Hatred in Notes of a Native Son Essay -- James Baldwin

The Destructive Nature of Hatred Hatred for white society was a common sentiment among the black community during the 1950s. These feelings were expressed through different mediums, ranging from music and art, to the written word. But James Baldwin, a popular black writer during this time period, does not harp on this subject. Instead of preaching about his hatred for white America, Baldwin utilizes his narrative and analysis techniques to illustrate the destructive nature of the black society’s hatred for white society in â€Å"Notes of a Native Son†. The hatred many African Americans possessed during the 1950s caused multiple riots. Baldwin touches on this in â€Å"Notes of a Native Son†, by mentioning the Harlem riots that broke out during the time of his father’s death. Baldwin states that â€Å"it would have been better to have left the plate glass as it had been and the goods lying in the stores† (Baldwin 82), but â€Å"it would have also been intolerable, for Harlem had needed something to smash† (82). The black community, infuriated by improper police action, exploded into a fury of anger. While Baldwin does not argue against the riots, he points out their futility. The riots, as Baldwin points out, did not cross the ghetto lines. Instead of wreaking havoc in white neighborhoods, the black mob simply destroyed its own area. The mob had succumbed to its hatred for white society, but in doing so, destroyed its own neighborhood. Thus, Baldwin points out the self-destructive nature of the black community’s hatred. Instead of causing damage to white society, or even white property, the black community ended up inflicting wounds on its own people. Baldwin does not stop with this event to illustrate the irony of the black commun... ... and from it learns two key lessons to prevent a similar destruction of his own life. Baldwin first states that one must accept that â€Å"injustice is commonplace† (84). Prejudice, according to Baldwin, will always exist in life, whether it is against race, color or creed. But while prejudice is ever-present, Baldwin concludes â€Å"one must never†¦accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all one’s strength† (84). In order to succeed in this fight, one must keep his â€Å"own heart free of hatred† (84). Thus according to Baldwin, the real fight is not black society versus white society, but rather man versus himself. It is only by winning this battle that one can avoid the path of destruction. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.