To Kill A Mockingbird or Whatever
I am reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" (a law school assignment) and it is without question world class literature, and every bit southern Americana! The book uses the phrase "nigger lover", not in an offensive way but because it is central to the plot, and it reminded me of something I hadn't thought of for over thirty years. This was a phrase that was in vogue when I was growing up in Atlantic City N.J. in the early 60's, and was an insult then (as in the book) of the highest order. I never did understand why because I thought that the premise was stupid, how could you love an entire race? But that notwithstanding, I certainly understood the intent behind it. Reading this book and reflecting some, it occurred to me that the meaning was not that you "loved niggers" but that perhaps you did not hate them enough (if at all), and that was the real crime, and not hating enough made you vile. We were an immigrant family and were not taught to hate anybody, and for that I have my parents to thank and I suspect many of you have your parents to thank as well.
I enjoy your comments about Harper Lee's classic work. You know I was in a stage production of this when I was in highschool at a community theater. The only thing I would say about it, is that when a system, such as country or a community, has been so built upon the premise of hate ( or at least the fact that one group would inherently benifit over another based on appearence), you don't need to be taught hate to absorb it through the system. You are taught it just by operating within it. Look at the character of Walter Cunningham from the novel. His scene at the jail house were he first leads the men to murder tom robininson and then disperses them when Scout tells about entailments. It is a prime example
Posted by: Steven Leyva | July 24, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Yeah Stevie, I think you're right. You are simply taught to hate by operating within a social system that encouraged hatred. Change the system & the behavior changes as well, at least at a certain level. However what some people hate sometimes just appears to morph into the next despised group: Arabs, gays, etc. It is hatred of this sort (as previously) that creates much of our social ills & is much deeper IMHO than just a sociological problem, but more of a deep rooted spiritual problem.
Posted by: Carlos Leyva | July 24, 2006 at 06:58 PM
What is the quote, "The problem, I fear, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves". Also on the idea of classic works of fiction and the idea of race, there is a book I think you would love. It's called "Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. The whole thing is set in New Orleans and it achives, according to Walker Percy, something that no other book prior had done. It creates a believable comic black character, in Jones, that is not a sterotype ladden Caricature
Posted by: Steven Leyva | July 25, 2006 at 01:15 PM
Yeah I love the Confederacy of Dunces! It is classic American literature and world class literature as well. Jones is an awesome character! Unfortunately for us (and him) the author committed suicide before his mother found the transcript. Just goes to show that there is is a thin line between madness & creative genius. So be careful
Posted by: Carlos Leyva | July 25, 2006 at 01:43 PM