Introduction about Double Consciousness in Obama’s Autobiography
In his autobiography, Obama established a connection between his life and story, showing double consciousness, saying “what I’ve … life” (Obama, xvii), adding “I can’t even … American experience” (xvi). The objective of what he thought to make his life meaningful led him to tackle the long-life problem African Americans faced and struggled like him before such as Fredrick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, and Du Bios. It was the problem of race which not only shaped the African-American struggle for equality but also shaped African American Literature. Though his story is not the most representative one, yet it is set in the historical experience of demonstrating “double consciousness” (Du Bios) in the midst of racial discrimination despite imposition of this through certain laws. Echoing Du Bios in his story, Obama states that the people try to discover his “mixed blood … two worlds” and it makes him as if he is hiding his identity (xv). However, unlike his predecessors, he does not reconcile to the idea of coming down at the ladder and tries to reduce this trap of “two worlds” (Du Bios). His story demonstrates past experience of his generations, his own encounter with racial differences and his objective to shed this double consciousness.
Slavery and Double Consciousness
Although these efforts were stated first by Fredrick Douglas when the time was ripe for slavery and it was considered legal, he worked tirelessly during half of the nineteenth century. He wanted the readers to look beyond historical, legal, and political issues of African American race going toward freedom in society and freedom from domination. His basic question was the freedom of the spirit. His struggle was to achieve freedom instead of being given, and he even became an abolitionist, going far as contacting abolitionist militants in this connection. However, the streak of slavery runs so much deeper in the psyche of African American population at that time that it was hard to make the vast strata of those people educate about the ideas he harbored. It was Booker T. Washington who came later to amalgamate two races or at least tried to amalgamate on utilitarian grounds mentioning his idea of “cast down the buckets” (Washington). His was the historical difference from the lines taken by Douglas.
Booker T. Washington and Slavery
However, Booker T. Washington’s approach was constructive finding a compromise between the two worlds. During his famous “Atlanta Compromise Speech”, he asked African Americans from the South to “cast down their buckets where [they were]” so that they could prosper. His approach was the accommodation of the white so that equality could be reached through humility but his community strongly rebuffed him. Although he won a name for his adjustment approach and politicians viewed him as a sane voice, his own people came against his submissive approach.
Double Consciousness
Du Bios strongly attacked his views in his phenomenal work, The Souls of the Black Folk. His was the reason that only education and intellectual development could overcome this racial prejudice. He severely lashed out at Washington, lambasting his approach of submission. He opposed the integration of two communities that Washington tried to propagate. Rather, he put the whole African American experience in his books, stating that it is actually “double consciousness” which runs through the minds of the blacks and stops their progress. They both were put in opposing personalities where Washington was considered passive, making the black submissive, while Du Bios was termed as progressive in thinking.
Obama and Double Consciousness
Put into this perspective, Obama seems to have inherited the same legacy. He has put into words his own thoughts that turning a deaf ear to racial prejudice and discrimination could lead African Americans to achieve laurels in the fields they want to achieve. By this, he means that this concept of “double consciousness” is still very much relevant today in this post-racial society. There are several implicit issues of this racial bias which makes it difficult for African Americans to achieve their goals but still, they can go ahead with this “double consciousness” and achieve a good status in life.
Conclusion
Making the long argument short, the “double consciousness” propagated by Du Bios is part of African-Americans and also their literature and life. If this is realized earlier, an African American is able to encounter and resolve such prejudices as Obama did in the early stages of his career. Although propagated by different theorists in different ways; first as a pacifist philosophy, then a separate creed, and finally a progressive outlook, Obama has borrowed the same consciousness from his predecessors.
Works Cited
- Bois, W. E. B. Du. The Souls of the Black Folk. New York: Oxford UP, 1996.
- Douglas, Fredrick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Cornhill, 1845.
- Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father. Three Rivers Press: New York, 2004.
- Washington, Booker T. “Atlanta Compromise Speech.” History Matters. 1895. Web. 04 Aug. 2019.
Relevant Questions about Double Consciousness in Obama’s Autobiography
- How does Barack Obama’s autobiography delve into the concept of double consciousness, particularly in his experiences grappling with a biracial identity?
- Within the pages of Obama’s autobiography, how does he confront and navigate the complexities of double consciousness, impacting both his personal journey and political career?
- In Barack Obama’s autobiography, what valuable insights does he offer into the ways double consciousness influenced his perceptions of race, identity, and his place in American society?
