I've read pieces like the "Story of a Negro Peon" before, and have been familiar with the history for a long time, but that doesn't mean it wasn't one of the most upsetting things I've ever read. However, I was arguably more upset after the "Story of A Southern White Woman." The narrator sounds absolutely insane, yet I know that there were plenty who believed what she did and behaved worse - that there are people who hold if not the same beliefs, then something of the same beliefs, even today. Her declarations are so ludacris they are laughable, especially on p 215, when she starts talking about black women as "nearly all lacking in virtue," etc. (These become especially disturbing when compared to the portion of the "Story of a Southern Colored Woman," in which the narrator speaks about her experiences with white men and how "a white man of high standing will systematically set out to entrap a colored girl" (219).) The "Southern White Woman," was so removed from reality she not only thought white people were the ones being wronged, but that it was black women who were the most evil and most to blame! Unfortunately, as messed up as she was - and I am not in any way trying to absolve her of any blame - it seems to me that she was, frankly, to an extent a victim of brainwashing, not doubt compounded with a desire not to acknowledge the truth (i.e. that the white men she knew where raping black women, and that the entire race distinction was an excuse to take advantage of people in order to get more money and have more power, etc.). Unfortunately, as well, I wonder if this woman's mind could ever be changed. She sounds utterly convinced of her beliefs, and seems ready with an excuse to counter any argument.
As I said before, there are still people who think this way. My question to you is what do you think might be done to change the minds of people who think like this, and if you think it is even possible?
I was also quite disturbed by the Southern white woman’s warped point of view. To answer your question, I believe that knowledge is the only possible answer. Ignorance breeds ignorance, et cetera, and in order to combat that there needs to be a common understanding established. Misconceptions that are so ingrained into a person’s mind is revolting, but shouting information at them will never be able to penetrate. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink. Ignorance is something that needs to be filtered out of society (I imagine it to be a never-ending process).
ReplyDeleteWow. The whole time I was reading this story, my brain couldn't even handle it. I quite agree, this woman sounds absolutely nuts - she keeps trying to sound nice, but makes no attempt to hide her views at the perceived inferiority she held, despite obviously being aware that it was something taught to her by her completely racist father.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, I think that if anyone is this far gone these days as to think like that, it would be best to stay far away from them, or possibly fly them out to an uninhabited island. Thankfully, or at least I hope, most people in the South are not as backward-thinking as this woman these days. It would be nice to hope that in the past hundred years, people have gotten a little more accepting, anyway.