Good Analytical Essay Critical Thinking Example

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The Souls of Black Folk by DuBois and The Chinese in All of Us by Rodriguez encompass the issue of racism in an extremely impressive manner. The first chapter of DuBois’ book, “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”, the author cited the major question asked to the black men by a majority of white people i.e. “How does it feel like to be a problem?” (DuBois 1). This question reflects the prevalence of racism and racist attitudes in the contemporary society concerning black people. As expected, the book reveals the fact that the black people never appreciated the racial discrimination against them. This is because the white have been treating them like a problem or nuisance since times unknown. In fact, it is still a fact that even in the modern times, the whites consider blacks as the source of almost every social problem. Even though no one directly asked the stated question; however, it was crystal clear that every white person was curious to know how black people felt concerning their status in the society as a problem.
DuBois’ book reveals that he realized it at an early age that he was the “problem”. After his enrollment in an integrated school in Massachusetts, he had to go thorough racial discrimination every now and then. At one occasion, a new enrolled female student refused to participate in a class activity with him just because of his DuBois’ skin color. The author talks of the incident saying that, “In a wee wooden schoolhouse, something put it into the boys’ and girls’ heads to buy gorgeous visiting-cards—ten cents a package—and exchange. The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card,—refused it peremptorily, with a glance” (DuBois 2). This incident reflects the prevailing racism in every nook and corner of the American society even polluting the innocent minds of young children. Due to the problems he faced, DuBois keeps asking himself why God chose to make him a problem. The author says, “With other black boys the strife was not so fiercely sunny: their youth shrunk into tasteless sycophancy, or into silent hatred of the pale world about them and mocking distrust of everything white; or wasted itself in a bitter cry, why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house? The shades of the prison-house closed round about us all: walls strait and stubborn to the whitest, but relentlessly narrow” (DuBois 2).
On the other hand, in The Chinese in All of Us: a Mexican American Explores Multiculturalism by Rodriguez, the author points out that an interview whereby he was asked question that reflected the racist mind of the interviewer. He says, “Last year, I was being interviewed by Bill Moyers. “Do you consider yourself American or Hispanic?” He asked. “I think of myself as Chinese,” I answered” (Rodriguez 1). Thus, he reveals the fact that even Chinese people have to experience racial discrimination in the American society. Even though he was not a black by ethnicity, his Chinese background was seen as a cause to discriminate him from whites. The book truly mirrors the unfortunate reality that majority of whites think of them as superior beings and ridicule people belonging to other races or cultures on the basis of their background and other different characteristics.
It is rather saddening that most of the blacks used to hate themselves for the fact that were born blacks. They regretted and used to complain to God about their existence. According to DuBois, he could not figure out the reason as to why the Negro was created in the shadow of all of the other races. He says, “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” (DuBois 3). He says that he was created with a double consciousness, and that the blacks were always looking themselves through the eyes of the other races.
DuBois considered being born as an American Negro an ultimate problem and he characterized his life as a symbol of struggle. According to him, blacks were meant to struggle and made consistent endeavors for reaching self-conscious manhood after a long period of captivity. They also utilized their energies for trying to merge the two conflicting identities to be like one which is much better off. In addition, the whites in the United States were apprehended by the fact that the newly freed blacks will go on to Africanize the Americans. The bitter truth is that most of the white-skinned people did not want to see ABlack Americans as a flourishing and thriving part of the society.
In the similar manner, Rodriguez also demonstrates how the narrator in his book suffered consistent racism and differentiation and hoe the American land has been taken over by bigotry and prejudice. The narrator could not find a single place where his ethnicity and race was not questioned reflecting the polluted minds overshadowed by racist thoughts. No matter he was in a classroom or workplace, he was considered a minority that made him lack confidence and self-esteem. As mentioned, he was a Chinese but the nun wanted him to use English in an appropriate manner as he had a different pronunciation as compared to other people. To cut a long story short, both the books reveal the inopportune fact that American society is being swallowed up by racism. Although a lot of people oppose racism in every aspect of life, a major portion of American population still employs racist behaviors although blacks’ contributions in the American society are priceless.

Works Cited

DuBois. Of Our Spiritual Strivings. Du Bois, W. E. B. 1903. The Souls of Black Folk. <http://www.bartleby.com/114/1.html>.
Rodrigquez, Richard. The Chinese in All of US, A Mexican American Explores Multiculturalism. 1-6. Print.