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Innocence In The Fire Next Time By James Baldwin

1459 Words6 Pages

James Baldwin’s concept of the ‘innocent country’ is how America is in a position that permits discrimination towards people of color, one-hundred years after their emancipation from slavery (Baldwin 10). A permissible discrimination that has allowed people of color to be recognized as something lesser than a human being. Within Baldwin’s essay The Fire Next Time, he writes of a rhetorical concept of innocence, which can be recognized as the racist social norms of America (5). Problematically, this allows the mental perception of a person to commit a hate crime, and believe that their offence is permissible since racism continues to be normalized. The vicious intentions/actions of the violator represent the social norm of their society, which …show more content…

The child’s attempt to go against a normalized perception of America will lead them on the path of injury (Baldwin 27). This idea is a critical concept in the story, when Nelson addresses the first African American he perceives; that at first glance, Nelson merely recognizes another man. Whereas this contrasts with Mr Head’s use of language when he asks Nelson ‘about’ the passing individual on the train, and asks, “what was that” (O’Connor 111). Problematically, Mr. Head identifies the colored individual not as a man, but as the other. In effect, Nelson’s Innocent perception of the Negro, challenges Mr. heads racists ideologies. This demonstrates how the child’s Innocence can be subversive towards the racist ideologies that have yet to be instilled in to them. Arguably, Mr. Head intention of creating Nelsons perception of reality can be represented as the prior generation of America, attempting to keep itself alive through the new generation. This idea can be recognized in relation to Baldwin’s concept of parental intervention (Baldwin, 26). The idea is that the child’s elder(s) will instill their perceptions of reality in to them, in the attempt to prepare them to withstand the cruelties of society. Whereas the other reason (the racist one) is so the child could uphold their social norms, and to keep their vicious ideologies alive. The ways of their life are taught, and reinforced through the means of love, and/or punishment. Mr. Head simulates Baldwin’ s concept of parental intervention with Nelson, by constantly ridiculing his intelligence. This takes effect once he corrects him about the passenger in the train. Mr. Head verbally punishing his grandson, causes Nelson to form a new perception of the world. Consequently, Nelson becomes angered with the colored man in the

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