In Of One Blood by Pauline Hopkins we eventually find out that Reuel is of mixed blood being white and black, using his lighter skin to his advantage in order to obtain a higher status within society passing as a white male. This ultimately displays that Reuel is disconnected from his African American roots due to his persistence to identify himself as an Anglo-Saxon. Reuel's relation to his love Dianthe, is quite similar being more so allowed to project her identity as a white due to her remarkable beauty in sake of her class and eventually for their marriage. Reuel's disguising of his black origin soon becomes of existence when his friend Aubrey brings question to Reuel about the changes that would occur if his identity is revealed, "This infernal prejudice is something horrible. It closes the door of hope and opportunity in many a good man's face" (58). Aubrey then goes forth to manipulate Reuel to seek a higher fortune and head to African in order to aid with the medical support they need. Although Aubrey is coming off as looking out for Briggs, his awareness of identity plays as a uncovered threat to gain his desire of Dianthe and loses her power, "In vain the girl sought to throw off the numbing influence of the man's presence. In desperation she tried to defy him, but she knew that she had lost her will-power and was but a puppet in the hands of this false friend" (69). With Aubrey's control over knowing her containing African American blood, he uses this to his advantage resulting in her being like mentioned, a puppet without desire to free from him.
It seems that Hopkins is trying to convey the message of not forgetting where you came from and how easy one can reject one side of their race as an advantage to society. Hopkin's also poses that people of mixed races often get caught up in assimilating with the dominate race in order to gain societal normality. Hopkins seems to try and promote a healthy image of taking pride in being apart of the black race rather than denoting it's existence however, chooses to depict Dianthe and Reuel as a symbol of maybe confusion between races and not being fully accepted by either race if they presented their racial origin. The title Of One Blood seems to destruct from obtaining equality between races in that maybe one day everyone will be Of One Blood with the characters Dianthe and Reuel being a prime representation of the future.
It seems that Hopkins is trying to convey the message of not forgetting where you came from and how easy one can reject one side of their race as an advantage to society. Hopkin's also poses that people of mixed races often get caught up in assimilating with the dominate race in order to gain societal normality. Hopkins seems to try and promote a healthy image of taking pride in being apart of the black race rather than denoting it's existence however, chooses to depict Dianthe and Reuel as a symbol of maybe confusion between races and not being fully accepted by either race if they presented their racial origin. The title Of One Blood seems to destruct from obtaining equality between races in that maybe one day everyone will be Of One Blood with the characters Dianthe and Reuel being a prime representation of the future.
I find this reoccurring concept of the mulatto being interesting as some of these ideas seem to be carried over even today. Being a mulatto myself, I do not consider myself one race over the other and when asked ethnicity I say that I am black AND white. I find that it would be degrading to my parents if I chose one over the other because that would denote one of my parents from being part of the creating of who I am.
If you were in a situation where you could pass as a Anglo-Saxon in times of slavery would you?
What do you think was Hopkin's intent to title this sci-fi novel Of One Blood ? Where do you see concrete detail within the text that suggest her reasoning for doing so?
what happens in the end?
ReplyDelete