Black Empire

First off it pisses me off that the title of each chapter completely gives away the main concept discussed within the section. Kind of spoils what is going to happen next.

Schuyler convey's Dr. Belsidus as a highly intellectual African American male who wants to gain control over the white Supremecy through this strong "Black Internationale" that contains a large amount of African American's around the world. The piece within the novel that I wanted to focus on was Dr. Belsidus's speech on page 110. Throughout his speech Dr. Belsidus encourages his people that they deserve the ability to achieve equality to the white man being that they have encountared in various machinary tasks that the white man claim to hold above them. Dr. Belsidus presents this uplift when he states, "Today you have the power of the white man in your hands. Great Kings! No longer must you bear oppression and fear the floggers. For you are the brothers and comrades of one who is greater than the white man. White man makes guns, I make guns..." (110). At this point Belsidus allows for his audience to gain ground with the opportunities that they should be entitled to as they are equally capable of producing the same products as the white. I find it interesting that the pride in HIM being the one to make the guns, bullets, being rich as well as countless other aspects is not fully his work. He is the master mind behind the whole Black Empire and provides the finances and intellect to devise such an incredible plan but it is the people within that actually aid him to achieve the greatness of plane's, buildings, temples, farms, etc.

Schuyler seems to parallel the position of Dr. Belsidus to Garveyism being a nationalist and a strong part of the black national movement. Throughout the book Dr. Belsidus makes a point to make his race and the struggles they have forgoed a prominate goal to become superior above the white man.
"We shall not fight, kill and enslave black man. We shall free black men and make them great" (111). Just like Garvey, Belsidus' intent in redeeming this African Continet in hopes to bring his people to freedom. The method of nationhood is strong within this book because it is with the assistance of countless African Americans that have allowed him to go forth with his plan.


Do you think that Schuyler is suggesting that race is a problem? Is Miss Grivens portrayed as a step towards equality between man and women? Find supporting detail within the text to support your answer.

Is Schuyler trying to convey a larger message as the issue aside from race? Why do you think he parallel's Dr. Belsidus's plan extrememly close to Garvey's?