Double Consciousness In Black Culture

range of a function Consciousness In Black CultureIn his password The Souls of the Black Folk, WEB Du Bois is considering the situations the Africans, who were American citizens after the American innovation war faced. These where population who were slaves afore time and had become American citizens after cosmos freed from slavery by Abraham Lincoln. The whites searched trim down upon these gruesome Americans, who were African Americans. They alike treat and despised these African Americans. The whites considered themselves superior than the downcasts and believed that nothing good could come step to the fore of these black Americans. The whites considered the black Americans brusk and chaotic. They denied the African Americans the opportunity to entranceway base requirements like education, health c be and running businesses. Through this treatment, the African Americans fix themselves in a put up of confusion. They looked at themselves through the eyes of opposi te nation (Du Bois, 12) and considered themselves inferior to the whites. They believed that they were Americans and, at the same time, their color and discrimination do them believe that they were Africans. These total darknesss n eer wanted to give up any of the two statuses because they believed it had near good to offer, a situation that put them in the state of two-baser instinct (pg 13). They therefore held on to their African culture and at the same time wanted to embrace the American culture and lifestyle.Double consciousness is a situation where one is convinced of who he or she is and at the same time believes to be what other hoi polloi thinks he or she is. this retell consciousness, this sense of al behaviors looking at ones egotism through the eyes of others, of measuring ones soul by the tape of a field that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever smells his twoness, (Du Bois, 12). Such people hold on to the two personalities thus toil nigh to liv e like two souls competing for one body. In Du Bois account, the concept of double consciousness was displeased by the whites stereotypes which made the Negros (the African Americans) to doubt the true statement they had about themselves, racial discrimination that made black Americans to be segregated from the American community and the redeing that the Negros were both African and American.The Afro-American strove to attain discomfort and change his double consciousness to a satisfactory truer self (Du Bois, 13). eve though the African Americans desired a better self, they were not secure to change any of the two natures to suit the other. They had to make use of their at a time dispersed, wasted and forgotten mind in order to get out of the problem they were facing. As a result, the African Americans formed a sweat that helped them to revolutionalize America and the world and enable them to participate fully in the festering of their country. The African Americans emplo yed their skills such as poetry, literature, plays, concerts and practice of medicine to express what they mat up and how they wanted the whites to treat them. They came together and formed an every(prenominal)iance where they used plays and music to discourage stereotypes and discrimination. They formed an alliance and named it the Harlem Renaissance. This alliance grew and became popular among the African Americans. area War 1 and the social and cultural changes in the United States quicken the growth and popularity of the alliance during the start of the 20th century. The Harlem renaissance brought democratic sort out to the American people. However, the Renaissance ended abruptly due to the great slump and their assumptions about the impressiveness of culture that did not related to the social and economical realities.The African Americans sought better standards of living in other move of the United States of America. They migrated from the southern farmlands to the n orthern industrial and town areas. At first, the African Americans received some level of acceptance by the whites and they lived with them in the northerly cities. They established their businesses and started growing in their economic status. Despite this, the whites all the same looked down upon the blacks and controlled most aspects of their lives like in markets and the economy at large. The blacks found a better life in the neighborhood for some time. This led to a higher influx of the Whites from the south leading to their increase in commonwealth. The population of poor blacks in the region increased, as most of them were jobless and from poor background. This situation led to increase in social evils as some became thugs, formed groups of thugs, and disturbed the peace of the people in those areas.Du Bois uses the veil as a metaphor through out his break. In his book, Du Bois stated that the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil (Pg 12). A veil is like an opaq ue curtain that separates opposite groups of people. It makes people to be ignorant of what is taking place in the other group because they cannot ascertain it. The veil makes things obscure and acts as a mask preventing the whites from debateing what is of importance in the whites. It covers, hides and conceals the blacks who are born in the veil making them occult to the American whites. Du Bois indicates that the veil makes the experience of the African Americans invisible to the whites. In a sense, he wants to lift up the veil for us to see and understand what is taking place inside the veil.The veil that separated the whites and blacks was color. This veil followed the people throughout their lives from birth to death. This means that the veil of color separated the way the backs and whites treated each other in all aspects of their lives with the blacks being discriminated in social life, policy-making life, in hospitals, churches, schools, streets, jails and even in grav eyards (Allen Jr. Pg 2). people of colour separates people in the United States making them live as divergent communities in one region. This causes harm to the inhabitants and destroys democracy. The African Americans feel alienated only at the same time feel themselves as worth people with their own culture and traditions. This thought gives the blacks a dual perception, which Du Bois referred to as double consciousness.Du Bois suggested that the African Americans comport an important identity valuable and profitable to all the inhabitants of America. The current conditions in which they thrive prevent this identity from developing or becoming fully and exploited. Through their various cultures, the white Americans put blocks and divisions on the black Americans.Du bois philosophy has been useful in education of American political theories. It has also influenced many people in the tradition of Africana theory. It has been important in development of the race theory through h is argument that race has some real meaning even though it is difficult to define that meaning.The book addresses the concept of domination where some people use their race to overshadow others and exploit them. Such is evident in the world today. Still the whites are marginalizing the blacks and alienating them in major aspects of development of the American nation and the world at large. The whites have not fully agreed that the blacks can set up much in development than they can do. The whites still discriminate the blacks and discard them good opportunities in education, social standing and in political issues. As a result, the double consciousness still exists in the blacks to some degree. The blacks, hitherto are struggling to overcome this and have been seen contending with the whites in the social, economic and political aspects.The American political theory today has undergone transformation, becoming better than it was decades ago. scholarship and social science philo sophies have helped broaden the intellectual horizons thus better the prospects of the political theory. This has helped reconcile the conflicting philosophies and traditions of the African Americans and the White Americans (Held, Pg 14). The transformation has also enabled the common citizens to track and participate in the formulation of the political theories and policies. The policies have largely accommodated the African Americans and allowed them to participate actively in the political activities of the American Nation. The new political theory has reviewed the aspects of sovereignty, democracy and justice to all people (Held, 16).Despite all the transformations and struggles the African Americans have made to avoid racism and discrimination, it is notable that this still exists up to now. According to Brown N. Kimberly (2010), Du Bois desire was to see double consciousness eradicated (Brown, 31). Double consciousness still exists but it is no longer an urgent objective. Dis crimination and racism still exist, although it is at a lesser degree than it was during the time of Du Bois. Some people are still struggling with their identity and mixed cultures as was experienced by the African Americans. policy-making instability and social injustices experienced by the people aggravate this problem. Economic disparities and differences in social standing makes some people look down upon others and make them to develop to some degree the double consciousness problem.The political status of the Backs in the American nation has undergone major transformations. Today, the black Americans have a share in political posts in different ranks. This shows that the whites have accepted the contribution of the African Americans and their social standing, intellect and agency they play in society. The African Americans of today are not be haunted by the double consciousness as much as it were with those of some decades ago. The new political theory has changed much in footing of policy on how all people aught to treat others. As a result, the African Americans have equal opportunity with the whites in access of all services needed by them. Even though this is the case, there are still some stereotypes. Some of the people still feel superior and thus mistreat others because of their color, race and ethnicity.The whites need to identify the struggles of the black Americans and recognize them fully as human and treat them with the respect they deserve. They should recognize them as part of them and fully incorporate them in all development plans and activities. The whites need the intellect, resources and power of the African Americans in running the activities of their nation corporately.Cited workAllen Jr. Ernest (1992) Ever Feeling Ones twoness Double Ideas and Double Consciousness In the Souls of Black Folk, Contributing in Black Studies Vol. 9, Article 5Held David Political Theory today, Stamford University Pres, 1991Brown, N. Kimberly, Writin g the Black revolutionary Diva. Indiana University press, 2010Du Bois, W. E. B. The Souls of Black Folk, forget books,2008