Project Gutenberg
2020-04-12
Public domain in the USA.
175
Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders)
1906
1988
Redding, Saunders
Redding, Jay Saunders
On Being Negro in America
Produced by Richard Tonsing, Tim Lindell, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
book was produced from images made available by the
HathiTrust Digital Library.)
"On Being Negro in America" by J. Saunders Redding is a personal essay written in the mid-20th century. The work delves into the complex experience of being Black in America, exploring themes of identity, race relations, and societal expectations. Through intimate reflections, Redding articulates the psychological burden that accompanies being a member of a marginalized group, expressing a desire for understanding and personal freedom. The opening of the essay sets the stage for Redding's personal narrative, as he discusses the dual consciousness he feels as a Black man in America—a constant awareness of himself as both an individual and as part of a larger racial identity. He recounts a harrowing incident witnessed through his classroom window, reflecting on the emotions of pity and a troubling sense of satisfaction that the victim was white. This moment illustrates the internal conflict that arises from systemic oppression and ingrained societal tensions. Redding grapples with the idea that his identity as a Negro shapes his perceptions, responses, and actions, blending personal experience with broader societal critiques. Ultimately, he seeks to express the urgency of confronting these challenges to pursue a deeper understanding of his humanity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 60.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
en
United States -- Race relations
African Americans -- Race identity
Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988
E151
Text
Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
Category: American Literature
Category: Sociology
245413
2025-07-24T12:32:39.538046
text/html
221236
2024-10-17T17:29:01
text/html
184678
2025-07-24T12:32:44.345003
application/epub+zip
182570
2025-07-24T12:32:40.776034
application/epub+zip
175453
2025-07-24T12:32:40.270026
application/epub+zip
239408
2025-07-24T12:32:47.261004
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
213483
2025-07-24T12:32:43.842024
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
206695
2022-09-27T22:46:14.088973
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
216146
2025-07-24T12:32:39.167057
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
196195
2024-10-17T17:29:01
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
17225
2025-07-24T12:32:47.399012
application/rdf+xml
12784
2025-07-24T12:32:40.342070
image/jpeg
2829
2025-07-24T12:32:40.306028
image/jpeg
147536
2025-07-24T12:32:39.562049
application/octet-stream
application/zip
Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at
https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog
en.wikipedia