'Member+Youse+a+Nigger

I think this painting by Aaron Douglas remarkably captures the essence of the story. In the story Jim, a slave, is a talented farmer that saves his owner's children from being lost at sea and as a result is promised his freedom. He is eventually granted it, and is held in high regard from his master and his family but upon his departure is reminded that despite his "freedom" he will always be viewed as a slave. This depiction shows a migration of American blacks from the clutches of slavery, to their attempt to assimilate into white culture (the briefcase), and finally to the figure playing the saxophone. This last figure represents black reclaiming their culture and shows a sense of pride reflecting the period in which the painting was created. The figures are moving on a giant wheel suggestive of the cyclical nature of their progression; maybe perhaps even indicating that blacks in America were not really getting anywhere. Further, though the painting shows the figures moving away from slavery, Lady Liberty herself (freedom) is still far off in the distance, suggesting the inequality that "free" blacks in America still faced despite the abolishment of slavery. The statue of liberty embodies the words of the slave owner in this story: "But 'member, John, youse a nigger." This painting captures the frustrating situation facing African Americans during this time in history.

Here is the link: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ldpLa9XHNwo/SKMJGIJUHPI/AAAAAAAAAJs/zwI2T9xGrr8/s400/africamer_douglas_song_lg.jpg

==== With Aaron Douglas’ painting “Building More Stately Mansions” the viewers eye is first drawn to the center of the encircling rings at the bottom right corner. The earth is positioned in the center, while the ring encircling it encompasses what could constitute a nuclear family: a husband, wife, son and daughter. The ring for the family is colored differently than the others, emphasizing the importance of family values. The family is surrounded by a ring containing hard labor, then a ring containing technology, on the edge of which stands the devil. The background is filled with notable landmarks throughout history, taking us all the way back to the time of the Egyptians. The idea of Egypt brings forth the image of the beginning of slavery and the biblical story of Moses freeing the slaves, wherein those who were freed never saw the Promised Land—only their descendents. The plight of those enslaved in Egypt is being juxtaposed to the plight of Africans enslaved in America, but this painting suggests that the time of seeing the Promised Land has yet to come. ====

==== The devil in the painting is cut off from the others by a black line, and seems to be a shade lighter than the rest, suggesting, perhaps, that he is the White Devil. This White Devil is on the edge of everything, suggesting that he controls everything through to the center of the rings; he controls the world. The different rings, along with the background, suggest the passage of time from the earth’s creation to the technological advances of the time. The landmark of the current era, however, is a mal-formed and rather spooky looking skyscraper, which implies that through all of history this era is the most evil. Despite all of the progress we have made as a species, with all our technological advancements, our foundation is rotten to the core. We could extend this idea by saying that family, the foundation of society which is emphasized in this painting, does not promote the values it should; parents are not passing on good morals and values to their children. The devil is looking backward in this painting, which implies that the men in charge are focusing on the past rather than the future. In other words, the white man still sees himself a master of other men, specifically African-Americans. ====

==== The corruption of the past has led to an even more corrupted future. One of the most powerful messages of this painting is the implication that the white man is still keeping the black man in the bonds of slavery. What makes it even more abhorrent than slavery of the past however, is that the White Devil claims to have freed the black man from slavery, but he has really just forced a different type of slavery upon him and dressed it up as freedom. By looking at the story “Member Youse a Nigger” through this lens, we see that the story is suggesting that no matter the progress we may make (or claim to make) as a society, the “White Devil” will always consciously or subconsciously perceive himself as the master over others, and the black man always as his inferior. In the story Ole Massa gives Ole John his freedom like he promised and expresses the affection he and his family hold for him, but in spite of this “affection” Ole Massa insists on keeping John in his place by telling him: “ But ‘member, John, youse a nigger.” Like the Devil in the painting, Ole Massa tries to continue orchestrating everything, reminding John that his history will always haunt him and keep him down. Ole Massa is doing John more injustice by claiming to set him free while putting him in the shackles of a different type of slavery, as they did do through work camps, slave wages, and ridiculous laws. John just ignores Ole Massa however, because he knows that in due time he and his people will arrive at the Promised Land. ====

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