Transnationalism in Darkwater : using the global perspective to help redefine issues in the homeland

Résumé du document

Du Bois', 'Darkwater' compiles varied genres of writing, discussing the standing of the African Americans in the early 20th century in the US society. Initially published in 1920, the issues of World War I backdrop a discussion of the American government in relation to the country's racial relations. World War I marks the first, most notable entry of the United States into foreign diplomatic affairs after the emancipation of American slaves in the Civil War. The station of the black soldier, who dies for his country abroad is made a second-rate citizen at home, made the issue of black rights in relation to global society even more prevalent in the time period. Du Bois attempts to discuss race on a transnational level and create national awareness. In 'Darkwater', Du Bois discusses the abridgment of democracy for the coloured global citizen and calls for a reformation of the current form of democracy which allows such inequality at home. Du Bois faults this inequality and the lower standing of African Americans to the withholding of education for them. Du Bois's Darkwater opens the discussion of national race issue through the avenue of the global colour line, and, by showing the history of suppression of African advancement both abroad and at home.

Extraits

[...] In his story, a white woman and a black man perceive themselves to be the sole survivors of a comet collision. Though initially disturbed by her black companion, the white protagonist realizes the absurdity of racial stereotypes—“She looked upon the man beside her and forgot all else but his manhood, his strong, vigorous manhood—his sorrow and sacrifice. She saw him glorified. He was no longer a thing apart, a creature below, a strange outcast of another clime and blood, but her Brother Humanity incarnate, Son of God and great All-Father of the race to (158). [...]

[...] Transnationalism in Darkwater : using the global perspective to help redefine issues in the homeland Du Bois' Darkwater compiles varied genres of writing discussing the standing of the African American in early 20th century U.S. society. Initially published in 1920, the issues of World War I backdrop a discussion of American government in relation to the countries race relations. World War I marks the first, most notable entry of the United States into foreign diplomatic affairs after the emancipation of American slaves in the Civil War. [...]

[...] By manifesting the wrongs of white imperialism and aligning them near the potential for blacks shown in their African history, Du Bois seeks to destroy the conflation between whiteness and ‘good'. His use of the world citizen in the text comes to include all peoples, including women and children. Du Bois, in fact, charges children as the true world citizens; through their innocence and potential they offer possibility to mobilize the ideal for an alternate future for the American negro. [...]

[...] But, Du Bois asserts that the “real effort to modernize Africa should be made through schools rather than churches” (40). He notes that number of white individuals who are practising with even reasonable approximation the democracy and unselfishness of Jesus Christ is so small and unimportant as to be fit subject for jest in Sunday supplements . He associates the idea of having solely black religious education with missionaries, imperialism, and hypocrisy and thus calls for an alternative avenue for racial uplift—through formal education. [...]

[...] Du Bois essay Immortal Child” focuses on this issue of child rearing and education. Du Bois states that human problems center in the Immortal Child and his education is the problem of problems” (114). This concept of the immortal child zones in on the potential for all parents to live forever through their children and children's children. Du Bois thus puts heavy emphasis on the importance of methods of child rearing and makes the choices of the parents also pivotal in the future of the race and country. [...]