James Baldwin

The title says it all. In Europe he is still a stranger, whereas in America his presence has been, by necessity, constantly vivid and unignorable since her conception. In Europe, racism is abstract and isolated within the confines of distant colonies. Alternately, in America slavery and racism has always been very much apart of not only society, but also the home, and beyond this the American identity. He recognizes that American beliefs are founded in European beliefs but that there is a definitive point of separation between the two sets of ideals, a departure that leads places that Europeans, not having the same history as American’s, will never comprehend fully. He concludes by acknowledging that, out of a tragic past and through the modern battles being waged the American identity encompasses black people in a way that Europe has never been capable of. In other words progress has been made though, it has been at the cost of so much suffering, leaving permanent scars.

Stylistically, he speaks abstractly or in generalities at times to distance his voice from what he is saying. He does this also to downplay without diminishing the severity of his criticisms and anger. Ultimately, he establishes a place for himself (in America) through the climactic structure. Beginning softly and building in intensity, he reflects the transformation from oppression and submission into authority and power. This he says, will never and can never be reversed, innocent ignorance will never resurface in America, as it still exists in Europe.

The money was placed in a manila envelope once a month. The same increment different drop location. The blackmailer was an anonymous, all-knowing, and clever blackmailer, accruing considerable wealth through each transaction. As extortions go demanding more money would have been more than plausible. Yet, greed was never a motive. By asking for a humble sum, the blackmailer ingratiated his victim to him. Ultimately, the vulnerable target, felt like the blackmailer had done him a favor when he stopped calling, for things could have gone much worse.