James Baldwin’s Concept of the ‘innocent country’ is how America is in a position that enables, and allows the discrimination, and placement of people of color in to environments that is the ghetto. Because it is the authors of devastation that placed people of a different ethnicities in to a dispossessed position of life. For Baldwin’s rhetorical concept of innocence can be recognized as the mental perception of a person who commits a crime, and continues to believe they are innocent of their actions, because they judge they have done nothing wrong. Problematically, that wicked intentions are perceived as a social norm. To an extent, Baldwin depicts that the innocent country is a racist America. For it is the violator’s skewed perception (and
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Furthermore, Baldwin would argue that the innocent America remains to be a similar version of its former self. Because the racist ideologies from an older generation continues to be passed down to a newer one. Such as it is represented in Flannery O’Connor’s’ Artificial Nigger. For the Grandfather is a quintessential example of Baldwin’s rhetorical concept of the innocence minded. Mr. Head, fits in to Baldwin’s concept, because of how his actions, and uses of language, which he perceives as innocent is a façade. Arguably, it the casualness of Mr. Head’s actions, and use of language that demonstrates his rhetorical innocence. Additionally, Mr. Head demonstrates himself as an author of devastation, because his sole intention is to create his grandson’s perception of reality, and ensure Nelson perceives society as he does. These intentions are carried out of the possible fear Mr. Head possesses. A fear that his grandson will reject his perception of reality, and accept African Americans in to his life. As Baldwin states, how the innocent individuals of America are trapped in a history they do not understand, nor will they assent from it …show more content…
Head doesn't come in to direct contact with any African Americans in the story. Nor does he give a justified reason why he himself perceives people of color the way he does. For his views, and the way he casually (and constantly) addresses African Americans as ‘niggers’ is evidence to the vicious form of innocence Baldwin talks of. However, the creation of this innocence is because Mr. Head is from a southern rural area, which is hinted to possibly possess (prior remnants, or current) confederate ideologies. The text makes this apparent when he asserts how the last Negro was run out of ‘their’ country twelve years ago (107). The problematic allowance of rejecting, and repressing African American in these societies is because individuals like Mr. Head perceives them as a flaw to their preferred vision of society; the white racist society. Therefore, this could explain his intention to make Nelson dislike the idea of Atlanta, because major cities have begun, or already integrated people of color in to society. Moreover, this is because Georgia was a recognized as a former confederate state, and the idea that it is recreating itself to accept the people its oppressed, is absurd to individuals like Mr. Head. In effect, because Nelsons birthplace is the city, and his inability to categorize humans the way his grandfather does is why Mr. Head ridicules Nelsons concept of purity as ignorance. However, it is the idea of the child’s purity that generates fear in to
Furthermore, Baldwin would argue that the innocent America remains to be a similar version of its former self. Because the racist ideologies from an older generation continues to be passed down to a newer one. Such as it is represented in Flannery O’Connor’s’ Artificial Nigger. For the Grandfather is a quintessential example of Baldwin’s rhetorical concept of the innocence minded. Mr. Head, fits in to Baldwin’s concept, because of how his actions, and uses of language, which he perceives as innocent is a façade. Arguably, it the casualness of Mr. Head’s actions, and use of language that demonstrates his rhetorical innocence. Additionally, Mr. Head demonstrates himself as an author of devastation, because his sole intention is to create his grandson’s perception of reality, and ensure Nelson perceives society as he does. These intentions are carried out of the possible fear Mr. Head possesses. A fear that his grandson will reject his perception of reality, and accept African Americans in to his life. As Baldwin states, how the innocent individuals of America are trapped in a history they do not understand, nor will they assent from it …show more content…
Head doesn't come in to direct contact with any African Americans in the story. Nor does he give a justified reason why he himself perceives people of color the way he does. For his views, and the way he casually (and constantly) addresses African Americans as ‘niggers’ is evidence to the vicious form of innocence Baldwin talks of. However, the creation of this innocence is because Mr. Head is from a southern rural area, which is hinted to possibly possess (prior remnants, or current) confederate ideologies. The text makes this apparent when he asserts how the last Negro was run out of ‘their’ country twelve years ago (107). The problematic allowance of rejecting, and repressing African American in these societies is because individuals like Mr. Head perceives them as a flaw to their preferred vision of society; the white racist society. Therefore, this could explain his intention to make Nelson dislike the idea of Atlanta, because major cities have begun, or already integrated people of color in to society. Moreover, this is because Georgia was a recognized as a former confederate state, and the idea that it is recreating itself to accept the people its oppressed, is absurd to individuals like Mr. Head. In effect, because Nelsons birthplace is the city, and his inability to categorize humans the way his grandfather does is why Mr. Head ridicules Nelsons concept of purity as ignorance. However, it is the idea of the child’s purity that generates fear in to