H.P. Lovecraft and W.E.B. DuBois portray their views of racism in significantly different ways based on discerned racial polarities. In the Early 20th Century, racism centered around white supremacy and social identity. Power was given to people based on their worth. Much of racism can be defined by fear in which both authors demonstrate extreme xenophobic tendencies, hidden bias and social identity.
Winter’s defines xenophobia as people being conditioned to fear others who are different from them (Winters, 2002). He also explains that hidden bias is unspoken tendencies that can be seen when observing the environment (Winters, 2002). For example, in “The Lurking Fear,” the narrator does not like the Dutch or his family as he thinks they are inferior to him due to not being English (Lovecraft, H., 2009). Finally, social identity is seen as the group or community in which he associates his identity (Winters, 2002).
Racial ranking originated in the European culture. The hidden bias in Lovecraft’s writing depicted white people as being at the top of the food chain and colored people were at the bottom. …show more content…
His characters seek to understand why they are social outcasts. Lovecraft illustrates discrimination and racism throughout “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and “The Lurking Fear.” In both stories the setting is a desolate town full of isolation, degradation and the terror of being cursed (Hplovecraft.com, 1913; Lovecraft, H., 2009 ). People were so worried about being cursed that they would turn a blind eye to people on the street (Hplovecraft.com, 1913). They would not speak or associate with any of the people with deformities. The belief of the town was that nightcrawlers came out during the dead of night and attacked unsuspecting people (Hplovecraft.com, 1913). The fear was so great that people actually fled to their homes at dusk and hide in the dark, depths of their
Winter’s defines xenophobia as people being conditioned to fear others who are different from them (Winters, 2002). He also explains that hidden bias is unspoken tendencies that can be seen when observing the environment (Winters, 2002). For example, in “The Lurking Fear,” the narrator does not like the Dutch or his family as he thinks they are inferior to him due to not being English (Lovecraft, H., 2009). Finally, social identity is seen as the group or community in which he associates his identity (Winters, 2002).
Racial ranking originated in the European culture. The hidden bias in Lovecraft’s writing depicted white people as being at the top of the food chain and colored people were at the bottom. …show more content…
His characters seek to understand why they are social outcasts. Lovecraft illustrates discrimination and racism throughout “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and “The Lurking Fear.” In both stories the setting is a desolate town full of isolation, degradation and the terror of being cursed (Hplovecraft.com, 1913; Lovecraft, H., 2009 ). People were so worried about being cursed that they would turn a blind eye to people on the street (Hplovecraft.com, 1913). They would not speak or associate with any of the people with deformities. The belief of the town was that nightcrawlers came out during the dead of night and attacked unsuspecting people (Hplovecraft.com, 1913). The fear was so great that people actually fled to their homes at dusk and hide in the dark, depths of their