The Next Visionary?
Macon from Angry Black White Boy has
pretty obviously shown most readers that he considers himself to be somewhat of
a visionary or catalyst for change in society. In his eyes, the rest of society
and the world should've arrived at the conclusions he's came to a while back.
To him (and some of us), it's only common sense that minorities have been
oppressed in society. Whether or not we'd go to the extent that he goes to in
the story (ex. robbing white people at gunpoint, going public with your crimes
to raise awareness of the injustices you see, etc.) But there's no denying that
at the core of his actions and thoughts, Macon has some pretty valid points.
I’m willing to go out on a limb and say
that most of us would consider his actions based on his thoughts to be a little
– I dunno, extreme? At the same time
though, haven’t most of the famous visionaries and activists we’ve heard of and
been taught about in schools been considered at least somewhat radical in their
visions and actions for their time? Many of the amazing people and visionaries
that have helped shape and improve the world we live in today were considered
radical in what they were trying to promote.
We don’t think their ideas are crazy or
radical at all present day. I’m willing to assume that at least a good majority
of people in society agree with Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea that people
should “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.” Yet, King’s ideas were considered so radical at the time he was
alive that it prompted James Earl Ray to assassinate Mr. King. Who knows? Maybe
Macon’s ideas and actions are going to considered perfectly acceptable or even
the norm of the future.
Very interesting post. I think I agree with a lot of what your saying. If someone like Macon Detournay started spewing this kind of rhetoric today, the media and the general public might brush him off as some crazy. Yet embedded within all the hypocrisy is some really good points, and if nothing else Macon makes me think. He makes me think a lot about race in America, and how little I know.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would necessarily say that King was assassinated for being too radical, but I do agree that many visionaries are radical in their time, mainly due to the nature of the word "visionary:" they have a vision of the future, and it's usually not something other people are visualizing. However, in Macon's case, he in ways is similar to Malcolm X in his more extreme actions as you mentioned. In this way, he is different from the aforementioned visionaries, as his radicalness comes from actions, not words.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Macon has a progressive vision for the time, but I think that the way in which he is trying to spread his vision is naive, and separates him from the truly great visionaries of history. He seems to think that everything he does that goes against the grain has a profound impact and makes people question racial roles in the country. Whereas, in reality he is just robbing people in his cab and blowing up police cars.
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