Ulrich B Phillips And Eugene Genovese example essay topic

Many African Americans today are challenged daily with a new obstacle. Simple routines such as progressing in school, finding work, or even finding a place to live have been made more difficult for the Black people. The question to ask would be who takes the blame, if blame can be placed on anyone? In the introduction to the Black Odyssey the author, Nathan Huggins, begins to outline how American history commenced with ignorance towards the African American experience up until recent research into American slavery. In using the concept of the master narrative, references such as Ulrich B. Phillips, and Eugene Genovese, American history has provided a cushion to ease the white conscience, provide an explanation for white supremacy, and set a framework for our integrated society in which further studies of American slavery and African American culture would still be considered an attachment to the development of our United States of America. As Nathan Huggins points out in the beginning of the text, up until about 15 years ago African Americans were, just short of, ignored in the development of American history.

Even then, slavery has been the most researched topic for Black studies. Ulrich B. Philips' persona of the slaveholder as a paternal figure in the life of the slave provides a start to examine the cushion built to soothe any white man's aching conscience. In history there have been many assumptions made by historians who in turn have persuaded the way Americans thinks. One assumption made, since the arrival of Africans, was that Africans were racially and culturally inferior to any White person. Philips portrays the slaveholder as "noblesse oblige" (Huggins, pg. xxi). This allows the slaveholder to be seemingly giving.

It immediately dismisses any possible wrong doings of the good slaveholder and replaces it with sympathy for their burdens of the Black man. Philips ideas reflect that "Slavery was, to him, a school from which, at some future time, persons of African descent might be graduated into some form of freedom". (Huggins pg. xxi). With such writers, with the same foundation for thinking as Phillips, polluting the impressionable minds of the early twentieth century a cushion was set in place.

In such a crucial developmental stage of our country it was understood why it was okay to see Blacks as inferior. White supremacy has been a developed defense mechanism for Whites throughout all history and has been no exception in the history by our 'Founding Fathers'. Eugene Genovese's examines class as the final distinction of the two races. Genovese's ideas coincide with that of Phillips. The paternal burden is consistent. Genovese takes it even further by proposing that the Old South was simply a neo feudal system innately making the slaveholders responsible for forming the world of the slave.

This is progress in that it recognizes the one that held the power as the one who shaped the lives of the slave. Genovese's evaluation of slavery did acknowledge the need to understand the slave, but thought it could only be understood by looking form the top down. Unfortunately, the progress is halted by the cushion provided by Phillips, which states that there was a nurturing life that was provided. If, in fact, the slaveholder was a paternal figure to the slave, then it supports the idea that grown Black men were under developed and inferior. They were simply bred to be that way. They were taught to be child like and stay in that or lesser form.

Although it was clearly understood that the upper class not only had responsibility, but the power over society as the text shows "They were open and forthright in their consciousness of class, seeing in class struggle the principal threat to order". (Huggins pg. xxvi) Thus, White supremacy is the framework for the defense against possible integration with the Africans or an uprising of the race. The master narrative presides in a subtle manner even today. It is how our history has been written and has been the basis of our culture. To throw out 400 years of history would be inconceivable. Although, for 400 years and more, lies have been told to mold a great nation, which may fall to its knees some day for these faults.

The master narrative is conceptualized by Huggins as America's history as told from one perspective. That one perspective begins with our Founding Fathers and is perpetuated by those made in the likeness of the Founding Fathers. Ulrich B. Phillips along with Eugene Genovese and countless other have all helped construct the master narrative and create the greatest paradox. It has framed our nation on life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the "American dogma of automatic progress... ". (Huggins pg. x ).

The exemption of Blacks as being monumental has preempted other Americans to undervalue the contributions of African Americans. Slowly, but surely, we are learning of our 'dark past' and when it is fully understood societies social margins will have to be reevaluated. To construct such a paradox for 400 years insures stability in these ideals. Therefore the master narrative has continued. But if there is an end to the paradox, it may indicate the fall of a great nation. To suffice the needs of one group of man, another was enslaved.

Just as the arrival of the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock was documented, slavery was too. It has been polished and finished to appease Anglo-Saxon agendas. Explanations, such as Phillips, have made harsh realities easy to bear. Genovese depicts a culture that was burdening to the White man as well as necessary.

The text supports that Genovese thought "The culture of slavery preempted capitalistic decision making". This is impossible. Slaves were not captures of war and therefore were brought to America for a purpose. It certainly was not to make a cultured and refined group of people to inhabit our new land.

Nonetheless, this is all a part of our country's master narrative, also referred to as history. Since it is a universal belief that we learn form our past, what we have learned is the frame our society works in. We have learned to accept our position of inferiority defended by White supremacy and pacified by those making excuses for the past 400 years. Until we, as Americans, learn the truth the paradox still stands.