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James Baldwin, in a speech and article, focuses on the time when black

Americans experienced difficulties in society in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The

author mainly focuses on how difficult it is to be a black American writer in the first quarter

of the twentieth century. The main theme of the speech and the article is the author's constant

search and struggle to come to terms with the way he is treated in a white-dominated racial

society.

The events of the collective struggle of black in America, which the writer

comments on, changed the country forever. The collective struggle of blacks gave rise to the

experience of African Americans with heritage. It included both spiritual, political and artistic

heritage, which should cause deep pride. The author does not stigmatize white people who at

that time despised him and other black activists, however, this moment was to a greater

extent a turning point. He changed the retrospective attitude towards blacks, taking as a basis

the class and culture of a person. American society has altered with regard to discrimination

since Baldwin created his article with obvious examples. However, racism and prejudice are

still evident in American life even today.

James Baldwin claims that being an American is a difficult fate because this

nation lives mainly on prejudices and stereotypes in relation to other races. Additionally,

“America’s history, her aspirations, her peculiar triumphs, her even more peculiar defeats,

and her position in the world are all so profoundly and srubbornly unique that the very word

“America” remains a new, controversial proper noun” (Baldwin 77). For the author, it was a
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complex fate since he could not find a sense of identity in the midst of the racial hotbed from

which America suffered for a long time. Therefore, after some time, he decided to leave this

country and find self-discovery in Europe, spending many years traveling.

Baldwin claims that the place where a person is born and raised affects his

identity. In his speech, the author claims that the American society in which he was brought

up primarily taught him to disrespect himself. He says that looking at the world, he

understood that nothing in this world reflected him. For example, even in television

programs, there were no black Americans at all, mostly they were Hollywood productions.

The country at this time declared that a broad nose, dark skin, and large lips were markers of

an abominable race. Life in a segregated society is difficult as it affects how black people

relate to the world and realize themselves later in other communities.

In conclusion, James Baldwin's life and his point of view revealed in the article

and speech reflect the realities of life in American society in the first quarter of the 20th

century for blacks. Obviously, living in a segregated society, members of other ethnic groups

may have difficulty finding an identity they can accept. After all the years of collective

struggle for their place in American society, attitudes toward blacks have changed, but

elements of discrimination still exist.