Ingrained Racism in Society
The racist labels begin from the day we are born and progress as we meet new chapters in our lives. We are labeled by one another, thrust into categories that are supposed to define us. This brings about an interesting topic: Because family relationships are so important, we don’t waste our time thinking about racism. Yet, if the concept of a family, the only possible family, comes down to an inter-racial marriage, then race is an issue. This idea is brought to attention in the short story “The Comet”. After the terrible destruction of the comet Jim and Julia are faced with the realization that they are alone. The thoughts of being the only ones to survive this disaster hit them suddenly forcing them to think of the inevitable. You see, Jim is black, Julia is white. This factor alone stands to be a problem for them, or is it? “Silently, immovably, they saw each other face to face eye to eye. Their souls lay naked to the night. It was not lust; it was not love- it was some vaster, mightier thing that needed neither touch of body nor thrill of soul. It was a thought divine splendid (W.E.B. Du Bois 16)” For these two race has seemed to slip away and become of little importance to them. When the existence of man depends on two people of different race, racism is not the issue, but race is a concern. If the only possible family comes down to an inter-racial marriage, what then? It is neither white nor black that is considered a separate identity it is a mix. The idea of family is then changed by each person; it becomes more human, takes on a different form. Jim and Julia display this kind of blind humanity when Du Bois expresses how “she had not noticed before that he was negro. He had not thought of her as white. Not that he was not human, but he dwelt in a world so far from hers, so infinitely far, that he seldom even entered her thought. Yet as she looked at him curiously he seemed commonplace and usual (W.E.B Du Bois 9).” Jim and Julia are taking on a different form of the family a form that has no boundaries or labels but one that incorporates freedom, acceptance and equality. Does it incorporate freedom and acceptance because the family has no form or is it because we have no answer? The answer to the idea of an inter-racial marriage and the essence of man still lingers. It seems as though an answer is not meant to be found. I mentioned earlier of the family simply taking on a different form, transforming to fit the outcome. This scenario seems to be exactly what Jim and Julia do in their circumstances. “The shackles seemed to rattle and fall from his soul. Up from the crass and crushing and cringing of his caste leaped the lone majesty of kings long dead. He turned and looked upon the lady to find her gazing straight at him ( W.E.B Du Bois 17).” Why do we put such an emphasis on the family? Generally every person wishes to have the perfect family but is this wish just one of the requirements societies has put upon the shoulders of humanity to fulfill? Julia’s father displays the affection that a family is supposed to give when her father, “the one with white and flying hair rushed to the girl and lifted her to his breast. My daughter! He sobbed. (W.E.b Du Bois 17).” Once her father notices Jim standing next to Julia he gets uptight starting to become frantic. Race once again is an issue. When looking at the outcome of an inter-racial marriage as being the only possible way then you will have to expand your horizons on the way you would grasp the concept of race. One way to view the idea of the inter-racial marriage as the only possible way is an opportunity to start something new. Begin a new world, create new dreams. The idea of things being just black and white, literally and metaphorically speaking would all fade. The value of equality will actually come to a surface. The second way to look at it is a loss of identity, in a way a loss of part of humanity. You now have one race that consisit of a mixture. There is no more separation or individualtty in a way. I guess you could say the human race would be combined. Race becomes an issue of question not an issue of debate. Racism is an subject that is dealt with in “The Comet” with Jim and Julia. It is a continuum that will not cease to end. However, if the idea of family is wasted away with and it comes down to an inter-racial marriage, then is race really a bigger debate? Would there even be a race or we considered to all be one? This is a sensitive subject that involves deep thought. Yet, with all the thought you can put into it there may not even be an answer. The answer may come from within you. Your own opinion. Your own race. |