American Political Thought
Bitterness- To Be or Not To Be?
Over 100 years after the original publication of Up from Slavery, race still figures prominently in the national conscience. The term “bitterness” figures very strongly in the headlines, albeit probably for reasons beyond the scope of those living in 1901. And while “bitterness” has a lot to do with race and the nation's first African American Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, it extends beyond his now-famous comments about small-town conservatives and concerns Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who has also figured prominently in the news. The issue concerns recorded statements Rev. Wright made from the pulpit while Obama was a member, statements which condemn America for its treatment of black citizens. About black people, Wright has famously stated “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people, God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human.”[1] Obama stated that Wright's perspective comes from a “lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one’s family... the reality in which Rev. Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up.” Ironically, Rev. Wright's background is a far cry from what one would expect for someone with such bitterness. Wright lived in a middle class neighborhood and attended an “elite” high school characterized as having “no racial friction”. Wright now lives in a house worth $1.6 million, with 10,340 square feet on the corner of a golf course of a country club [2]. Clearly, this bitterness is not directly a response to any socioeconomic opportunity, but rather a perceived condition which is not a reality to Wright. This begs the question- what is bitterness and why does it matter politically? How is it related to anger, and what kinds of actions does it motivate? ...
Clearly, the first place to begin with the concept of bitterness is at the origin- the original comments by Booker T. Washington. In Up from Slavery, Washington states:
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction... Having once got its tentacles fastened on to the economic and social life of the Republic, it was no easy matter for the country to relieve itself of the institution. Then, when we rid ourselves of prejudice, or racial feeling, and look facts in the face, we must acknowledge that, notwithstanding the cruelty and moral wrong of slavery, the ten million Negroes inhabiting this country... are in a stronger and more hopeful condition, materially, intellectually, morally, and religiously, than is true of an equal number of black people in any other portion of the globe. [3]
Here, several important points are made- bitterness against any section of the country is altogether unproductive and unrepresentative. Washington starts with recognition that to characterize an entire section of people in a negative way is not realistic. Then he does something very interesting- he looks at the situation from the perspective of the former slave owners. This is an important technique for dealing fairly with any situation, and especially in a situation where hard feelings would be expected, it can help people come together and put aside their differences, racial feelings or prejudices, all of which Washington clearly sees as negative deterrents. Essentially, racial tension on the part of African Americans is seen as a hindrance to fair assessment of reality, as well as reconciliation. This is borne out in the later quote that when the slaves were originally emancipated,
there was no feeling of bitterness. In fact, there was pity among the slaves for our former owners. The wild rejoicing on the part of the emancipated coloured people lasted but for a brief period, for I noticed that by the time they returned to their cabins there was a change in their feelings. The great responsibility of being free, of having charge of themselves, of having to think and plan for themselves and their children, seemed to take possession of them... [4]
There is an inherent implication that the manifestation of bitterness would not only hinder the newly freed former slaves, but would keep them from their greatest purpose- being free. These passages suggest that on the part of the whole African American community, Washington feels that bitterness is counterproductive and works against the purposes of the community- self determination and advancement. In fact a significant point from the passage is that those who were former slaves actually felt pity for their former masters- another example of looking at a situation through the perspective of those on the other side and understanding their feelings so there could be healing and reconciliation.
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The race and bitterness issue will never be solved or irreparably broken purely through the efforts of one person, much less one paper or book. In the last 100 years, there have been many obvious improvements in race relations. However what I think has been the most significant problem with race relations over that time has been the efforts of demagogues and opinion leaders who stand to gain from division. Those who use politically divisive language and who constantly use the past as a wedge can undo the work of countless others. History has shown us that leaders have either used their words to bring people together in reconciliation or drive them apart to separation. Hopefully, our future leaders will be more of the former and less of the latter.
[1] Ross, Brian, and Rehab El-Buri. "Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11." ABC News, March 13, 2008, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4443788&page=1
[2] Kessler, Ronald. “Obama's Rev. Wright Mythology.” Newsmax April 13, 2008 http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/obama_wright_pastor/2008/04/13/87617.html
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