Baldwin and Myths

What it means to be a Negro in America is something Baldwin contemplates in his essay, “Many Thousands Gone.” He asserts that there are myths that time and history has placed upon the Negro, but only their origins are the key to really uncovering the true meaning.

“Aunt Jemima and Uncle Tom are dead” (27)

Baldwin discusses the myths of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Tom—first by saying they are dead. Why dead? Why would he use such definite and concrete imagery to describe this myths that plagued American culture? I would assert that he did so to portray how the Negro has progressed since then, how he has strive to be all the more literate and how he understands his new place in society. The Negro is no longer the man who will simply say, “yes masta” but instead will think critically by using his new skills (Baldwin places a large emphasis on the Negro being literate, by reading and writing) to out think the white man. In addition he uses these archetypes to show the difference between the depictions of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Aunt Jemima we all see on our favorite pancake box.

Baldwin goes on to depict the Negro who hasn’t found his rightful place in society.

“There are others who remain, in our odd idiom, “underprivileged”; some are bitter and these come to grief; some are unhappy, but, continually presented with the evidence of a better day soon to come, are speedily becoming less so.” (27)

He asserts that this Negro may have not found his place because he does not fully understand his origins. He has all but forgotten the struggles their predecessors (Aunt Jemima & Uncle Tom) endured. The “new” Negro does not understand the complexities and hardships experienced by others and cannot fully get ahead without looking behind.

“Most of them care nothing whatever about race” (27)

Baldwin also talks about other attributes of this new Negro. He asserts that he is “well-dressed and scrubbed” showing that he now has assimilated into American culture and taken up American ways. He is no longer wearing cultural garments, as we understand he places a big difference between the terms African and American. This Negro does not do field work like your Uncle Tom once did, and doesn’t have to tend on the white master like Aunt Jemima.  In addition, he notes that the new Negro is never “laughed at” showing the pain and suffering their predecessors endured that is no longer experienced.

Baldwin stresses these myths to depict the true differences and strides that have been made over time. He wants the reader to feel the complexities of the situation at hand and also get the new American Negro to understand that he cannot simply forget his origins.