In The Theory of Enchantment @enchanttheory Course, we study two essays by James Baldwin. One was published in 1948 & is entitled "The Problem with Protest Novels." It is so incredibly relevant for this difficult time in America. One quote that I highlight is as follows
"The failure of the protest novel lies in its rejection of life, the human being, the denial of his beauty, dread, power, in its insistence that it is his categorization alone which is real and which cannot be transcended."
This keen observation perfectly captures the problem w/ so much of the analysis I've seen from some commentators across various spectrums. If you chant "Fuck white people" in your protests, youre falling into this trap. If you chant "fuck the police" youre falling into this trap.
If your strategy for humanizing people is to dehumanize others, you are falling into this trap.
The 1st and supreme principle of the Theory of Enchantment is TREAT PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS NOT POLITICAL ABSTRACTIONS.
As you can see, this is the first principle for a reason.
The 1st and supreme principle of the Theory of Enchantment is TREAT PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS NOT POLITICAL ABSTRACTIONS.
As you can see, this is the first principle for a reason.
What does it mean to be human? It means that you're imperfect, that you're capable of doing good & doing evil. To this end, we study the work of Kendrick Lamar to help learn what this actually means: You have power poison, pain & joy inside your DNA. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. YOU.
It means you carry baggage, both interpersonal and generational. It means you have insecurities, for which you must make sure not to overcompensate. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. THE BLACK MAN, THE WHITE MAN, THE CIVILIAN, THE COP. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
HUMAN BEING.
HUMAN BEING.
And so you must grapple with the human condition by making peace with this imperfection, by creating meaning out of the chaos of your life, and by rising to your higher self.
The last thing I'll say about this for now is to consider the words of Ralph Ellison who criticized Richard Wright for his portrayal of Bigger Thomas in 'Native Son.' Bigger Thomas was one-dimensional, reductive, and always giving into his base instincts.
Ellison said that the tragedy of this was that Richard Wright could imagine a Bigger Thomas but Thomas could not imagine a Richard Wright, and Wright saw to this.
If you argue that a human being is incapable of rising above his or her circumstances, you do that person a disservice. You stereotype that person & you perpetuate hopelessness for that person. And by stereotyping + limiting others you stereotype + limit yourself.
Dr. Maya Angelou once said, "You may write me down in history w/ your bitter twisted lies, you may trod me down in the very dirt but still like dust I'll rise."
She said, "And Still I Rise."
She did not say "tear it all down, there's no hope."
She said, "And Still I Rise."
She said, "And Still I Rise."
She did not say "tear it all down, there's no hope."
She said, "And Still I Rise."
That needs to be the organizing principle of this movement:
And Still I Rise.
And Still I Rise.
