West African American Identity Analysis

In this synthesis I will discuss the quotes from Yaeger, Soto, Fanon, and Davis. Both Yaeger’s and Soto’s quotations parallel one another in a way in which the laborer is dehumanized. The slave or laborer no longer has an identity to him or her, but is instead just a faceless human who performs labor-intensive duties to provide for him or herself or to the family. Yaeger describes the slaves in the triangular trade just as flesh, not an actual human being, therefore accentuating the loss in the sense of identity to each slave. The “flesh” on the slave ship is nothing more than just an object that can be overworked and thrown out once it no longer functions. The white-man/owners do not care for this loss because there is an excess of the supply of slaves coming in from West Africa. Soto’s character is a lot like the slaves that Yaeger illustrates because the Chicano is overworked and suffers from fatigue much like the slaves do in the New World. Mexicans come into the Americas looking for a new living and a new source of income, and they sometimes have no other choice but to settle for such a labor-intensive job. The Chicano is overcome with such fatigue and emptiness that they begin to strip their own sense of identity from themselves. Both the slaves and Chicanos focus on one thing, and that is the prospect of a
new workday. Fanon’s quotation mirrors Yaeger’s and Soto’s quotations in which the laborer, or the human working under the white-man, is not only lethargic, but also envious.
The laborer looks up to the white-man and catches a glimpse of a life that he or she wishes to have, but instead has the fate of working endlessly in a field due to the color of skin. A stripped sense of identity leads these laborers to long for a table to sit at, or a bed to sleep on with a loved one. The envy generated from the colonized man further strips away any residue of the soul within the laborer. The laborer is left with just an empty shell longing to be filled with endless
commodities. Lastly, Davis’ quote ties into the prior three because all of the laborers share the same fate of a lethargic life due to skin color. This racial disparity creates margins within the economy, therefore allowing white people to be richer and receive a higher income than those who are of a darker skin tone. The racial disparity also further dehumanizes the people of color because those of color seem to be looked at with disgust if they were to be honored or valorized for an action that is usually executed by the white businessman. Colored people are looked down upon in the workforce and are immorally expected to not perform as well – whether the setting is academic, domestic, or professional – as those with a fair complexion. This lower standard of performance for colored people strips away at their self-identity and ability to showcase their skills. They are looked to as just another colored person who is insignificant to the world. This immoral judgment and history is fuel for Davis to begin a social movement for those who are treated unequally in the world.