Analysis Of A White Man By Charles Chesnutt

894 Words2 Pages

What is a white man?’ is an article that takes back its readers to a period of racial tension and injustice that most people and institutions choose to forget or take for granted. The article was written by Charles Chesnutt, a lawyer, and author who lived during the post-reconstruction period. Some people believe emancipation stopped all the injustices that happened to the blacks. However, the article recounts the ugly, unjust, and disgusting history that lived on for many years and was favored by the law. It is undeniable that Chesnutt had significant problems with the manner in which the laws treated people of mixed race: himself being of mixed race. The essay touch on areas like the literary perspective, why the article is likable, the purpose …show more content…

Although slavery had already been banned, the article communicates of an era that had failed Charles. The reading’s subtext reflects of an individual that had significant problems with the manner in which the laws treated people of mixed race. It is possible that Chesnutt did not feel accepted by either the blacks or the white. For this reason, he wrote a long political article that longed for unbiased laws that did not play favoritism to the whites while chastising people mixed with white and …show more content…

The article touches on the racial tension that existed during the post-reconstruction period. Particularly, some of these social problems were ignored by most writers as they pursued matters of ‘more importance.’ However, Chesnutt realized that the social construction of the society does determine the overall performance of society. Therefore, although these issues were largely ignored by the enlightened, and educated folk who fought for equal rights, Chesnutt did not overlook them. Issues like incurring a fine and risking imprisonment if a white married a black is cruel and unimaginable. It was the reality in several

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