Englich Final Paper

Tianna Marshall

Professor G. Batson

English 112

8 October 2017

        When it comes to Dominance and Resistance, James Baldwin and Malcolm X both have similar experiences. Whether its James Baldwin’s experience with his father, who allowed the power of white people to dominate his life, or Malcolm X who let the control of white people to influence him to want to learn to read and write. Both Baldwin and X allowed white supremacy to influence their lives.

        In James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” he experienced dominance firsthand, unlike Malcolm X. Baldwin witnessed his father die with hatred in his heart. He later realized after his father’s death, racism was becoming a big part of his life. For example, Baldwin wrote about a time where he was turned away from multiple diners him and his friend tried to attend. While Baldwin gave a background story on the racism he encountered, Malcolm wrote, about his reading novels while incarcerated changed the way he viewed the white man.

        With Malcolm X’s “Learning to read” X constantly wrote about how white people have done nothing but destroy and degrade the black man. Malcolm’s words became cruel toward the white man. While Baldwin wrote a narrative essay, Malcolm wrote an informative essay.

        In conclusion, Baldwin and Malcolm both gave their views and experiences with racism in their childhood and in their adult lives. Whether it personally or experience from reading novels.