Throughout history, slavery was justified in many different ways. Black men went through emasculation and discrimination. The conflict between Black man and white men span a number of years ago. Slavery, one of the most horrible experiences for Black men, they were emasculated due to the physical abuse, by white dominant society. Black men were tortured and beaten by their white masters; they had to do anything that their masters told them to do. According to Manning Marable "The Black Male : Searching Beyond Stereotypes," in the day of slavery Black men were treated almost like animals and were used for physical labor, represented a threat to the white controlled political system ; and "symbolized a lusty sexual potency that threatened white woman"(18). That was the three main beliefs of view on Black males. White men felt threaten that Black males were well endowed, so white men decided to castrate them. Also Black males were castrated simply for striking a white man or if they wanted to learn how to read or write. " Black male were one step above the animal- possessing awesome physical power but lacking in intellectual ability. Black men were castrated simply for striking a white man or for attempting to learn to read and write"(Marable 18). Their concept of masculinity was tainted by humiliation, and their inability to defy their masters. Also Black men went through discrimination. Black men had to struggle to gain equal rights, they where denied that privilege by white men. " Politically the Black make was unfit to play even a minor role in development of democracy"(18). Black men fight for the right to vote, they were told that there not worthy to elect. Even throughout the constitution it states that all men are created equally. After the Civil War, Congress passed the fifteenth Amendment, which gave Black males the right to vote. Since then black race has moved significantly between past time and present. This is what white people fear the most, that black people will establish and dominate themselves in today's society. Some Black males are dominating being, and they learn from daily life experiences.
Works Cited
Marable, Manning. "The Black Male: Searching Beyond Stereotypes" Men's Live 5th ed.
Ed.Michael S.Kimmel, and Michael A. Messner. New York: Allyn & Bacon, 2001.
17-23. Print.
Your post nicely summarizes Marable's argument but think about what Marable is showing as about masculinity? Were all Black men well endowed or what that a myth, fear that white men had?
ReplyDeleteYour Work Cited entry contains incorrect information. Please look up the correct information on the class blog, under Course Documents.
In my opinion this is a myth that Black men are all well endowed. Black men where physically strong due to their ongoing work. There where smart, aggressive due to humiliation. The White men had a fear that Black men will dominate and will take a power of the white, in political, money and social status.
ReplyDelete