Summary Of Cornel West's Essay On Black Fathering

Cornel West’s essay “On Black Fathering” clearly states what is needed to be a successful black father: first they have to overcome being dehumanized, second they must provide economically, psychologically and personally for their family, and finally they must also develop of who they are as a person (West 242). The main characters, Grange and Brownfield, in the novel The Third Life of Grange Copeland suffer through countless forms of hardships such as racism, extreme poverty, and living in dehumanizing conditions causing anger and bitterness from living under oppressive circumstances. From the oppression of the sharecroppers comes a hatred for the white landowners which inhibits their ability to raise a harmonious family. Throughout the novel, Grange fails to fulfill the role of being a father which cripples his son's ability to become a “good black father” as detailed within Cornel West’s essay “On Black Fathering”; only after he is able to grow himself is Grange is able to overcome his shortcomings as a father. Within the first section of West's essay On Black Fathering he clearly highlights the struggles that black fathers have to endure. The most unique of these struggles undoubtedly comes from the dehumanizing …show more content…
Though the steps laid out by West to be a good black father provide a good road map it quickly falls apart if the person pursuing this goal lacks a clear understanding of themselves. Grange shows how fathers need to continuously grow and it took years for him to just scratch what being a good father is. At the same time Brownfield shows how if someone lacks a good father the cycle of a broken home is much more likely to continue. Over all even if a black father can weather the attacks on his humanity and provide economically for his family without a well-developed maturity and a clear understanding of themselves it will eventually