James Baldwin: Black English

As Baldwin explains in one of his main points that make up his argument against white Americans, Americans use politics for superiority over non-Americans living in the U.S., which leads to the point that, which is still in effect today, not a single non-white man has been president.  Today, George Bush is our president.  He is white.  Before him, Bill Clinton was president.  He is white.  Before Clinton George Bush, Sr. was president.  He is white.  The list continues until it stops at George Washington.  Every single American president was, and still is, white.  This is an example of segregation and a “proof of power [of the white men over blacks].”  (Baldwin 277).  In addition, whites are found in higher positions than the minority in all branches of The United States Government.  Of the 535 people that make up Congress, just 43 of them are black, a mere 8% of the total.  At Rider University, every president has been white.  Doctors, CEOs and college presidents of all kinds are mostly, if not all, made up of whites.  Thus, African Americans are found in lower, less important jobs, and if they are found in higher jobs, they are few and far between.

Although Baldwin makes a convincing argument that blacks are mistreated and merely distinguished by their language, his opinion has flaws.  It may be said that only 8% of Congress is black, but only 12% of Americans are black.  The ratio of blacks in the country compared to the amount in Congress is not all that different.  In addition, although many doctors, CEOs and college presidents are white, 78% of the players in the National Basketball Association are black and 69% of players in the National Football League are black.  Americans could make the argument that the NBA and the NFL are excluding them.  Also, Baldwin argues that without blacks, America would be a very different place.  Maybe so, but is that influence positive?  Have blacks passed bad language and violent culture to America?  It seems Baldwin chooses to ignore these questions, and sticks to his opinion that segregation is still around today, and that blacks are mistreated in daily life and in the workplace.  Baldwin claims it is because of their unique language, which differs from that of American, everyday speech.  Some agree with his ideas, and some don’t.  However, whether people do or do not, there is proof of segregation, he says.  Congress, Rider University presidents, doctors, and CEOs of big companies are predominantly white.  In addition, there has never been a black president.  Barrack Obama, though, might change that.  Maybe for the first time, we will have a black president.  Maybe, then, James Baldwin will feel fulfilled that his work of recording wrong-doings against his race was a success.