Malcolm X on the House vs. Field Negro
How does one respond to oppression and racism? Malcolm X struggled with this question. Early in his career he divided the choices into two very distinct positions - assimiliation and accomodation versus resistance or opposition. Later in his life, he retracted from this stance. What do you think of Malcolm X’s speech? Do you ever struggle between the choice to be accomodating or resistant?
July 26th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I believe that what Malcolm X talked about was very true, and till holds true today, the people that he would call “house Negro” would be the people in todays time would the people who is racist against their own people, and the “field Negro” is those who are still racist towards whites and other races.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Malcolm X’s speech was quite interesting. He gave a great example of how people felt at the time. I haven’t ever really needed to make that choice, but if i did I’d definately struggle with it.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Wow!!! Those were very strong words , but they were spoken so eloquently. Malcolm X was very strong in his beliefs and made sure it was apparent to everyone. I don’t believe that house negros and field negros exist today but that mentality does. House negros are those black people who want to do so well in the economic world that they would rather reject their own people then struggle along side them to make conditions better. I don’t have hard feelings towards these people but i do feel that if they listened to black leaders such as Malcolm X they would have a change of heart…
July 26th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I agree with Cortnee; Malcom X’s words are true and we see people who are still racist today. I understand that the “field negro” had hatred towards his “master” and would pray for a catastophre to be imposed upon him. But because of this hatred, many people are unable to trust and believe in the white generation of today. The People may forgive but will never forget.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:51 am
What Malcolm had to say was very true. When you think about it that way, the African Americans were divided as well. The field negro lived a harder life than the house negro and one would assume that because they are both “negros” they would look out for one another. This says something about human nature in general. Each of us wants a comfortable life for ourselves, and if that mean we have to assimilate or conform then so be it. The worst part of all of it however, is when it means that you have to turn on your own people.