAL S5SE ?AT ,*RI/IANS AT LEA/ GIVE LIP S]VICE TO ! BELIEF ?AT ALL ,*RI/IANS1 ,BLACK AS WELL AS :ITE1 POOR AS WELL AS RI*1 >E *ILDR5 ( ,GOD4 ,AT A F> DEEP] LEVEL H[EV] ! ,*RI/IAN IDEAS ( UNIV]SAL S9FULNESS & POSSIBLE SALVATION RECOGNIZE ! BASIC HUMAN EQUALITY3 WE ALL1 ,BLACK & :ITE1 FALL %ORT ( :AT 9 SOME S5SE WE >E TRULY CAPABLE ( 7! ,BIBLE PREMISE1 AFT] ALL71 & ?IS IS REALLY ALL ?AT HUMANLY MATT]S--:AT MATT]S 9 LIFE IS ! COM+ 9TO IT1 ITS GRACES & BETRAYALS1 ! GO+ \T ( IT1 & = MANY A HOPE BEYOND IT2 & C]TA9LY NOT RACE4 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?IS IDEA1 ,I BELIEVE1 LAY BEH9D ! RU% ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS 9TO ,*RI/IAN BELIEF4 

,NOR W]E ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN ,*RI/IANS FOCUS$ ON PASSIVE HOPE = HEAV54 ,( C\RSE1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN ,*RI/IANS DID & DO BELIEVE 9 HEAV51 SOME?+ ?AT AU?ORIT>IAN MAT]IALI/S CANNOT =GIVE !M =4 ,BUT = MANY1 ,*RI/IANITY WAS NOT A RELIGION ( PASSIVITY4 ,FR$]ICK ,D\GLASS TELLS US1 0 ',HE CAN'T GO TO HEAV5 ) \R BLOOD ON HIS SKIRTS' IS A SETTL$ PO9T 9 ! CRE$ ( EV]Y SLAVE02 & ON REA*+ ,NEW ,YORK AFT] ESCAP+1 ,D\GLASS REFLECT$1 0,GOD & ! RI<T /OOD V9DICAT$0 7BO? QUOTES FROM ,MY ,BONDAGE & ,MY ,FRE$OM1 #a#h#e#e74 ,9 O!R WORDS1 SLAVES US$ ,*RI/IANITY TO JUDGE !IR OPPRESSORS1 & BELIEV$ 9 A ,GOD :O /OOD BEH9D !IR /RUGGLES = FRE$OM4 ,FRANCIS ,GRIMKE PUT ?IS SIMPLY & ELOQU5TLY 9 A S]MON PREA*$ AFT] :ITE MASSACRES 9 #a#h#i#h3  
  

0,I BELIEVE ?AT \R CASE CAN BE HELP$ BY PRAY]4 ,?IS DOESN'T MEAN ?AT WE >E TO DO NO?+ BUT PRAY1 ?AT WE >E TO FOLD \R >MS & EXPECT ,GOD TO FI<T \R BATTLES = US3 NOR DOES IT MEAN ?AT WE >E NOT TO /& UP = \R RI<TS1 ?AT WE >E NOT TO AGITATE1 & PROTE/ AGA9/ WRONG1--! AGITATION MU/ GO ON2 ! DEM& :I* WE >E MAK+ = EQUAL RECOGNITION ( \R RI<TS1 CIVIL & POLITICAL1 UND] ! ,CON/ITUTION1 MU/ NEV] BE REL9QUI%$1--:AT IT MEANS IS1 ?AT 9 ! MID/ ( ! CONFLICT1 :ILE WE >E DO+ ALL WE CAN1 :ILE WE SEEK TO MAKE ! MO/ ( \RSELVES & ( \R OPPORTUNITIES1 WE >E AT ! SAME TIME TO LAY FA/ HOLD ( ! ,ALMI<TY1 TO KEEP \RSELVES & \R WANTS EV] BE=E ,HIM1 & TO LOOK TO HIM = HELP 9 EV]Y TIME ( NE$40  
  

,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS1 9 SUM1 FROM ! BEG9N+ TOOK AU?ORITY OV] ! ,BIBLE & ,*RI/IANITY1 CONTE/$ ! :ITES' IDEA ( ,GOD & ,JESUS ) !IR [N1 & CREAT$ A ,*RI/IANITY ?AT HAD NOT EXI/$ BE=E1 ONE FOCUS$ ON ,GOD'S PROMISE1 0,I HAVE SURELY SE5 ! AFFLICTION ( MY PEOPLE444& HAVE HE>D !IR CRY BY REASON ( !IR TASKMA/]S0 7,EXODUS #c3#h71 ON ,PAUL'S TEA*+ ?AT ,GOD 0HA? MADE ( ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS ( M5 = TO DWELL ON ALL ! FACE ( ! E>?0 7,ACTS #a#g3#b#f71 & ON O!R TEXTS ?AT !Y *OSE1 AS ALSO !Y *OSE TO BECOME ,AM]ICANS4 ,IF1 TODAY1 V]Y MANY PEOPLE W\LD AFFIRM ?AT ,*RI/IANITY DOES NOT ACCEPT RACISM OR SLAV]Y1 !Y >E NOT SAY+ SOME?+ ?AT WAS TRUE HI/ORICALLY1 BUT >E REFLECT+ AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN CONCEPTION ( ,*RI/IANITY1 ONE ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS PUT =W>D1 /RUGGL$ BY1 & TODAY 9 MANY CASES /ILL LIVE BY4 

,PROPHETIC ,9TEGRATIONISM 

  

,! BELIEF 7ATTITUDE W\LD BE A BETT] WORD7 ?AT ,I AM CALL+ PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM DRAWS ON ALL ! IDEAS ,I HAVE SO 9ADEQUATELY SKET*$ ABOVE4 ,IT DRAWS ON ,JOHNSON'S 0,TRUE TO \R NATIVE L&0 & ON 0,/ONY ! ROAD WE TROD0--ON ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' BELIEF 9 A LONG ROAD /RET*+ BACK TO !IR CAPTURE & 5SLAVEM5T1 & =W>D TO AN AS YET UNREALIZ$ FUTURE4 ,& IT DRAWS ON 0,?\ :O HAS BR\<T US ?US F> ON ! WAY10 IF ?IS IS UND]/OOD TO 9CLUDE ! 9TELLECTUAL REVISIONISM ?AT ALL[$ ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS TO CLAIM AU?ORITY OV] ! MEAN+ ( !IR RELIGION4 ,!SE ATTITUDES IMPLI$ A BELIEF ?AT1 UND] PRESSURE FROM ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS !MSELVES1 *ANGE WAS POSSIBLE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 ?\< IT W\LD OCCUR OV] MANY DECADES1 EV5 HUNDR$S ( YE>S1 & ?AT ! *ANGE W\LD BR+ ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES CLOS] TO :AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS ASSUM$ WAS ,GOD'S PURPOSE ( A WORLD 9 :I* ?OSE 0( ONE BLOOD0 W\LD LIVE TOGE!R4 ,TRUE OR NOT1 MANY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS HAVE LIV$ BY ?IS IDEA4 

,9 A MORE SPECIFIC WAY1 & P>ALLEL TO !IR TAK+ AU?ORITY OV] ! ,BIBLE & ,*RI/IANITY1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS ALSO TOOK AU?ORITY OV] ANO!R 0SACR$0 DOCUM5T 7! PHRASE IS ,RALPH ,ELLISON'S1 & NOT MEANT S>CA/ICALLY71 ! ,U,S ,CON/ITUTION4 ,! KEY ROLE H]E WAS PLAY$ BY ?AT T[]+ N9ETE5? C5TURY 9TELLECT1 ,FR$]ICK ,D\GLASS4 

,AS /UD5TS ( ! P]IOD KN[1 ,D\GLASS CAME TO PROM95CE1 />T+ 9 #a#h#d#a1 AS A POLITICAL DISCIPLE ( ,WILLIAM ,LLOYD ,G>RISON1 :O BELIEV$ ?AT ! ,CON/ITUTION SUPPORT$ SLAV]Y &1 9 CONSEQU5CE1 ! ANTI-SLAV]Y MOVEM5T %\LD REPUDIATE ! ,CON/ITUTION1 SEEK ! BREAKUP ( ! F$]AL UNION 7,G>RISON HOP$ SLAV]Y W\LD COLLAPSE )\T F$]AL SUPPORT71 & ACCOMPLI% ?IS ?R\< 0MORAL SUASION40 ,D\GLASS FOLL[$ ?IS REASON+ = T5 YE>S1 BUT 9CREAS+LY FAC$ *ALL5GES FROM NON-,G>RISONIANS :O BELIEV$ ! CON/ITUTION DID NOT SUPPORT SLAV]Y4 ,EV5TUALLY1 0UPON A RECONSID]ATION ( ! :OLE SUBJECT10 ,D\GLASS CAME TO BELIEVE ?AT ! ,CON/ITUTION1 9AUGURAT$ 0TO =M A MORE P]FECT UNION1 E/ABLI% JU/ICE1 9SURE DOME/IC TRANQUILITY1 444& SECURE ! G5]AL WELF>E0 7,D\GLASS IS QUOT+ ! ,PREAMBLE71 0C\LD NOT WELL HAVE BE5 DESIGN$ AT ! SAME TIME TO MA9TA9 & P]PETUATE A SY/EM ( RAP9E & MURD] LIKE SLAV]Y40 ,D\GLASS FUR!R >GU$ ?AT '! DECL>$ PURPOSES ( AN 9/RUM5T >E TO GOV]N ! MEAN+ ( ALL ITS P>TS0--9 O!R WORDS1 ?AT ! PURPOSES 9 ! ,PREAMBLE DET]M9$ ! TRUE MEAN+ ( ! :OLE ,CON/ITUTION4 ,F9ALLY1 HE DREW ! CONCLUSION ?AT IF ?IS W]E TRUE1 !N 0! CON/ITUTION ( \R C\NTRY IS \R W>RANT = ! ABOLITION ( SLAV]Y 9 EV]Y /ATE 9 ! ,AM]ICAN ,UNION0 7,MY ,BONDAGE & ,MY ,FRE$OM1 #c#i#f-#i#h74 ,D\GLASS ( C\RSE KNEW ?AT SEV]AL >TICLES ( ! CON/ITUTION 9DIRECTLY RECOGNIZ$ SLAV]Y1 BUT1 9 AN ACT ( AU?ORITY-TAK+ SIMIL> TO :AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS DID ) ! ,BIBLE1 HE SIMPLY DECL>$ ?AT ! ,PREAMBLE \<T TO TAKE PREC$5CE OV] !SE4 

,D\GLASS'S REASON+--SUPPORT$ BY ! PO/-,CIVIL ,W> AM5DM5TS ?AT DID \TLAW SLAV]Y--BECAME ! BASIS = ! NEXT C5TURY & A HALF ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN /RUGGLE4 ,NOT ONLY W]E ! ,N,A,A,C,P'S >GUM5TS 9 ,BR[N V4 ,BO>D ( ,$UCATION1 ! CASE ?AT \TLAW$ S*OOL SEGREGATION1 BAS$ ON ! #a#d? ,AM5DM5T1 BUT MORE BROADLY1 ! CIVIL RI<TS MOVEM5T ITSELF WAS BAS$ ON ! IDEA ( REALIZ+1 ?R\< ON-!GR\ND /RUGGLE1 ! RI<TS 7SUPPOS$LY7 ALREADY GU>ANTE$ 9 ! ,CON/ITUTION4 ,HI/ORICALLY1 ,D\GLASS'S VIEW ( ! ,CON/ITUTION BECAME ! MAJORITY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN VIEW4 

,SE5 ONE WAY ,D\GLASS'S >GUM5T IS A REM>KABLE ACT ( 9TELLECTUAL DI%ONE/Y4 ,:O SAYS ! G5]ALITIES 9 ! ,PREAMBLE GOV]N ! :OLE ,CON/ITUTION8 ,DIDN'T ! COMPROMISES ?AT LET SLAV]Y 9 ?R\< ! BACK DOOR DET]M9E ITS REAL1 HI/ORICAL MEAN+8 ,SE5 ANO!R WAY1 ,D\GLASS'S ACT ( AU?ORITY-TAK+ TREAT$ ! ,CON/ITUTION AS A DOCUM5T :OSE MEAN+ WAS /ILL BE+ DET]M9$1 & HE PUT =W>D HIS VIEW AS ONE POLE 9 ! /RUGGLE OV] ?AT MEAN+4 ,?IS ACT ( AU?ORITY-TAK+ WAS NOT ONLY SOCIAL 9 SCOPE--,D\GLASS ASS]T$ ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS C\LD HELP DET]M9E ! LAW ( ! :OLE NATION-- BUT WAS ALSO PROPHETIC4 ,D\GLASS ASS]T$ NOT SO MU* :AT ! ,CON/ITUTION DID MEAN 9 #ahee BUT :AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS DET]M9$ ?AT IT MU/ COME TO MEAN 9 ! HI/ORICAL FUTURE4 ,9 M9IATURE1 ,D\GLASS'S >GUM5T CONTA9$ ! IDEA ( PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM1 ! CREATION ( A FUTURE C\NTRY 9 :I* 9TEGRATION W\LD BE ACCOMPLI%$4 

,9 REALITY1 JU/ AS ! MEAN+ ( ! ,CON/ITUTION C\LDN'T BE DET]M9$ 9 ! AB/RACT BUT ONLY OV] A C5TURY & A HALF ( /RUGGLE1 SO ! MEAN+ ( PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM CAN'T BE SETTL$ 9 ! AB/RACT4 ,IS 9TEGRATIONISM AN ACT ( P]PETUAL C[>DICE1 A DECISION TO LIMIT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN HOPES TO :AT 0! SY/EM0 IS WILL+ TO GRANT8 ,SO ,I & O!R RADICALS ASSUM$ 9 ! #a#i#fS1 :5 WE PREF]R$ ! REVOLUTIONISM ( ,MALCOLM ,X & ! ,PAN!RS4 ,OR IS IT AN ASS]TION ( A RI<T TO LIVE AS EQUALS 9 A SOCIETY NOT YET BUILT8 ,AS ,I'VE LE>N$ MORE AB\T ! 9TEGRATIONI/S ,I ONCE SCORN$1 ,I HAVE REALIZ$ ?AT !Y W]E 0PRESS+ ON ! UPW>D WAY10 AS ,GRIMKE PUT IT 9 #a#i#a#i--!IR EYES W]E ON A TRANS=M$ ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 NOT ! EXI/+ ONE4 ,H]E IS ,A,M,E ,BI%OP ,REV]DY ,RANSOM1 WRIT+ 9 #a#i#c#e3  
  

0,UND] ! :ITE HEAT ( D5IAL & P]SECUTION1 HE .<,GOD.>IS FA%ION+ !M .<,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS.> ) SL$GEHAMM] BL[S 9TO A NEW PATT]N = ,AM]ICAN CIVILIZATION4 ,HIS MISSION IS TO SPIRITUALIZE IT1 MAKE IT PULSATE ) EMOTION UNTIL ?R\<\T ! :OLE RANGE ( \R SOCIAL1 ECONOMIC1 & POLITICAL LIFE IT %ALL LEVEL ! WALLS ( WEAL? & PRIVILEGE1 ( BIGOTRY & PRIDE1 ( COLOR & RACE4 ,FIFTY MILLION UNBORN ,AM]ICANS ( ,AFRICAN DESC5T %ALL1 A FEW G5]ATIONS H5CE1 LEAD ,AM]ICA TO A*IEVE ?AT BRO!RHOOD :I* TRANS=MS ! *ILDR5 ( M5 9TO ! SPIRIT & LIK5ESS ( ! *ILDR5 ( ,GOD40  
  

,RANSOM'S PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM1 PLA9LY1 IS 9TEGRATION 9TO A ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ?AT DOES NOT YET EXI/1 BUT ?AT HE IS SURE WILL COME TO EXI/4 7,AT ! SAME TIME1 AS NOT$ ABOVE1 HE AFFIRMS A DI/9CT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN CULTURE1 GR[+ 9TO C]TA9TY ( 0! WOR?1 /R5G?1 & BEAUTY ( ITS IDEALS407 ,& ,RANSOM'S 9TEGRATIONISM IS PROPHETIC 9 A SECOND1 SPECIFIC S5SE3 HE PR$ICTS A MOVEM5T ?AT ACTUALLY DID BEG9 9 ! MIDDLE-T]M FUTURE1 A FEW DECADES AFT] HE SPOKE1 & ?AT EV5 )\T A*IEV+ ALL HE HOP$1 WAS ! MA9 =CE = DEMOCRACY 9 ! SECOND HALF ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY4 ,9 ! EV5TS ( ?AT HALF-C5TURY1 ,I ?9K1 ,RANSOM W\LD SEE ! BEG9N+--BUT ONLY ! BEG9N+--( A REALIZATION ( ! VISION SKET*$ 9 ! REM>KABLE P>AGRAPH JU/ QUOT$4 ,AT ANY RATE ! VIEWPO9T ( PROPHETIC 9TEGRATIONISM HAS ALWAYS ACCOMPANI$ ! ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN AFFIRMATION CAPTUR$ 9 ,JOHNSON'S WORDS1 0,TRUE TO \R NATIVE L&10 & IS H>D TO SEP>ATE FROM IT4 

,SOME ,F9AL ,?\<TS 

  

,IT'S NOT MY PURPOSE TO TRY TO LAY \T A /RATEGY = H[ AN>*I/S CAN APPROA* ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS' /RUGGLES4 ,9DE$1 ,I C\LD NOT DO ?IS1 BEYOND !--TO ME--OBVI\S PO9T ?AT WE %\LD RECOGNIZE ?AT ! MA9 L9E ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN EF=T = NE>LY TWO HUNDR$ YE>S HAS BE5 7& IS LIKELY TO CONT9UE TO BE7 TO SEEK FULL RI<TS & P>TICIPATION 9 ,U,S SOCIETY AS ,AM]ICANS4 ,! LOGIC IS 9ESCAPABLE3 IF ! ,U,S IS 0N[ \R MO!R C\NTRY0 !N FRE$OM MEANS FRE$OM1 EQUALITY1 & FULL P>TICIPATION 9 IT1 ?AT IS1 9TEGRATION1 9 ! EXPANSIVE S5SE ,I'VE DISCUSS$4 ,?IS ISN'T A MATT] ( POLITICAL LABELS BUT :AT PEOPLE >E ACTUALLY SEEK+1 ON ! GR\ND4 

,BEYOND ?IS ,I ?9K WE NE$ TO DEVELOP & CONCRETIZE \R ANALYSIS4 ,IT NO LONG] IS ! CASE ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS >E ONLY ! POORE/1 OR FULLY M>G9ALIZ$ 9 ,U,S SOCIETY4 ,IF IT'S TRUE ?AT ! CONT9U+ ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS CREAT$ A CLASS ( MORE OR LESS P]MAN5TLY M>G9ALIZ$ PEOPLE1 & ?AT ?IS DEVELOPM5T HAS HIT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS1 ,LAT9OS1 & ,NATIVE ,AM]ICANS ! H>DE/1 IT'S ALSO TRUE ?AT MANY /& ON MORE /ABLE GR\ND EV5 IF !Y TOO HAVE TAK5 ECONOMIC LOSSES4 ,TAK+ ! SECRET>Y ( MY ACADEMIC DEP>TM5T AS AN EXAMPLE1 %E REPRES5TS A V]Y L>GE GR\P ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS :O HOLD MOD]ATELY WELL PAY+ JOBS C5TRAL TO ! L>G] SOCIETY4 ,%E HAS ! SAME WAGES & B5EFITS AS O!RS 9 H] JOB CLASSIFICATION1 & ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS >E NOT OV]REPRES5T$ 9 ! L[] CLASSIFICATIONS4 ,!RE IS GOOD REASON = ?IS1 AS %E BELONGS TO A UNION1 ! ,CIVIL ,S]VICE ,EMPLOYES ,ASSOCIATION1 ?AT = FIFTY YE>S HAS WORK$ 9 A /OLID1 TYPICALLY BUREAUCRATIC WAY TO GA9 & 7WEAKLY7 DEF5D !SE B5EFITS4 ,%E IS LOS+ SIX DAYS' PAY ?IS YE> AS IMPOS$ BY ,NEW ,YORK ,/ATE1 BUT NOT H] JOB4 ,%E IS NOT AN ACTIVI/1 BUT DOES POLL-WAT*+ AT ELECTIONS4 ,%E LIVES 9 A MIDDLE CLASS NEI<BORHOOD & H] TWO SONS S]VE 9 ! >M$ =CES4 7,YET H] SONS1 IF NOT 9 UNI=M1 >E /ILL MORE LIKELY TO FACE POLICE VIOL5CE ?AN ANY :ITE MAN47 ,%E1 H] MO!R BE=E H] 7:O WORK$ AS A COOK 9 ,NEW ,YORK ,CITY S*OOLS1 RETIR$1 & DI$ A FEW YE>S AGO AT EI<TY-ONE71 & H] SONS & N[ GR&*ILDR5 AFT] H]1 >E REASONS :Y A 0M>G9ALIZATION0 ANALYSIS ( ,BLACK LIFE IS 9ADEQUATE2 :Y IDEAS ( SELFPROTECTIVE ISOLATION1 ,BLACK ECONOMIC 5T]PRISE1 & ! LIKE HAVE LITTLE TRACTION 9 ! COMMUNITY TODAY2 & :Y 9TEGRATION & P>TICIPATION1 AS A GOAL TO BE PURSU$ ACROSS ! G5]ATIONS1 REMA9S ! MAJORITY \TLOOK4 

,?IS EXAMPLE PO9TS1 9 ITS CONCRETE WAY1 TO SOME?+ AN>*I/S NE$ TO TAKE 9TO ACC\NT POLITICALLY3 ! ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN EF=T TO W9 FULL RI<TS AS ,AM]ICANS--ESS5TIALLY A MILITANT RE=M /RATEGY1 AS ,I SAID AT ! BEG9N+--HAS BE5 P>TLY SUCCESSFUL4 ,?IS SUCCESS IS NOT JU/ A MATT] ( COOPTATION ( AN ELITE1 AL?\< ?AT HAS OCCURR$4 ,ON ! GR\ND1 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS DO HAVE MORE RI<TS N[ ?AN 9 #a#i#f#c1 #a#i#a#c1 OR #a#h#f#c4 ,SO1 ! LONG-T]M1 ACROSS ! G5]ATIONS RE=M P]SPECTIVE--0PRESS+ ON ! UPW>D WAY0--IS ONE ?AT HAS PRODUC$ RESULTS & ?AT PEOPLE >E NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON4 ,?US1 9 ADDITION TO ! ORD9>Y SKEPTICISM ?AT GREETS PEOPLE :O TALK AB\T REVOLUTION--& ESPECIALLY AB\T AN AN>*I/ REVOLUTION ?AT CLAIMS TO REPLACE ANY =M ( CO]CIVE GOV]NM5T ) SELF-MANAGEM5T--,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS HAVE SPECIFIC REASONS = SKEPTICISM4 ,!IR ROAD HAS WORK$1 F> LESS ?AN ANYONE WANTS1 BUT IT HAS NOT BE5 /UPID OR MISGUID$--AT LEA/ IT HASN'T PROV5 ITSELF TO BE4 ,AN>*I/S HAVE TO WORK \T A WAY TO TALK AB\T ?IS COMPLICAT$ REALITY & W9 PEOPLE TO \R P]SPECTIVE :ILE RECOGNIZ+ ! REALITY4 

,P]HAPS MORE IMPORTANT ?AN ANY SPECIFIC1 WE AN>*I/S HAVE TO UND]/& ! HI/ORY & CULTURE REF]R$ TO H]E4 ,WE NE$ TO UND]/& :Y & H[ ,NOVEMB] #d1 #b#h1 WAS A GOLD5 DAY 9 ?IS HI/ORY1 REG>DLESS ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY1 ,OBAMA1 & ! \TCOME TO DATE ( ,OBAMA'S PRESID5CY4 ,WE NE$ TO UND]/& ! TE>S ON ,JESSE ,JACKSON'S *EEKS ?AT NI<T3 ,/ONY ! ROAD WE TROD4 ,WE NE$ TO UND]/& ! SUR5ESS1 OR FAI?1 9 ! IDEA ( 0PRESS+ ON ! UPW>D WAY40 ,WE NE$ TO UND]/& ! LACK ( ?AT SUR5ESS N[ = ! NEXT G5]ATION--9 ! BITT] AFT]MA? FIFTY YE>S ON FROM ! CIVIL RI<TS ]A--& :AT ?AT HAS TO DO ) PEOPLE %OOT+ EA* O!R OV] TURF4 ,IT'S MA9LY TO TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO ?IS UND]/&+ ?AT ,I'VE WRITT5 ?IS >TICLE4 

,AT ! SAME TIME1 WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ?AT ?IS ATTITUDE ( ! GREAT MAJORITY 7NOT ALL7 ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS T[>D LIFE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES--ONE ( W>Y DI/RU/1 (T5 EMBITT]$ HOPE1 & ULTIMATELY1 DET]M9ATION TO LIVE H]E AS FULL & FREE CITIZ5S ( A SOCIETY ?AT DOES NOT YET EXI/--HAS A POSITIVE CONT5T 9 \R T]MS4 ,\R PREF]R$ SOCIETY DOES NOT YET EXI/ EI!R1 & MAY NEV] DO SO4 ,WE WANT TO >GUE 9 T]MS ( ! AIM ( FREE P>TICIPATION1 :ILE TRY+ TO SEP>ATE IT FROM ITS ACCEPTANCE ( ! FRAMEWORK ( ! ,U,S AS A /ATE1 FROM ! NATIONALISM & (T5 IMP]IALISM ?IS IMPLIES1 FROM ACCEPTANCE ( ! ,CON/ITUTION AS ! FRAMEWORK = /RUGGLE1 & FROM ! V]Y DEEP-SEAT$ IDEA ( ! 0DEMOCRATIC IDEALS ( ,AM]ICA40 ,:AT SU* AN APPROA* WILL LOOK LIKE 9 DETAIL ,I DON'T KN[1 BUT WE NE$ TO MOVE AWAY FROM ! ROTE LEFTISM ( >GU+ ?AT RE=M EF=TS ALWAYS FAIL OR ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS %\LD BE = REVOLUTION BECAUSE !Y CAN GET NO:]E 9 PRES5T SOCIETY4 ,!Y CAN & HAVE1 PRECISELY BY NOT ACCEPT+ PRES5T SOCIETY AS ! LIMIT ( :AT !Y >E /RIV+ =4 ,\R APPROA* %\LD BEG9 FROM ?IS REALITY4 

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