James Baldwin: "No One Hold Power Forever" -Hanna Hasan

Hanna Hasan
May 8, 2018

CULTURAL INTERPRETATIONS:

"No One Holds Power Forever"

      In James Baldwin's "The Price of the Ticket" (1985) story, the idea of infinity becomes evident through history's repetition. Baldwin questions the concept freedom by claiming "And, after all, one can give freedom only by setting someone free" (371) stating that even white people themselves are still not free, despite acting like they do so. In fact, no one is really free until they relinquish their greed and selfish ego according to Baldwin. 

         Ironically, Baldwin implies that "the negro" is more free than the white man has ever been in spite of the white man's fear of the "negro man": "But white Americans do not believe in death, and this is why the darkness of my skin intimidates them" (373). One of the wisest words from Baldwin explain that humans must celebrate and rejoice the concept of death and not fear it and deny the fact using religion, spirits, churches, prayers, etc. to conceal it's inevitable reality. 


        One aspect of Baldwin's writing that admires and amazes me so much includes his wokeness on realizing and highlighting the endless, infinite cycle of power: "The only thing white people have that black people need; or should want, is power-- and no one holds onto power forever" (375). Even the strongest kingdoms and empires centuries ago did not last forever, because in the end, time defeats us all, and Baldwin is aware of this. Instead of criticizing the materialistic and petty actions of white people, he instead calls out their foolishness and stupidity on their mentality of "white superiority" and "endless power." 

        Baldwin also states that "The American Negro has the great advantage of having never believed that collection of myths to which white Americans cling; that their ancestors were all freedom-loving heroes.." (377) because although society overall has obviously become advanced in thinking, the bloody and disgusting past of white brutality will never be forgotten, no matter how hard some white people try to deny it or claim that it was "so long ago." 


       My favorite quote from Baldwin's passage was "Color is not a human or a personal reality; it is a political reality" (379) since I find it so absurd how people have fought over the COLOR of a skin since almost the dawn of colonialism when really it means nothing and should mean nothing, because in the end, we are all just HUMANS.