Race In America, New definitions and Powers

4-25-10

Race In America, New definitions and Powers

Dear Ms. Roxy,

I have written on situations similar to your experience, and I have to give my sympathy. To born a son, who is more white than you, and become your superior, but the laws of the country is a situation I have calculated and recorded, but never realized fully.

It is interesting to know now, his fate. And, in the end, under murder, between the color lines, be sent to his death. I am sorry for your loss, but it is well remembered.

It is interesting to see, that though he tried to escape his color, it always came back to him. It is true, you cannot run away from your ancestry, and a black man cannot give up his soul and what makes him who he is. As W.E.B. Du Bois almost puts it: a black man, and his race, have set a kingdom and have created a power, which both maintains and retains them—or something like that.

It is interesting to see how your son played out his role, his path, and his life as a Mulatto. But, this is a destined fate for us all. I am deeply sorry for your loss. But please note, in the future, such cases will not exist. Slavery will not exist, and the events that have created your life will not be feasible in the new laws of America. Identity will mean, and be proven by different standards—and the science of identification, race, gender, and ethnicity will be stronger. In the future things will be different--you have my promise.

Sincerely
Henry Luis Gates Jr.

Questions:

1) What is the problem with Tom’s Temperament? How does his character contribute to his racial placement in society?
2) What is the history of the “negro”? Why is it told with such strife? And why is it a main focus of the class? Can other peoples be categorized as peoples of strife? (Pg 11 of Du Bois)