Analysis of Black Awakening by Robert L. Allen

“Black Awakening in Capitalist America”, Robert Allen’s critical analysis of the structure of the U.S.’s capitalist system, and his views of the manner in which it exploits and feeds on the cultures, societies, and economies of less influential peoples to satiate its ever growing series of needs and base desires. From a rhetorical analysis perspective, Allen describes and supports the evidence he sees for the theory of neocolonialism, and what he sees as the black people’s place within an imperial society where the power of white influence reigns supreme. Placing the gains and losses of the black people under his magnifying glass, Allen describes how he sees the ongoing condition of black people as an inevitable occurrence in the spinning cogs of the capitalist machine.

Before entering into the main body of his writing, Allen describes to readers the nature of the “semicolony”, domestic colonialism, and neocolonialism ideas to which he refers to throughout the bulk of his book. Priming the reader for his coming argument, Allen introduces these concepts and how they fit into the white imperialist regime, and how the very nature of this system is designed to exploit the native population (in this case, transplanted native population). He also describes the “illusion” of black political influence, and the ineffectiveness (or for the purposes of the white power structure, extreme effectiveness) of a black “elite”, composed of middle and upper class black Americans.

Allen goes on to explain and support his views on black neocolonialism. He does so by illustrating his views of black power, from the original conception of the term, and the history of effort towards giving the black community political influence. Continuing from this ...

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... of it. The only manner in which significant populations of people could truly escape this economic entrapment would be through hard fought social reform, but the path would not be easy to walk for any party involved.

I believe that the model of a black domestic colony allows one to gain a clearer view of problems that are faced in attempting to escape the impoverished state that the greater black population finds itself in. But, in my opinion, I do not find it to be the best manner with which to look at the reality of the situation. For while the poverty of the black population is unique, this one community cannot be specifically isolated from the whole of American poverty. Generational poverty in the U.S. is a complex issue and I do not believe it can be properly portrayed through such a simplified model. With that in mind, to me the model is just that, a model.