The Black Notebooks Derricotte
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One of the most difficult topics in American social issues must include the issue of race relations. However, quite often a discussion of these issues is viewed in binary terms, in the most literal sense of the word, white versus black. Because of these polar viewpoints, quite often preconceived notions of race relations interfere with understanding race on a deeper level. In Toi Derricotte’s The Black Notebooks we are treated to the journal entries of a light-skinned black woman regarding race. These entries challenge many of our preconceived notions about what it means to be white or black. Because of her ability to “pass” for white in various situations, the author offers us a unique perspective, one that shows us new insights into what race means and what being human means. The author admits that quite often she and her family were questions as to why they never “passed over into the white world” (Derricotte 16). Derricotte’s answer includes a character rich in pride, “rich in culture and history”, and “contempt” for what appeared as the “pale lives” of whites (17).Despite her pride in her culture and heritage, including its struggles and challenges as well as its beauties and joys, being able to “escape” from her blackness, by being able to pass as white in various situations, enabled the author to experience the meaning of race and being human from a unique perspective. We see that her light-skin might enable her to pass
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structions imposed on the “other” limit the development of humans, not just black humans but all humans playing a role in racism – which includes us all since we cannot escape our historical or contemporary role in race relations.
One of the author’s main points is that we all must develop through a series of challenges and obstacles with both internal and external influences playing a role in the development formation. Racism, a manmade form of abuse has an impact on both whites that impose it and blacks who are subjected to it. Yet, the author is able to discover that finding one’s voice because of such artificial limitations is a process of rediscovery of self because without such artificial constructions the self would not be impeded by the detrimental impact of racism. The author finds that despite all the external “Since racism’s most damaging insult is internal, to ‘self’ as perception, it strikes me that, especially for a black writer, the process of coming to the creation of a great work of art is also a process that entails the re-creation and revision of self” (Derricotte 20).
If we look at some of the many examples of racism visited by the author in her journals, we see that there is little denying that to impose
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1757
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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