Double Consciousness, etc.

Ray Block Jr.

Fall Semester, 2020

Overview

We will discuss the notion of double consciousness (and its relationship to the American Dilemma, etc.)

Overview

W.E.B. Du Bois is often credited with coining the term double consciousness, but several Black scholars (including Charles Chesnutt, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Anna Julia Cooper, Pauline Hopkins, and James Weldon Johnson) expressed similar sentiments in their writing (Moody-Turner 2020).

Overview

Apparently, White sociologists (e.g., Robert E. Park and the students he trained) were also talking about double consciousnes and not citing Black scholars (Morris 2015).

Overview

Let’s explore what the term means, and how the experiences of double consciousness vary depending on a person’s racial perspective (i.e., on what side of the “veil” a person resides).

The Reification of Race

To reify = make (something abstract) more concrete or real

As we discussed last week when talking about racecraft:

  • We know that race is fake, but we act like it’s real
  • Despite knowing better, we are all susceptible to racial thinking
  • See recent debates over “Blackfishing” (J. Krug, S. King, R. Dolezal, etc.)

The Reification of Race

To reify = make (something abstract) more concrete or real

As we discussed last week when talking about racecraft:

  • Double consciousness is what happens when racial thinking runs amuck
  • Double consciousness presents U.S. Democracy with both challenges and opportunities

The Challenge(s) of American Democracy

What makes for good democracy?

  • You don’t compare democracies to one another (Why? The “best” model of democracy is debatable)
  • Rather, you compare a democracy to itself

The Challenge(s) of American Democracy

Things to consider:

  • The ideal of democracy (what ought to happen)
  • The reality of democracy (what actually happens)

Do the realities match up with the ideals?

The Challenge(s) of American Democracy

The Contradictions:

  • Democratic ideals are in conflict with one another (e.g., gov’t. stability vs. individual rights)
  • Democratic ideals are often in conflict with day-to-day practices (e.g., American Creed vs. race relations)

The Challenge(s) of American Democracy

The Dilemma:

  • How do you reconcile these contradictions?

The View from Both Sides of “The Veil”

Double consciousness (in the minds and hearts of Black folk)

The View from Both Sides of “The Veil”

Double consciousness (in the minds and hearts of White folk)

The Opportunities of American Democracy

Alexis de Tocqueville Gunnar Myrdal Ralph Bunche
Sunrise/Sunset 7/29/1805– 4/16/1859 12/6/1898 – 5/17/1987 8/7/1904 - 12/9/1971
Place of Birth Paris, France Stockholm, Sweden Detroit, MI
Discipline History, Law, Sociology Economist & politician Political Scientist & diplomat
Context of research Came to study prisons, stayed to study Democracy Commissioned by Carnegie Corp. to Study US race relations Worked with Myrdal as a research collaborator
Interesting Factoid His life was shaped by France’s political instability He and his wife (Alva) won Nobel Prizes First Black person to: get PhD in Pol. Sci; win Nobel Peace Prize

The Opportunities of American Democracy

Political Implications (De Tocqueville)

  • Understanding race relations helps us to understand American democracy
  • The future of America’s democracy depends on the future of its race relations [external (societal) consequences]

The Opportunities of American Democracy

Moral Implications (Myrdal)

  • The contradiction between ideals and reality harms our souls! [internal consequences]

Bunche discusses both implications in his Worldview of Race

Historical Context

Let’s turn to the readings…

  • How does the study of race in the USA reflect (and shape) American race relations?

  • (Each author approaches this question from a unique angle)