The institution of slavery and colonization has had many adverse effects on Americans of African descent. The psychological toll that institutionalized servitude and oppression has had on African Americans, can partially be blamed for the sub par success rate of many African Americans. Du Bois was one of the most prolific exponents of exposing and resisting the ills caused by slavery, and its ugly offspring, discrimination. The writings of Du Bois will be analyzed and drawn upon, in order to scientifically reveal the psychological effect of slavery and colonization upon the Negro.
“Here was a rich new land, the wealth of which was to be had in return for ordinary manual labor. Had the country been conceived of as existing primarily for the benefit of its actual inhabitants, it might have waited for natural increase or immigration to supply the needed hands; but both Europe and the earlier colonists themselves regarded this land as existing chiefly for the benefit of Europe, and as designed to be exploited, as rapidly and ruthlessly as possible, of the boundless wealth of its resources. This was the primary excuse for the rise of the African slave-trade to America.”(Du Bois, The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, 1638-1870) Du Bois makes it clear that slavery was not a necessity for the extraction of resources from the new world. The European need for expediency and efficiency at any cost, was the main justification for the use of slaves in America. It can be determined from Du Boise's work, that the mental and physical suffering of slaves was an unnecessary and unjustifiable atrocity. The Europeans' greed and disregard for humanity, was the catalyst for a system that delivered untold damage to the Negro psyche.
Many African Americans suffer from a sub-conscious inferiority complex, which can be in part attributed to forced disconnection from their source of self- concept and identity. Any and all positive reinforcement such as their history and accomplishments, were replaced with a reinforced and repetitive doctrine of black inferiority. Negative mental conditioning was reinforced by their owners and much of the rest of white society through harsh treatment, and brutal reprisals, for seeking any form of knowledge of themselves or the world at large. Men were stripped of any form of pride and or self-respect, by being humiliated in front of their families for any attempt at seeking any resemblance of justice. Women were often taken from their husbands and raped at their owner's discretion, which further diminished the male's sense of self-worth as well as the women's. (Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk. 1903)
Being forced to work without compensation dragged the blacks further into the psychological quagmire of self-loathing and depression. One of the most damaging aspects of the institution of slavery and oppression is the development of self- loathing and starting to believe that you deserve the treatment that you are receiving. Prisoners of war in Korea were subjected to severe mental conditioning (brainwashing), which resulted in some refusing to return to the United States after cessation of hostilities. The previous statement gives credence to the fact that if the slaves were told something enough times, in time they would come to believe what they were being told, even though it was detrimental to them psychologically.
The slaves' status as human beings was further attacked by barbaric practices such as castration and the removal of limbs for small infractions, which physically incapacitated slaves who were already suffering from hellish psychological torment and indoctrination, at the hands of slave owners. Practices such as battles royals, in which groups of slaves were pitted against each other in fights for no apparent reason other than to entertain and satisfy bets between slave owners, on which group would win. In other instances slaves were pitted against each other in human cockfights, sometimes to the death. Brutal contests, which were sometimes witnessed by other slaves, would reinforce their psychological acceptance of their status as lesser beings.
The selective breeding of the biggest and strongest slaves was a profitable endeavor for the slave owner, but devastated the slave family structure. The selective breeding of slaves was a methodology, that reinforced the idea that the slaves were little more than human livestock, which were to be used and or abused at their owners' whim. The psychological toil that the practice of selective breeding took on slaves is presumably immeasurable, and a valuable tool s with which to wage psychological warfare against slaves. Due to selective breeding some slaves were deprived of the right develop monogamous family relationships. Through selective breeding, married slaves could be forced to copulate with slaves that the master deemed suitable for breeding purposes, in order to ensure that he had a ready supply of strong able-bodied slaves to perform labor at the highest rate possible. Psychologically, selective breeding influenced slaves to believe that familial relationships were of little value, and fostered insecurity and anxiety within the slave psyche in regards to the stability of their family unit. Fornication and adultery were eventually seen as an everyday fact of life, especially for the stronger slaves who more likely forced to engage in the selective breeding process.
A hatred and rivalry could develop between the stronger slaves and the weaker slaves, due to the forced copulation practiced by some slave-owners. Weaker slaves would more than likely suffer severe psychological trauma, when and if their mate or spouse was forced to copulate with one or more of the stronger male slaves. The female slaves forced to copulate with the stronger males would most likely suffer psychologically, especially in the area of self esteem. The weaker males would invariably suffer from feelings of inadequacy due to their limited mate selection and or copulation opportunities, while the stronger males would most n likely take on the alpha male persona, and tend to dominate most aspects of slave community life. The struggle between the stronger and weaker males could lead to assaults, suicide, murder, thefts and nervous breakdowns. The nervous breakdowns would most likely occur in the weaker male slaves, due the psychological pressure of being dominated by the stronger males within the slave community, as well as the slave owners and white society as a whole.
The act of giving better treatment to the lighter skinned slaves, served as a tool in which slave owners could keep an element of dissention and strife among the slaves. Lighter skinned slaves were invariably the by product of copulation between the slave owners and female slaves. These slaves were given the most lucrative jobs within the slave community, such working as servants within the slave-owners home, running errands outside of plantation grounds, and usually better dressed and fed than those of darker skin.
Darker skinned slaves and those with more pronounced Negroid features would usually encounter more difficult living conditions on the plantation. Darker skinned slaves were deemed to be the most inferior of the supposedly inferior race, and were treated as such. Dark skinned slaves were usually housed far from the plantation house, and in close proximity to the fields that they were forced to work. Dark skinned slaves were given the most demanding jobs, the most basic living quarters, and the least appealing clothing.
The difference in treatment between the lighter skinned slaves and those of darker skin had tremendous psychological effects on slaves and free blacks years after the abolishment of slavery. The preference and status given to lighter skinned blacks had the effect of influencing the lighter skinned blacks that they were indeed superior to the darker skinned blacks. In many instances, the lighter skinned blacks willingly informed their owners on the activities of the field hands. Rewards given to the lighter skinned slaves for informing on the activities of the field hands, reinforced the lighter skinned slave's loyalty to the slave owner, and increased the distrust and disdain between the two groups of slaves. The repeated incidents of informing, reward, and punishment, created a psychosomatic cycle in which field hands and servants were continuously at odds with each other, and thus much easier for the slave owner to control.
After extended periods of mistreatment, the dark skinned slaves reached the point of psychological exhaustion, and began to accept the belief that they were inferior to the lighter skinned blacks, as well as their white owners. The darker skinned slaves developed an inferiority complex, which in turn affected their behavior towards other dark skinned slaves. The dark skinned slaves began to display an attitude of submissiveness towards the lighter skinned slaves, and had no qualms about becoming informants against other dark skinned slaves.
The psychological conditioning experienced by early Black Americans has been perpetuated in many forms on Black Americans after slavery, and to the present day. The iron chains of slavery have been replaced with economic bondage, suppression, and oppression. Many Black Americans have passed down feelings of inferiority to their children from generation to generation, long after the abolishment of slavery. After slaves were freed, the mental conditioning experienced in captivity, was reinforced by the social practices of the south and many areas of the north. Segregation, Jim Crow laws, lynching of Black leaders, and other acts of violence against blacks who sought to elevate their socioeconomic status, maintained the sense of anxiety and paranoia experienced by blacks during slavery. (Wright Earl II, Jim Crow Sociology)
The suppression of Black accomplishments in America has helped to keep blacks in a state instability, confusion, and self-loathing. Black inventions, military accomplishments, social accomplishments, positive African history, and many other areas of achievement have been systematically suppressed in order to maintain low self esteem among Black Americans. Feelings of inadequacy and low self image generate a low regard for those who look like you, which creates an environment of envy, distrust, disloyalty, and hatred within black communities. The element of economic suppression and the distress that it creates fosters an environment ripe for black on black crime, havoc, chaos, and mayhem. When one cannot obtain gainful employment, one's choice of environment is extremely limited. Limitations on income hinder one's prospects for upward mobility, and force one to reside in high crime areas. When one is forced to reside in high crime areas one is at increased risk of bodily injury or worse, which increases the level of distress and frustration experienced by the individual. Increased distress and frustration usually result in health issues such as hypertension. Hypertension and other stress related illnesses, require treatment so that the effects can be controlled and hopefully prevent additional illnesses. Treatment requires money that an unemployed or low-income individual doesn't usually have, as well as insurance that's not usually provided on low- income jobs. (Du Bois, The Philadelphia Negro pp.197-397)
A man is in part measured by his ability to take care of himself and his family. When a man feels that he cannot provide for those that he is responsible for, his sense of self worth is significantly lowered. A man that is not adequately providing for his family in some instances begins to lose the respect of his mate, which increases his sense of guilt and inadequacy. The lack of upward mobility coupled with the added pressure of tension with his spouse, creates intense feelings of frustration within the individual. The internal and external tension experienced by the black male could lead to health issues such as hypertension, cancer, and mental disorders, which only exasperate his already fragile state of affairs. The possible mental and physical effects of the stress that he is experiencing, will only serve to hinder his ability to think clearly and formulate a plan in which to free himself from his plight. Each stressor reinforces and exasperates the other source of stress, which engulfs the individual in a vicious cycle of depression and nervous tension. (Du Bois, Health and Physique of the Negro American)
The psychological stress experienced by many African American males, goes unnoticed by mainstream society. Machismo is in part responsible for the failure of many black men to share their feelings, as well as their perception that no one really cares. Many in lower socioeconomic conditions are too busy struggling to obtain the bare essentials for survival, to take notice of the suffering of many around them. Most of the psychological stress experienced by many black men goes unnoticed, until it manifests itself in the form of drug and alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, psychosis, suicides, etc.
It appears that there is an ongoing assault against the physical and mental well-being of the African American male. Limitations to upward mobility, is an ugly fact even for educated blacks, who are seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
It appears that the powers that be recognize the fact that limitations on upward mobility, will invariably lead to the aforementioned psychological and or physical conditions. It can be inferred that those in control of corporate America, recognize the fact that those under extreme stress and duress will seek inexpensive relief. It is indeed no surprise that cheap malt liquor, cigarettes, crack cocaine, and a host of other cheap drugs are easily accessible and readily available in lower socioeconomic areas. Those who cannot find relief through economic means, often resort to drugs to quell their pains. Drug dependence is merely another form of bondage, out of the numerous forms of bondage experienced by African Americans.
The works of W.E.B. Du Bois investigate the sociological, historical, political, educational, and psychological impacts that the black experience has had on past and subsequent generations of African Americans. Du Bois used an inductive scholarly approach to studying the state and condition of early black Americans, as well as the impact of political and economic policies on black Americans. Du Bois was innovative in his approach to studying both the effects of external forces on the condition of black Americans, as well as the effects of their own actions.
What set Du Bois apart from many scholars of the day was his careful attempt to qualify the results of his studies through careful tabulation of tables, counts and figures. Du Bois had the insight, character, and discipline to distinguish between scientific fact, and emotional diatribe. Du Boise's fusion of statistical analysis and demographic mapping enhanced his ability to scientifically prove his theoretical ideas. Through assessments of work, pay, expenditures, health, schooling, community and family life, and social activities, Dubois could make an educated interpretation of hardships in which most black Philadelphians faced daily. Du Bois advocated that economic policy was a major factor in determining the life chances, and circumstances of black Philadelphians.
Du Bois's analysis of the state of blacks in Philadelphia and in all probability the nation as a whole, was through a study of the interplay of six factors. 1) A history of enslavement, servitude and oppression, 2) demographic composition affects such as the disproportion of women to men, 3) economic positioning and intensifying competition with free whites both native born and newly arrived from Europe, 4) racial prejudice and discrimination, 5) the resources, internal structure, dynamics and leadership of the black community itself, and 6) the moral agency and capacity for black self-determination, were the six factors explored by Du Bois. (Du Bois, the Philadelphia Negro)
It can be reasonably assumed that Du Bois placed part of the responsibility for upward mobility on blacks themselves, because one third of Du Boise's six factors are the sole responsibility of blacks themselves.
The systematic oppression that has been experienced by blacks has had profound effects on the psychological, economic, and physical well being of blacks, but there will be continuous debate as to how much of their fate rests in their own hands.
Du Bois experienced both subtle and overt forms of racism as a youth in Western Massachusetts. “Slowly he became painfully aware that some local whites viewed his “brown skin a misfortune; once or twice I became painfully aware that some human beings even thought it a crime.”(Du Bois, Dark water p. 489) The awareness that those around you view your skin color as a misfortune can have devastating effects on your self esteem. Impressionable youths can develop a sense of lowered self esteem, due to the continued messages of inferiority broadcast to them by those that they come into contact with. Du Bois had the iron will and knowledge of self to cast the yolk of racial chastisement aside, but it is very unfortunate that some individuals have to develop such an iron will, in order to maintain their sense of self worth.
Du Bois explores white identity and the meaning of whiteness, as well as the attempts by whites to impart the idea that white is wonderful and superior. “Whites have made the greatest attempts to make children believe that every great soul that the world ever saw was a white man's soul.” (Du Bois, Dark water p. 498) An attempt has been made throughout history to place white faces on every man or woman of great significance. Placing white faces on religious figures such as Jesus Christ was one of the most successful tools with which to wage psychological warfare against blacks. The enforced idea that divine beings are of the white race, make it much easier to maintain a strangle hold on black consciousness. The omission and suppression of black contributions to history and religion are very effective methods with which to rob blacks of their sense of self-identity and self-worth. Through the cunning manipulation of religious imagery, Europeans have (or had) the masses of blacks believing that God is a white man. The purported whiteness of Christianity has had the psychological effect of influencing many to view Christianity as the white man's religion. Many African Americans have converted to Islam, without knowledge of the historically African roots of Christianity. Many convert to Islam, ignorant of the Koran's endorsement of slavery and of the Arab slave trade.
“Du Bois also makes important connections between the unjust enrichment of white Europeans over recent centuries and the unjust impoverishment of people of African ancestry. The greatness of Europe, which Du Bois fully acknowledges, comes from the strength of its foundation, a foundation built on the ideas, sciences, economic developments, and mineral resources of many parts of the globe, but especially those of Africa and Asia.”(Du Bois, The Social Theory of W.E.B. Du Bois) “The using of men for the benefit of masters is no new invention of modern Europe…. But Europe proposed to apply it on a scale and with an elaborateness of detail of which no former world ever dreamed. The imperial width of the thing,–the heaven -defying audacity -makes its modern newness.”(Du Bois, Dark water p.504) Whites in America and Europe have made the covering up of their exploitation of the knowledge and resources of Africa, a virtual science. Through the manipulation of historical facts, and omission of black contributions to European success, whites have led blacks to believe that they have had little influence in the progress of civilization as we know it. Exploitation and the omission of historical facts have had devastating effects on the self esteem of blacks around the world. Lack of self esteem limit's one's belief in their ability to succeed, and thereby reduces that individual's productivity.
In other writings Du Bois documented the point that the enslavement of Africans in the America's was more extreme than slavery in ancient societies such as the Roman Empire. An essential feature of North American slavery was the denial of almost all human liberties. The denial of human liberties during American slavery was a method through which individuals were both physically and mentally stripped of any inkling of self sufficiency. Slaves became childlike due to their forced dependency on their owners, for physical and mental sustenance.
One of the most dastardly and cunning tricks played on the minds of blacks and poor whites, was to get each group to view the other as the primary threat. ” Du Bois suggests that white elites discovered that white working classes, who were starting to rebel against class domination in Europe and America, could be held in check by convincing the latter that they were racially superior to workers of color across the globe.”(Du Bois, On Sociology and the Black Community) The Divide and conquer methods used by the elites, is apparent in today's society. Most white supremacist group demonstrations are composed of the poorest, most ignorant, and intellectually challenged members of white society. Most hate crimes are conducted by the lower class whites, under the direction of hidden upper class leadership and financing. Du Bois developed his critique of modern capitalism, through his observations of the methods through which the capitalist elites gain wealth through the manipulation and exploitation of the working class. “For the immediate available jobs, the Irish particularly competed and the employers because of race antipathy and sympathy with the South did not wish to increase the number of Negro workers, so long as the foreigners worked just as cheaply. The foreigners in turn blamed blacks for the cheap price of labor. The result was race war; riots took place which at first simply the flaming hostility of groups of laborers fighting for bread and butter; then they turned into race riots. For three days in Cincinnati in 1829, a mob of whites wounded and killed free Negroes and fugitive slaves and destroyed property. In Philadelphia, 1828-1840, a series of riots took place which thereafter extended until the Civil War. The riot of 1834 took the dimensions of a pitched battle and lasted for three days. Thirty-one houses and two churches were destroyed. Other riots took place in 1835 and 1838 and a two days' riot in 1842 caused the calling out of the militia with artillery.”(Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America p.2) It can be clearly seen from the information above that the elites succeeded in their plot to pit working class whites against free blacks seeking work. The psychological damage caused by slavery reached beyond the Negro, and into the hearts and minds of working whites as well.
“No sooner had armies, east and west, penetrated Virginia and Tennessee than fugitive slaves appeared within their lines. They came at night, when the flickering camp fires of the blue hosts shone like vast unsteady stars along the black horizon: old men, and thin, with gray and tufted hair; women with frightened eyes, dragging whimpering, hungry children; men and girls, stalwart and gaunt,– a horde of starving vagabonds, homeless, helpless, and pitiable in their dark distress.” (Du Bois, The Freedmen's Bureau) The decimation of the slaves' self esteem, and forced dependency on their owners, was carried out to such a degree that freed slaves were no longer capable of functioning on their own. Newly freed slaves were often in a state of confusion, and shock when suddenly finding themselves on their own. Many slaves had grown dependant on their owners, for direction in every facet of their lives. It is sad, that a once proud and self sufficient people were reduced to childlike shells of their former selves.
“After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second sight in this American world, a world which yields him no self-consciousness, but lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is peculiar sensation, this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,–an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” (Du Bois, The Strivings of the Negro People p.194) Du Bois gives a detailed explanation of how the treatment of blacks by whites has had an immense psychological effect on many blacks. The treatment of blacks as second class citizens, combined with only partial inclusion and acceptance by white society, has forced many blacks to develop a double consciousness. Many blacks live in a state of confusion as to their legitimacy in American society due to double consciousness, and are thereby hindered in the ability to reach their full potential. By measuring oneself by the tape of the world, a dangerous and debilitating inferiority complex may be developed, which reinforces the self-loathing mentality developed during slavery. The continued use of the term African-American further enhances double consciousness, and reinforces the idea of being something other than American or not fully American. It is amazing that white Americans are referred to as whites or Americans, and are referred to as European – Americans only at the times and places of their choosing. The accurate teaching of world and U.S. history, will serve to provide blacks with the knowledge that they have done just as much to make America what it is today as any other race, and help to erase double consciousness.
“The double- aimed struggle of the black artisan, on the one hand to escape white contempt for a nation of mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, and on the other hand to plough and nail and dig for a poverty-stricken horde, could easily result in making him a poor craftsman, for he had but half a heart in either cause. By poverty and ignorance of his people the Negro Lawyer or doctor was pushed toward quackery and demagogism, and by the criticism of the other world toward an elaborate preparation that over fitted him for his lowly tasks.” (Du Bois, Strivings of the Negro People p.195) Du Bois was the first to expose the psychological plight of the black worker who sought self improvement. Du Bois gives a vivid illustration of the result that contempt by white America had on psyche of black craftsmen and professionals, as well as the inner struggle which resulted in partial surrender and half-hearted efforts. Psychological surrender and half-hearted efforts led to stagnation in black progress, which has been misinterpreted by others as laziness.
“The Negro simply wants to make it possible to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without losing the opportunity of self-development.”(Du Bois, Strivings of The Negro People p.195) In this work Du Bois exposes the underlying conflict within the black American's consciousness. According to DU Bois the Negro is forced to balance his desire to be accepted as fully American, with his desire to avoid the chastisement and abuse from white America that he will likely experience, as a result of his efforts. Many Negroes have resigned themselves to the fact that they will face harsh reprisals and lost opportunities for self-development and upward mobility, as result of there efforts to achieve self actualization. The psychological beatings experienced by many Negroes, have forced them to silently surrender to the forces that be. The sad reality is that the most severe and misguided chastisement experienced by Negroes seeking self-improvement, comes from Negroes still under the spell of the field Negro vs. the house Negro mentality.
” The second thought streaming from the death-ship and the curving river is the thought of the older South,– the sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle, God created a tertium quid, and called it a Negro,– a clownish, simple creature, at times even lovable within its limitations, but straightly foreordained to walk within the Veil. To be sure, behind the thought lurks the afterthought,– some of them with favoring chance might become men, but in sheer self-defense we dare not let them, and we build about them walls so high, and hang between them and the light a veil so thick, that they shall not even think of breaking through.” (Du Bois, Of the Training of Black Men p.1) Du Bois gives us a vivid illustration of the plan to make self-development, upward mobility, and self-actualization, a near impossibility for the Negro. The white establishment in America sought to make the obstacles between Negroes and self development so formidable, that Negroes would see any attempts at a breakthrough as futile.
“You misjudge us because you do not know us. From the very first it has been the educated and intelligent of the Negro people that have led and elevated the mass, and the sole obstacles that nullified and retarded their efforts were slavery and race prejudice; for what is slavery but the legalized survival of the unfit and the nullification of natural internal leadership? Negro leadership therefore sought from the first to rid the race of its awful incubus that it might make way for natural selection and the survival of the fittest.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth P.1) Du Bois provides us with an awareness of how many whites in America misjudge blacks from a lack of knowledge of them, and attempt nullify their progress by hindering the progress of educated and intelligent Negroes. If intelligent and educated Negroes aren't allowed to rid the race of its incubus of ignorance, blacks will be stalemated into a perpetual state of psychological chaos.
“And so we come to the present -a day of cowardice and vacillation, of strident wide-voiced wrong and faint hearted compromise; of double-faced dallying with Truth and Right. Who are to-day guiding the work of the Negro people? The “exceptions” of course. And yet so sure as this Talented Tenth is pointed out, the blind worshippers of the Average cry out in alarm: “These are exceptions, look here at death, disease and crime—these are the happy rule.” Of course they are the rule, because a silly nation made them the rule: Because for three long centuries this people lynched Negroes who dared to be brave, raped black women who dared to be virtuous, crushed dark- hued youth who dared to be ambitious, and encouraged and made to flourish servility and lewdness and apathy.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth p.3) Du Bois illustrates the thinking pattern of many concerning the Negro, which is that death, disease and crime are the happy rule of Negro existence. Many Negroes have accepted the happy rule as a normal state of affairs in the black community, and have psychologically resigned themselves to accepting the happy rule as an inescapable fact of life. Du Bois is adamant in exposing the policy of this nation, to destroy any Negro who attempts to strive for existence outside of the happy rule. The destruction of black leadership by the white establishment continues to have detrimental affects on the psyche of blacks, who have the knowledge to lead others out of psychological bondage.
“Nothing in these latter days has so dampened the faith of thinking Negroes in recent educational movements, as the fact that such movements have been accompanied by ridicule and denouncement and decrying of those very institutions of higher training which made the Negro public school possible, and make Negro industrial schools thinkable.” (Du Bois, The Talented Tenth p.6) Du Bois has once again exposed the ongoing attack upon the self esteem of blacks, by the white establishment. According to Du Bois, faith in Negro educational movements has been dampened by ongoing ridicule and denouncement, which serves to impede the will of many blacks to pursue self-development. If fewer blacks pursue educational enlightenment, it will be much easier for the white establishment to continue to dominate, control, and suppress black Americans.
“The Father, who worked Colonel Wheeler's farm on shares, would tell me how the crops needed the boys; and the thin, slovenly mother, whose face was pretty when washed, assured me the Lugene must mind the baby. “But we'll start them again next week.” When the lawrences stopped, I knew that the doubts of the old folks about book – learning had conquered again, and so, toiling up the hill, and getting as far into the cabin as possible, I put Cicero pro Archia Poeta into the simplest English with local applications, and usually convinced them—for a week or so.” (Du Bois, A Negro Schoolmaster in the New South p.1) From Du Bois's work, it can be seen that education was given secondary consideration by many blacks. It can be inferred that many blacks viewed the immediate need of working the fields and house duties, as more beneficial for meeting their immediate economic needs. The doubts about book—learning held by many older blacks, were most likely developed by their experiences concerning the condemnation of Negroes who sought to educate themselves. Older blacks were most likely psychologically conditioned to believe, that white society would not allow blacks to be gainfully employed in jobs suited to their level of educational development.
“For instance, a visitor might tell us that the Negroes of Farmville are idle, unreliable, careless with their earnings, and lewd; another visitor, a month later, might say that Farmville Negroes are industrious, owners of property, and slowly but steadily advancing in education and morals. These apparently contradictory statements made continually of Negro groups all over the land are both true to a degree, and become mischievous and misleading only when stated without reservation as true of a whole community, when they are in reality true only of certain classes in the community. The question then becomes, not whether the Negro is lazy and criminal, or industrious and ambitious, but rather what, in a given community, is the proportion of lazy to industrious Negroes, of paupers to property holders, and what the tendency of development in these classes is. Bearing in mind, it seems fair to conclude, after an impartial study of Farmville conditions, that the industrious and property accumulating class of the Negro citizens best represents, on the whole, the general tendencies of the group.” (Du Bois, The Negroes of Farmville, Virginia P.38) Du Bois eloquently describes the tendency of the media and others to over report the negative aspects of the black community, and to grossly under report the positive aspects of black communities. The tendency to attribute the negatives of the black community to the community as a whole, gives many a negative and distorted perception of blacks. The negative stereotypical portrayal of blacks has had detrimental affects on the psyche of black Americans, who are constantly bombarded with negative and demeaning images of themselves. Blacks, who are not strong enough to resist the psychological onslaught by the media and others, may succumb to accepting the negatives as truths. The negative reports concerning blacks are influential on the perception that many whites and foreigners have concerning blacks, which in turn affects the relations that these groups have with blacks, upon encountering blacks for the first time.
“It is clear that any civilization which is based on the fertility of the soil, and not on the energy of the man, contains within itself the seed of its own destruction. Where food is easily obtained, where there is little need for clothing or houses, where, in brief, unaided nature furnishes all man's necessities, those elements which produce strength of character and vigor of mind are wanting, and man becomes the slave of his surroundings. He acquires no energy of disposition, he yields himself to superstition and fatalism; the very conditions of life which produced his civilization set the limit of its existence. The warm climate made great provision for the future unnecessary, not to say impossible, while social conditions did not favor accumulation of property. It is necessary to emphasize these African conditions, for they have an important influence on future development. Under these conditions Negro character was formed, and that character was not like that of the long-headed blonds of the North.” (Kelsey Carl, The Negro Farmer P.27) Carl Kelsey's work illustrates the thinking of many whites prior to, and after Du Bois's works. Kelsey's work is based on the view that the African climate and environment, were major factors in the formulating the reported shiftless character of blacks. Kelsey is attempting to make a correlation between West African environmental conditions, and those negative character traits that he assumes to be the result of living in such an environment, and naively attempt to apply those negative character traits to the black community as a whole. Kelsey is a prime example of the resulting mentality that is formulated by those who are fed a steady diet of negative imagery as it pertains to the black community. It can be assumed that the majority of Kelsey's experience with Negroes has been with the lower classes of the community, or that Kelsey chooses to ignore the vast majority of Negroes, who are thrifty, moral, and industrious.
There are many loopholes in Kelsey's shallow attempt to describe the development of Negro character, and psychological makeup. The year round growing season of tropical environments require year round agricultural endeavors, which is in sharp contrast to the short growing season experienced by the blonds to the North. The blonds to the North experienced severe winter weather, which at times limited all activity to eating, sleeping, and indoor activities which required very little strength of character or vigor of mind. Much more time was spent eating and sleeping in Northern climates, due to shorter days, and the need for extra calories during the winter months. The heat and humidity of West African jungles is very taxing on the body and mind, and requires that individuals have strength of character in order to work under such conditions. Men were required to hunt and fish in searing heat, as well as to fight in the defense of their tribes under such conditions. Foods were indeed readily available, but gathering fruit and other plant foods was done with an awareness that dangerous predators were always lurking in the grasses and jungle. Thrift and wit were required by those who bravely ventured outside the safety of villages, in order to pick fruit without becoming the victims of man eating predators.
