Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880. New York MacMillan.
In his book, Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880, Du Bois (1992) recounts the official American history of the Civil War and the Reconstruction from the viewpoint of a black man who understands the connections between racism, oppression and class struggle. He writes that the three most important explanations for the Reconstruction are believed to be the following All Negroes were ignorant all Negroes were lazy, dishonest, and extravagant negroes were responsible for bad government during Reconstruction (Du Bois, pp. 71112). The author understands that white men may not be able to recount the histories of the Civil War and the Reconstruction eras taking into consideration the sufferings and perspectives of the blacks. According to Du Bois, One fact and one alone explains the attitude of most recent writers toward Reconstruction they cannot conceive Negroes as men (Du Bois, p. 726).
Hence, Du Bois history of the Civil War and Reconstruction is special. The author describes contributions of black freemen and slaves in achieving freedom for their race, that is, freedom from oppression in the United States. However, it is not the purpose of the author merely to retell the histories of the Civil War and the Reconstruction. Rather, Du Bois book is based on the argument that the racist politics of America can be best understood with the theory of Marxism. With perfect command of the dialectics of Marxism, the author connects the exploitation of African slaves in America and the subjugation of black men in general with the rise of capitalism. He explains that it was the African worker, the cornerstone of the economic system that came to dominate the nineteenth century, who started civil war in the United States.
Du Bois is successful in describing the racial conflicts of America with the political framework he seems to have naturally selected, as he describes capitalism as the only way to profitably convert raw materials into finished goods, regardless of exploitation of workers. He states that worker exploitation is advantageous for the capitalist, and allows the reader to thoroughly understand that the struggle for freedom is only natural for the demoralized worker. According to the author, white people had been brainwashed to become racists racism being a belief system which states that individuals can be superior to others on the basis of race. But, there was an economic reason behind this. Du Bois states
The espousal of the doctrine of Negro inferiority by the South was primarily because of
economic motives and the inter-connected political urge necessary to support slave
industry. The South could say that the Negro, even when brought into modern
civilization, could not be civilized, and that, therefore, he and the other colored peoples of
the world were so far inferior to the whites that the white world had a right to rule mankind
for their own selfish interests. (Du Bois, p. 39)
When the white capitalist claimed that the black slave was too uncivilized to be treated in humane ways, he was, in fact, justifying exploitation of the slave, that is, a means for the capitalist to increase his revenues. So, in actual fact, the white man did not hate the black man simply because the latter belonged to a race different from his own. Du Bois explains racism as propaganda for increasing wealth. With this understanding, the author holds black slavery in America responsible for the suffering of the white working class, as the demand and supply of labor determine the average wage. According to the author,
The plight of the white working class throughout the world today is directly traceable to
Negro slavery in America, on which modern commerce and industry was founded, and
which persisted to threaten free labor. The resulting color caste founded and retained by
capitalism was adoptedand approved by white labor. (Du Bois, p. 30)
To put it another way, if the African slaves had not striven hard to free themselves from oppression at the hands of the American capitalist, the white worker would have also remained exploited in the workplace. In fact, Du Bois addresses the white worker in his book as though he were addressing the black slave thus
Have ye leisure, comfort, calm, Shelter, food, loves gentle balm Or what is it ye buy so dear With your pain and with your fear
The seed ye sow, another reaps
The wealth ye find, another keeps
The robes ye weave, another wears
The arms ye forge, another bears. (Du Bois, pp. 3031)
With this poem, addressing a race different from his own, the author further proves that racism has its roots in economic interests of the ruling, racist class, which may only pretend to hate workers for racist reasons, when, in fact, the truth is that such hate produces profits for the capitalist in the short run. In the long run, a class struggle must ensue, as Marxist philosophy predicts. After all, exploited workers are bound to start struggling for their human rights when they reach a pain threshold, beyond which there is no way not to complain.
Du Bois writes that there were tremendous profits made by white American capitalists as they exploited black workers. Yet, class struggle was inevitable, not only because black slaves reached a pain threshold but also because America was founded on the principles of equality and freedom. So, even though the black worker was highly advantageous for the white capitalist so long as the latter exploited and oppressed the slave for economic reasons, the status quo could not be maintained. The author further states that the white capitalist went on dreaming of increasing wealth by oppressing and exploiting poor black workers. In other words, freedom for the black slave was unimaginable at the time, unless, of course, the worker was determined to take responsibility for his condition and fight for his human rights.
As mentioned before, Du Bois maintains that the black worker played the most important role in helping the capitalist build the new economic system of the United States. Although the white worker was exploited, too, it was the black worker who suffered the greatest oppression for the reason of his importance to the economy. Quoting an observer of white workers of the time, Black Reconstruction in America reads,
For twenty years, I do not recollect ever to have seen or heard these non-slaveholding
whites referred to by the Southern gentlemen as constituting any part of what they called
the South. They were largely ignorant and degraded only 25 percent could read and write.
(Du Bois, p. 26)
Du Bois writes that the white workers used to go hungry for days. But, they too were brainwashed to hate black slaves. Furthermore, there was competition between the white and the black slaves, which the author describes as an additional impetus for the Civil War. According to Du Bois
The Negroes worked cheaply, partly from custom, partly as their only defense against
competition. The white laborers realized that Negroes were part of a group of millions of
workers who were slaves by law, and whose competition kept white labor out of the work
of the South and threatened its wages and stability in the North. (Du Bois, p. 19)
As the white laborers disapproved of black slavery, the constitution of the United States, that is, the very foundation of the American government disagreed with injustice and exploitation of black workers. Yet, it took a very long time and cost numerous lives for the blacks of America to actually attain freedom, including the right to vote in their country. Du Bois does not distort the official history of the Reconstruction by any means as he mentions statesmen and political parties creating hurdles in the process of democratizing America. These individuals and political parties could not accept the fact of white-black equality. They had been brainwashed to believe in the theory of racism. But, it is perfectly understandable that racial conflicts took a long time to resolve themselves. The ultimate struggle of the black slaves and their supporters to abolish slavery had led to political turmoil as the abolitionists had to struggle for the freedom of subjugated workers against those who wanted to maintain the status quo. Du Bois explains that the white laborers, too, had been brainwashed to maintain the status quo, despite the fact that black slavery threatened their livelihoods. According to the author,
The race element was emphasized in order that property-holders could get the support of
the majority of white laborers and make it more possible to exploit Negro labor. But the
race philosophy came as a new and terrible thing to make labor unity or labor class-
consciousness impossible. So long as the Southern white laborers could be induced to
prefer poverty to equality with the Negro, just so long was a labor movement in the South
made impossible. (Du Bois, p. 680)
Hence, the workers of America could not be united as the ruling class was united against the workers. By deliberately creating differences between the whites and the blacks working for him, the American capitalist was further seeking economic advantages from the theory of racism. Du Bois has rendered a great service to all people by exposing the American capitalists motives and means. After all, racism has not only led to much violence and genocide in the world, but this belief system may also reduce the power of the proletariat to unite against the bourgeoisie.
Of a certainty, therefore, Du Bois scholarly book, Black Reconstruction in America, must be recommended not only to students of history, economics and political science, but also labor unions. Understanding the tactics of the American capitalists to diminish the bargaining power of labor, the latter may easily find ways to unite themselves so as to change the status quo. Black Reconstruction in America is not only interesting to read but also provides much food for thought. For those who are already well-versed in the histories of the Civil War and Reconstruction, however, a fundamental question remains Is it possible to apply Marxist ideology without violence Unfortunately, the histories of the Civil War and Reconstruction as recounted by Du Bois are disconcerting. Then again, it is always possible to refine Marxist ideology such that it teaches workers to attain their goals nonviolently.
Hence, Du Bois history of the Civil War and Reconstruction is special. The author describes contributions of black freemen and slaves in achieving freedom for their race, that is, freedom from oppression in the United States. However, it is not the purpose of the author merely to retell the histories of the Civil War and the Reconstruction. Rather, Du Bois book is based on the argument that the racist politics of America can be best understood with the theory of Marxism. With perfect command of the dialectics of Marxism, the author connects the exploitation of African slaves in America and the subjugation of black men in general with the rise of capitalism. He explains that it was the African worker, the cornerstone of the economic system that came to dominate the nineteenth century, who started civil war in the United States.
Du Bois is successful in describing the racial conflicts of America with the political framework he seems to have naturally selected, as he describes capitalism as the only way to profitably convert raw materials into finished goods, regardless of exploitation of workers. He states that worker exploitation is advantageous for the capitalist, and allows the reader to thoroughly understand that the struggle for freedom is only natural for the demoralized worker. According to the author, white people had been brainwashed to become racists racism being a belief system which states that individuals can be superior to others on the basis of race. But, there was an economic reason behind this. Du Bois states
The espousal of the doctrine of Negro inferiority by the South was primarily because of
economic motives and the inter-connected political urge necessary to support slave
industry. The South could say that the Negro, even when brought into modern
civilization, could not be civilized, and that, therefore, he and the other colored peoples of
the world were so far inferior to the whites that the white world had a right to rule mankind
for their own selfish interests. (Du Bois, p. 39)
When the white capitalist claimed that the black slave was too uncivilized to be treated in humane ways, he was, in fact, justifying exploitation of the slave, that is, a means for the capitalist to increase his revenues. So, in actual fact, the white man did not hate the black man simply because the latter belonged to a race different from his own. Du Bois explains racism as propaganda for increasing wealth. With this understanding, the author holds black slavery in America responsible for the suffering of the white working class, as the demand and supply of labor determine the average wage. According to the author,
The plight of the white working class throughout the world today is directly traceable to
Negro slavery in America, on which modern commerce and industry was founded, and
which persisted to threaten free labor. The resulting color caste founded and retained by
capitalism was adoptedand approved by white labor. (Du Bois, p. 30)
To put it another way, if the African slaves had not striven hard to free themselves from oppression at the hands of the American capitalist, the white worker would have also remained exploited in the workplace. In fact, Du Bois addresses the white worker in his book as though he were addressing the black slave thus
Have ye leisure, comfort, calm, Shelter, food, loves gentle balm Or what is it ye buy so dear With your pain and with your fear
The seed ye sow, another reaps
The wealth ye find, another keeps
The robes ye weave, another wears
The arms ye forge, another bears. (Du Bois, pp. 3031)
With this poem, addressing a race different from his own, the author further proves that racism has its roots in economic interests of the ruling, racist class, which may only pretend to hate workers for racist reasons, when, in fact, the truth is that such hate produces profits for the capitalist in the short run. In the long run, a class struggle must ensue, as Marxist philosophy predicts. After all, exploited workers are bound to start struggling for their human rights when they reach a pain threshold, beyond which there is no way not to complain.
Du Bois writes that there were tremendous profits made by white American capitalists as they exploited black workers. Yet, class struggle was inevitable, not only because black slaves reached a pain threshold but also because America was founded on the principles of equality and freedom. So, even though the black worker was highly advantageous for the white capitalist so long as the latter exploited and oppressed the slave for economic reasons, the status quo could not be maintained. The author further states that the white capitalist went on dreaming of increasing wealth by oppressing and exploiting poor black workers. In other words, freedom for the black slave was unimaginable at the time, unless, of course, the worker was determined to take responsibility for his condition and fight for his human rights.
As mentioned before, Du Bois maintains that the black worker played the most important role in helping the capitalist build the new economic system of the United States. Although the white worker was exploited, too, it was the black worker who suffered the greatest oppression for the reason of his importance to the economy. Quoting an observer of white workers of the time, Black Reconstruction in America reads,
For twenty years, I do not recollect ever to have seen or heard these non-slaveholding
whites referred to by the Southern gentlemen as constituting any part of what they called
the South. They were largely ignorant and degraded only 25 percent could read and write.
(Du Bois, p. 26)
Du Bois writes that the white workers used to go hungry for days. But, they too were brainwashed to hate black slaves. Furthermore, there was competition between the white and the black slaves, which the author describes as an additional impetus for the Civil War. According to Du Bois
The Negroes worked cheaply, partly from custom, partly as their only defense against
competition. The white laborers realized that Negroes were part of a group of millions of
workers who were slaves by law, and whose competition kept white labor out of the work
of the South and threatened its wages and stability in the North. (Du Bois, p. 19)
As the white laborers disapproved of black slavery, the constitution of the United States, that is, the very foundation of the American government disagreed with injustice and exploitation of black workers. Yet, it took a very long time and cost numerous lives for the blacks of America to actually attain freedom, including the right to vote in their country. Du Bois does not distort the official history of the Reconstruction by any means as he mentions statesmen and political parties creating hurdles in the process of democratizing America. These individuals and political parties could not accept the fact of white-black equality. They had been brainwashed to believe in the theory of racism. But, it is perfectly understandable that racial conflicts took a long time to resolve themselves. The ultimate struggle of the black slaves and their supporters to abolish slavery had led to political turmoil as the abolitionists had to struggle for the freedom of subjugated workers against those who wanted to maintain the status quo. Du Bois explains that the white laborers, too, had been brainwashed to maintain the status quo, despite the fact that black slavery threatened their livelihoods. According to the author,
The race element was emphasized in order that property-holders could get the support of
the majority of white laborers and make it more possible to exploit Negro labor. But the
race philosophy came as a new and terrible thing to make labor unity or labor class-
consciousness impossible. So long as the Southern white laborers could be induced to
prefer poverty to equality with the Negro, just so long was a labor movement in the South
made impossible. (Du Bois, p. 680)
Hence, the workers of America could not be united as the ruling class was united against the workers. By deliberately creating differences between the whites and the blacks working for him, the American capitalist was further seeking economic advantages from the theory of racism. Du Bois has rendered a great service to all people by exposing the American capitalists motives and means. After all, racism has not only led to much violence and genocide in the world, but this belief system may also reduce the power of the proletariat to unite against the bourgeoisie.
Of a certainty, therefore, Du Bois scholarly book, Black Reconstruction in America, must be recommended not only to students of history, economics and political science, but also labor unions. Understanding the tactics of the American capitalists to diminish the bargaining power of labor, the latter may easily find ways to unite themselves so as to change the status quo. Black Reconstruction in America is not only interesting to read but also provides much food for thought. For those who are already well-versed in the histories of the Civil War and Reconstruction, however, a fundamental question remains Is it possible to apply Marxist ideology without violence Unfortunately, the histories of the Civil War and Reconstruction as recounted by Du Bois are disconcerting. Then again, it is always possible to refine Marxist ideology such that it teaches workers to attain their goals nonviolently.
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