Baldwins Effects of Narration and Analysis in Notes of a Native Son Es

Baldwins Effects of Narration and Analysis in Notes of a Native Son private stories and descriptions of major events are narrated throughout James Baldwins works as he analyzes the nature of the relationship between white and black America. The marriage of history and analysis are especially evident in Baldwins essay, Notes of a Native Son. As Baldwin describes his father and their relationship until his fathers terminal, he concurrently comments about the relationship between white and black America. Baldwin compares the events of his experience with concurrent American events to conclude about the nature of his personal relationships and the relationship between races namely, that atomic number 53 must come to accept the reality of mankind, yet must strive to fight the injustice inherent in mankinds nature. Baldwin begins with a truncated description of the 1943 Detroit and Harlem riots and his fathers funeral. Both riots were centered on resistance to injustice, while the death of Baldwins father marked the discontinue of oppression in Baldwins life as seen later in the work. These two events juxtaposed in the opening paragraph propose the questions that Baldwin works to answer by the end of his essay. Baldwin concludes his opening paragraph with we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass (63). The first question is why death? while the second question is why resist? Baldwins father is never named in the work but is always referred to as my father. This ambiguity allows Baldwins father to play dual roles throughout the work as both the oppressor and as the oppressed, symbolizing both white and black America. Almost immediately, Baldwin points out ... ... one must acknowledge mankind for what it is and the associated injustice without reserve however, one must also resist the injustice inherent in mankind. This applies to the struggle between races as well as it applied to Baldwins relationship with his father. The initial questions proposed by Notes are answered in a general ensample hate breeds death and destruction, so resist the injustice where hate is conceived while accepting the unjust for who they are. It is through both personal and general experiences that Baldwin arrives at his final conclusion, offering a warning to society and the individuals within hate only causes destruction and must be put aside before positive gains may be achieved.Works CitedBaldwin, James. Notes of a Native Son. 1955. James Baldwin Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York Library of America, 1998. 63-84.