Horatio Alger Article Summary: The Race For Equality

Naarai King
Prof. Stein
ENGL 1301-062
5 December 2013 (Final Draft)
The Race for Equality
In discussions of race, one controversial issue has been on whether or not racism still exists. On one hand, Ken Hamblin’s The Black Avenger believes that racism no longer exists because he is living proof that America works for black people, and that African-Americans have an equal opportunity of obtaining the American Dream. The Horatio Alger myth states “each of us is judged solely based on [one’s] own merits, we each have a fair opportunity to develop those merits and ultimately, merit will out” (304). On the contrary, Harlon L. Dalton’s Horatio Alger article contends that myth and that racism still exists. Racism involves the belief in racial differences, which acts as a
justification for non-equal treatment which some regard as "discrimination" of members of that race.
The term is commonly used negatively and is usually associated with race-based prejudices, dislikes, discrimination, violence, and/or oppression. Although I agree with both Ken Hamblin and Harlon L. Dalton on certain points, I cannot accept Ken Hamblin’s overall conclusion that racism no longer exists. I undoubtedly agree with more of what is said in the Horatio Alger article that racism is still well and alive. I fully support the conclusion that both parties should take accountability of the nation’s racial issues. White Americans and some Black Americans believe that the American Dream is obtainable now that opportunities are now afforded to African-Americans. In America, African-Americans have sought to be successful however, it has not been based solely off of merit due to privilege, guilt, racial and social barriers that are still prevalent in America. Although White America has opened up opportunities to Black Americans, they have been unequal and biased to the black community. White America should
take into consideration the merit, educational background and values of eligible candidates.
Stereotypes surrounded by the different cultures tend to often cause division among races. Stereotypes are exaggerations of people or individual groups widely circulated in certain societies. In the U. S., for example, racial groups are linked to stereotypes such as excelling at mathematics, dancing, athletics, and so forth. Dalton discusses how black people are underestimated and uses the example that African-Americans or Asian-Americans are praised for how well they articulate when they communicate in Standard English. People of color are placed within very small and limited categories as it is attributed to social expectations of their intellect, educational levels, work ethics, and overall appearances. Dalton also mentions how African-Americans also “view White people through a prism of our own race-based expectations” (305). Hamblin’s Myth of the Hobbled Black he states that “African-Americans are helplessly victimized by past and present racial discrimination, that few blacks are successful in America, that blacks can’t make it without special assistance” (2).The majority of black America is not in abundance of what he describes as “poverty pimps” and “welfare queens” although they do exist. For him to believe that black middle-class Americans are afraid to celebrate their success as educated and sophisticated Americans is absurd. Hamblin fully supports the notion that America has opened its full society and culture to us and that the American Dream is truly accessible to all black citizens. I observed that neither Dalton nor Hamblin ever describe as to what the American Dream entails. What is the American Dream? Every version of the American Dream is different and not everyone has dreams and aspirations to be Obama or Oprah.
Although there are opportunities afforded to African-Americans it does not necessarily mean that the opportunity is equal. Dalton, a professor at Yale Law School, mentions what is called “the best black syndrome” which is described as ‘the tendency of White Americans to judge successful Black people only in relation to each other rather than against all comers” (304). Hamblin, a famed radio talk show host and author, however, states that “today’s opportunities exist for any American man or woman willing to pursue it” (3) yet does not provide evidence other than the fact that he himself is a successful black man. On the contrary, Dalton acknowledges the racial caste system to be “a system to promote and maintain inequality” (308), and questions whether or not race would be a disadvantage if black people acquired the necessary tools to reach their full potential. Even people who desire to treat all races equally may still have some unconscious prejudices, which subtly affect their actions and reasoning.
The American society allows their ideologies and opinions to be shaped by the images portrayed in the media. Members of certain ethnic groups are constantly portrayed and characterized unfavorably in the media. Certain ethnic groups are expected to act a certain way according to the media 's stereotypical expectations of how members of their defined racial or ethnic groups represent themselves. Take for example through which the media played a very instrumental role in how George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin were depicted. This case developed a national debate referencing racial profiling and self-defense laws. While the media continually publicizes stereotypical and negative views and images of ethnicity or people of color, the media rarely promotes peace and unity among various racial and ethnic groups in America. This leads to separatism amongst members of society and it promotes segregation.
Hamblin suggests that minority groups have the most to gain by continually reminding white citizens of the hardships of poverty, racism and second-class citizenship in America. He states that blacks refused to compete on the collegiate level due to them being afraid and that the feeling of discrimination is self-imposed by xenophobic Blacks because they choose to isolate themselves. Hamblin believes that Blacks are a flawed and lost people if they are not willing to cut a deal with the average white Americans who are apologizing for the past. Certainly he doesn’t think that his made up “Certificate of Absolution” will do the trick. Dalton declares that the Alger myth “encourages people to blink at the many barriers to racial equality (historical, structural, and institutional) that litter the social landscape” (307). Discrimination is not self-imposed and is not just about race, but can also be based off age, gender, education, sexuality, religion, class, beauty, family and physical ability. It can be argued that a number of African-Americans are ignorant, careless and unwilling to work. I have concluded this due to the lack of uneducated remarks that are constantly being made as well as actions that are continuously being displayed out in public. Hamblin believes racism is no longer a factor because African-Americans are afforded the same opportunities and have the ability to stand on their own. Despite both authors having different viewpoints, they both recognize that when one focuses on one’s own circumstances there is a possibility that opportunities can pass them by. I believe that everyone is afforded an opportunity to achieve success however; certain resources may not be as accessible as others in order to achieve that outcome. For example, some students may excel in areas such as academics, sports or music in which may open up doors to receive scholarships and/or internships, while others may choose to enlist into the military for their own personal reasons in which allows possibilities for travel and/or relocation. Overall the end result will be based off students decisions made at a certain chapter in their lives.
In conclusion, when it comes to the topic of racism, the majority of us will readily agree with Dalton that there is no doubt racism amongst our society, not just with white people but all races. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of does it still exist since there is a large amount of successful African-Americans in media and politics. Whereas some individuals like Hamblin who are convinced of the belief that racism no longer exists, many individuals still hold unsaid biases against people who are not of the same race. I believe the conscious and unconscious bigotry of individuals still has an apparent effect on race relations in the United States today.

Works Cited

Dalton, Harlon L. "Horatio Alger." n.d.: 303-309. Print
Hamblin, Ken. "The Black Avenger." n.d.: 1-5. Print