The Rise of Black People in the Modern Age
The rise of black people in the modern age is a contemporary issue evident in society. The black race has faced oppression for years from the whites. The blacks have evolved from the slave trade to being colonized by the whites. They, however, fought for their independence which was eventually granted by their colonials. The blacks felt they needed to compete for positions initially acquired by the whites. It was to prove that they were also equally capable of leadership for their communities. The most significant milestone was evident when a black person, Barrack Obama, became president of the most powerful nation in the world. It was a record set in history for the people of the USA and the society as a whole. In the past, such a record would have been unimaginable. Racism is however still evident in the western countries. The blacks are only hired to do odd jobs in the western states.
Discrimination Among Young People in Schools
Discrimination is also apparent among young people in schools. The history taught in schools make the whites' children feel superior compared to the black children. The stigma, therefore, continues to be prevalent in the western countries. Harassment of blacks in the west of states is also widespread by both police and citizens. However, some people have risen above the discrimination and earned honor even from the white people. Another example of a black person who received the honor was Dr. Ben Carson who was among a team of doctors who separated the Siamese twins. Another woman who earned honor is the late Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman, who won a Noble peace prize. The rise of blacks past discrimination was led by veterans like Martin Luther King who gained enormous popularity for his fight for the black people.
Racism and Black Identity
The philosopher, Fanon, wrote about racism in his work, "Black Skin, White Masks." He wrote about how much the blacks adored the white people due to the comparison identity that was given to them against the white. The blacks were considered to be the inferior race. They forgot to look at themselves as individuals who were equally unique in their way. It was, however, a difficult culture to break due to the difference in status of the white and the blacks. The white people felt powerful as they were advanced than the black people. It made them oppress the black people to attain the superiority complex against the blacks.
The Need for Black People to Establish Their Unique Identity
The philosopher would interpret the need of the black people to rise against the white people as competition to prove that they are also worthy individuals. He would interpret it as the blacks living the white people live and not the blacks standing for themselves as human beings without comparison to the whites. The black people have not collaborated to have a movement to live past the idea of adoring the white people to creating their unique identity. It would be a movement that would contribute to white people looking at the blacks as the inferior race. When the blacks fought for their independence, they won and gained independence. The acquiring of an identity for them would perhaps be the right measure to conquer the complex inferiority label. He is keen to explore what the black people need, "What does a man want? What does the black man want?"
The Coexistence of White and Black People
The world will always consist of white and black people. They are meant to coexist together in the world. Segregation of the two races would be an opportunity for the blacks to establish themselves without overlooking the western culture to define them. However, due to globalization, it can never be achieved as the whites and blacks have to mingle to coexist. The black people need some things that the whites produce like machinery, while the whites rely on blacks for the production of farm produce like coffee. Human beings tend to believe that leadership defines superiority. Also, the level of ownership of properties dictates the superiority complex. The white people have set the bar due to their majority ownership which is among a few of the black people. The adoration of the blacks living the white life is not a crime or betrayal of their race but a vision. Black people who acquire honor and property are not looked down upon by the white people. They are however invited to their tables in open arms.
Overcoming Inferiority Complex
I criticize some of the philosopher's writings on the Black Skin, White Mask by stating that aiming to live at the superiority side of life is one way to overcome the inferiority complex. However, the black people who achieve the leadership titles should make it their priority to raise their fellow black people to rise against poverty. Poverty and other prevalent issues like diseases are associated with black people. Africa is even referred to as the Dark Continent. Movements should also be brought up to educate the whites on how to respect the black and how to co-exist with each other in a healthy environment. The black people should not blame the white people for their societal state but should however aim at outgrowing the myths that have been told to them over the years. They should dream and act on growing past their definition by color.
The White Perspective and the Vision for Black People
Fanon would criticize my reasoning by mentioning that the white people will never bow to considering the blacks as equals to them. He believes that the white is after maintaining the status quo that they are superior to the blacks. It gives them a sense of belonging and identity. In his writing, he says that "At the risk of arousing the resentment of my colored brothers, I will say that the black is not a man." It shows that he strongly believes that the whites will always treat the blacks as trash. "Conversely, the black man who wants to turn his race white is as miserable as he who preaches hatred for the whites." Fanon insists that the black man should not look up to the whites as a goal to achieve. It, therefore, beats the sense of celebrating when black people who make history in the world against the white people. He states it as a fact and not a myth that the white men consider themselves superior to black men. It, however, pains him to conclude that "For the black man there is only one destiny. And it is white." He hopes that humanity would be more significant than that. He hopes that the black man would have a bigger vision from himself which is not being white. It can only be changed and achieved by the change in psychology thinking. The question is how the black would man overlook wanting to live like the white.
