When watching debates, I tend to keep an open mind and hear out both arguments before agreeing with one point of view. However in this debate, I was able to decide pretty early on which case was most compelling. I felt that within minutes of his speech, Baldwin was able to convey that the truth behind this topic is only visible to those who have experienced it, and those that allow themselves to be aware of it.
“Is the question hideously loaded, and then one’s response to that question – one’s reaction to that question – has to depend on effect and, in effect, where you find yourself in the world, what your sense of reality is, what your system of reality is. That is, it depends on assumptions which we hold so deeply so as to be scarcely aware of them.”
Whether one chooses to accept or deny the horrible mistreatment of African Americans in this country comes solely out of if that person has benefitted from this injustice or not. Wealthy white men and women who have been able to live out the “American Dream” are on the opposing side of Baldwin’s argument, due to the fact that in their realm of society, everything has worked out. To the rest of society, it is clear that there has been major flaws in our nation’s history and need to be called upon. To be untouched by these problems or to turn a blind eye to them is entirely in correlation with how that individual views the world, and specifically, his place in the world.
Baldwin is also able to effectively create a sense of responsibility in the room for those who are on the opposing side of his argument. To further prove that the “American Dream” that certain individuals have achieved is only possible through the expense of African Americans, Baldwin breaks down in specifics how this “dream” came to be a reality.
“*I* picked the cotton, *I* carried it to the market, and *I* built the railroads under someone else’s whip for nothing. For nothing. The Southern oligarchy, which has still today so very much power in Washington, and therefore some power in the world, was created by my labor and my sweat, and the violation of my women and the murder of my children. This, in the land of the free, and the home of the brave. And no one can challenge that statement. It is a matter of historical record.”
By speaking in first person, Baldwin takes something that seems so distant to these people and makes it personal. He creates a sense of emotion by explaining, in detail, the suffering of real people within the African American community. This visual makes it impossible for people in the room to hide from what has been done and to deny responsibility of it. He is able to convey that all things created that constitute the “American Dream” are only made possible through the anguish of people just like him.There is no real sense of equality in this nation if this process is the only way to live out the “American Dream.” It is so clear that this “dream” is impossible without the expense of African Americans and there is no way to argue around it—it is a part of history that must be accepted in order to create change.
E367: Writing and Diversity 
I agree Amanda,
I noticed how he brought out the prejudices as well. This has always been a big thing in which our nation has struggled with over the years and something that we still struggle with today. Baldwin does a good job here in noticing it and bringing it out in a brutally honest way. Even though it may seem a little harsh sometimes the truth needs to be harsh in order to make change or start in the new direction. In order for everyone to live out the so called “American Dream” there needs to be change and there needs to be a little bit of equality as well. This here Baldwin does a good job in recognizing and identifying.
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Amanda,
I like how you point out Baldwin’s effective usage of the first person; I would definitely agree that this brings more emotion in the room and imparts a sense of responsibility on the white crowd in the room. I found this very compelling and was able to draw a connection in the topic of sympathy/empathy zones. He wants everyone to acknowledge the disconnect in American society. The problem is that everyone thinks that they are right, and they do not realize their predisposition to their point of view. Ideally, Baldwin wants everyone to put themselves in the other person’s shoes; this is the only solution to the problem.
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Amanda,
I really like how you used the image of the “American Dream” in your response. It really shows the two-sided argument in the flaws and the successes of the dream itself. Many people are obviously believers in White Privilege and the showing that white people built this country off of the labor and abuse of people of color. As many people were brought in to the country, the majority of them were being used as slaves and paid servants to serve people who were very wealthy. On the other side of this argument, there are many people who acknowledge that slavery was a horrific time in this nation’s history but also that the “American Dream” is still available to every body. They argue that if you set your mind to it, then your circumstances do you dictate what you can and cannot do in this county.
I find this argument interesting and think it is even more interesting that you mentioned the part about how you acknowledge the history of America is entirely dependent upon how you view the world. Both, of course, relating back to the argument that I noted on before.
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Amanda,
You do a terrific job here of showing how this remarkably eloquent speech hinges in many key moments on Baldwin’s use of some of the most common and little-noticed words in the language: I-you-one. Thanks for this suggestive and smart reading of his text! I hope to follow up on your work in class by thinking more about just who Baldwin is referring to when he says “I” or “you” or “one” (and even, sometimes, “we”).
Joe
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