Notes of a Native is an essay written by James Baldwin not to discuss and complain about the prejudice that lies between races but to explore the underlying problem of this racial injustice and then to discover a solution that would enable him to reconcile internally within himself rather than externally with the society. The essay is an account of a transformation- a rebirth within the midst of political chaos. This 'death and birth' motif serves as a foundational analogy to depict the death of his previously belligerent self and the rebirth of an understanding and accepting 'Christian.'
In the opening of Part One, James Baldwin is in complete disagreement with his father. This disparity of their opinions on racial prejudice is great enough for Baldwin to be almost unsympathetic for the death of his father. Baldwin cannot relate to his father's ideologies and regards his father mentally instable, a condition that others would later assume of Baldwin himself. The function of Part One is to illustrate Baldwin's personal experience to finally understand the existence of the racial prejudice that his father had been trying to explain. It is the beginning step of his transformation: acceptance of the racial decimation existence. Upon such realization, he compulsively reacts violently, throwing a glass of water at the waitress, and actions as these ignite the transformation that he fully undergoes in Part Three. Part Two serves as a transitional body in which he makes observations of the people around him and introduces his father's transformation from life to death. His father's death carries on to Part Three, symbolizing the legacy of his father to Baldwin at the finale. Part Three stands to expose his self-realization. He realizes that this storm of anger and hatred that he had developed within himself throughout this discovery is very comparable to his father's characteristics that he had so long disliked. His ability to finally appreciate his father's ideology and distinguish the impracticality of his father's seemingly-odd behaviors yet understand the source of such behaviors develops him into someone new. Just as his baby sister was born immediately after the death of his father in physical terms, Baldwin experiences the death of his sense of anger, revenge, and hatred and the rebirth of a Christian exemplified by the teacher in Part One - understanding the situation and refreshing the mind and heart for others.
I can somewhat relate to the anecdote of Baldwin through my past experiences regarding racial prejudice. The seven years-old I never truly understood my father when he said, "Blood is thicker than water." Elementary school was full of nothing but innocence and fun. We were too busy chasing each other on playgrounds; it didn't matter if a player was of a different skin color. But as each of us matured into middle school, the groups we began to chase after began to classify into racial colors. It was such a subtle and gradual process that occurred only naturally. I've only learned to cope with it by accepting the situation but learning to burst out of that racial barrier, constantly making efforts to not only understand but also experience other cultures and customs by befriending friends of other colors. If I were in such a position where prejudice was much more direct and violent like that of Baldwin, I would be enraged and torn between what I had thought when opposing against my father and what I have come to realize through my own personal experiences. This realization would enrage me and the society's chaos would tempt me to join the violent responses. However, I hope I would soon come to realize, as Baldwin had, that violence is not only ineffective but also destructive. It is heavily disappointing for me especially as a minority that racial prejudice still thrives although not as extreme as it has been. But as disappointing as it may be, Baldwin is right: we should simply accept the situation, swallow our pride and anger, and advocate for justice through a peaceful, understanding, and humane approach.
In the opening of Part One, James Baldwin is in complete disagreement with his father. This disparity of their opinions on racial prejudice is great enough for Baldwin to be almost unsympathetic for the death of his father. Baldwin cannot relate to his father's ideologies and regards his father mentally instable, a condition that others would later assume of Baldwin himself. The function of Part One is to illustrate Baldwin's personal experience to finally understand the existence of the racial prejudice that his father had been trying to explain. It is the beginning step of his transformation: acceptance of the racial decimation existence. Upon such realization, he compulsively reacts violently, throwing a glass of water at the waitress, and actions as these ignite the transformation that he fully undergoes in Part Three. Part Two serves as a transitional body in which he makes observations of the people around him and introduces his father's transformation from life to death. His father's death carries on to Part Three, symbolizing the legacy of his father to Baldwin at the finale. Part Three stands to expose his self-realization. He realizes that this storm of anger and hatred that he had developed within himself throughout this discovery is very comparable to his father's characteristics that he had so long disliked. His ability to finally appreciate his father's ideology and distinguish the impracticality of his father's seemingly-odd behaviors yet understand the source of such behaviors develops him into someone new. Just as his baby sister was born immediately after the death of his father in physical terms, Baldwin experiences the death of his sense of anger, revenge, and hatred and the rebirth of a Christian exemplified by the teacher in Part One - understanding the situation and refreshing the mind and heart for others.
I can somewhat relate to the anecdote of Baldwin through my past experiences regarding racial prejudice. The seven years-old I never truly understood my father when he said, "Blood is thicker than water." Elementary school was full of nothing but innocence and fun. We were too busy chasing each other on playgrounds; it didn't matter if a player was of a different skin color. But as each of us matured into middle school, the groups we began to chase after began to classify into racial colors. It was such a subtle and gradual process that occurred only naturally. I've only learned to cope with it by accepting the situation but learning to burst out of that racial barrier, constantly making efforts to not only understand but also experience other cultures and customs by befriending friends of other colors. If I were in such a position where prejudice was much more direct and violent like that of Baldwin, I would be enraged and torn between what I had thought when opposing against my father and what I have come to realize through my own personal experiences. This realization would enrage me and the society's chaos would tempt me to join the violent responses. However, I hope I would soon come to realize, as Baldwin had, that violence is not only ineffective but also destructive. It is heavily disappointing for me especially as a minority that racial prejudice still thrives although not as extreme as it has been. But as disappointing as it may be, Baldwin is right: we should simply accept the situation, swallow our pride and anger, and advocate for justice through a peaceful, understanding, and humane approach.
