Henry Louis Gates, Jr. argues that “race” is not itself a natural entity, but rather a synthetic construct used to degrade certain peoples. He implores society to move forward without the constraints of categorization, freeing itself from a false reality. While this commentary has significant merit and noble intent, its excessively utopian core fails to take into account the great inability of members of society to overcome its long-held values ​​and beliefs. Undeniably, humanity sees through a shaded lens, and while racial schism may be artificial rather than biological in origin, it has largely shaped and still shapes the world in which we live. in The Autobiography of an Ancient Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson. The subject of the story is the benefactor of a societal anomaly: he is able to oscillate and transcend the color barrier, protecting himself somewhat from the biased functioning of the white faction and the intense oppression that surrounds the faction black. To this trait is added a totally methodical and presumptuous personality omnipresent throughout the text. Instead of these facilities, the former colored man receives only a fleeting taste of both worlds; he is never completely assimilated into either kingdom. The notable absence of emotion prevents an emotional connection to a category which further inhibits the traditional association with race. The narrator then completely loses sight of the color line because his presumptuous nature disconnects him from racial networks. As a result, it only takes a single dramatic encounter to dye the faint sensation of the subject's color line and amplify its presence. The former colored man's fleeting glimpse into the white and black realms shapes presumptions that are demolished in an instant, leaving him with eternal regret for his lack of societal experience. Indeed, the absence of racial identity deprives man of the existence he desired to enjoy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Rather than growing as an active, acculturated member of society, the former man of color seems to develop more as a presumptuous commentator. He does not hesitate to reveal his vision of racial America, constantly asserting his beliefs involving white and black dynamics. At the beginning of the story, the speaker confidently states, “I believe it is a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them” (403 ). The subtle labeling of “people of color” and “whites,” coupled with the absence of a collective “we,” corroborates his individualistic personality, deficient in racial identification. Although it outwardly shapes him as an impartial individual (a traditionally positive attribute), the narrator's presumptions ultimately prevent him from cultivating a defined ethnic association. He pedantically states “...This ability to laugh heartily is, in part, the salvation of the American Negro; it does much to keep him from following the path of an Indian” (423), degrading much of his own potential character. By attributing even some credit for the providence of a race to such an insignificant source as laughter, not only devalues ​​black autonomy and intelligibility, but also isolates the former colored man from that band. It becomes impossible to develop a strong black self because he himself devalues ​​their existence, going so far as to label them as “creatures” (477). the speaker. He says: “It’s a struggle; because even if the black man fights passively, henevertheless beats...he bears the fury of the storm like the willow” (434) – an edict that seems to convey some sense of self until it is juxtaposed with a white argument. : "...For although the white man of the South is perhaps too proud to admit it, he nevertheless uses his best energies in competition; he devotes himself to this as the greatest part of his thought and a much of his efforts” (434). The prototypical activism of the first statement fades into ambivalence as it adds a vaguely positive reference to widespread white oppression. "a "contest" further shows his uncertainty and desperate impartiality; he cannot commit to either side as long as he channels his perceptions into generalizations of the white and black spheres. The narrator is surprisingly devoid of feeling; he evaluates even the most epic incidents in a numb and analytical manner. As a result, he handicaps himself, attenuating the acculturation necessary for an enriching societal experience. His detachment arises from an underlying selfishness that almost ensures existence. economical, he admits. “Red Head” – as I involuntarily called him – and I were supposed to be friends. I have no doubt that this feeling was reinforced by the fact that I understood quite quickly that a big and strong boy was a desirable friend in a public school..." (397). Racial identification is not not yet an obvious question for young people, association with peers rather serves as the first marker of self-definition. Even when he is a child, the former man of color seeks to develop a relationship. symbiotic. He strives to improve his own situation rather than valuing the bond at its purest level, foreshadowing similar activity even after the racial construct has been introduced to the boy. The speaker is a completely unfeeling and selfless being, on the contrary, he manifests a deep love for his mother and, later, However, these women are not the source of identification of the subject His lasting sorrow does not come from these relationships. (despite their tragic endings), but rather from a desire for social functionality in the racial sense of the term. the former colored man would have traditionally drawn many roles from his father, but he reveals that "somehow I could not conjure up a considerable sense of need for a father" (410). The parent tries to reach out to his son, but it turns out to be in vain. The boy recants and displays the burgeoning selfish and materialistic attitude that will mature later in the play as he recalls: “I thought, almost remorsefully, of the way I had left my father; but, despite this, it momentarily crossed my mind. feeling of disappointment, the piano was not a grand piano" (413). As an adult, the narrator questions his own attitude towards his assimilation by wondering "Was it more of a desire to help those whom I considered my people, or rather a desire to distinguish myself... This is a question to which I have never definitively answered” (474). The answer, however, seems to appear quite openly, as he concludes: "...I would be more likely to attract attention as a colored composer than as a white composer" (474). As evidenced here, the former man of color uses racial identification as a tool to improve his material situation, thereby displacing ethnicity from his self-definition. This paradigm shifts toward a deep ambivalence toward racial interactions. Faced with blatant prejudice, the speaker recalls: “My heart was sick. However, I must admit that, underneath it all, I felt a certain kind of admiration for this man.