"Black No More" In the novel Black No More, written by George S. Schuyler, who focuses his theme on racism in the 1930’s, between so-called pure whites, and black Americans and their racial fight for justice and acceptance. Black No More is a fictional story. In the novel white Americans were, consider smarter, they were richer, lived in a more advanced community then the black Americans. Blacks were considered the weaker race; their community was not as moderate or advanced. Around this time blacks were considered to be the inferior race. They were thought to have an inferior mentality and morality. The whites considered themselves as the superior race; the more intelligent and sophisticated beings in America. Racism was very popular in those days, and every black American was willing to do anything to become white. Even the thought of becoming white encouraged them to want to change their appearance to become a white American. “Sure it was taking a chance, but think of getting white in three days! No more Jim Crow. No more insult. As a white man he could go anywhere, be anything he wanted to be, do almost anything he wanted to do, be a free man at last.” (Schuyler 10). White Americans seemed to be the most dominant, popular, and the most intelligent race; only because whites made it seem that way. The white Americans in this novel felt that blacks were “dirtying” up their country because they were not a pure race. Majority of whites felt that “pure white” Americans have the right to govern their society and community, and be called American citizens, but in reality majority of the Caucasians in this novel wasn’t pure white themselves. George S. Schuyler created a story that is not only based on comical themes, but also realistic values and beliefs among white and black race. Both race had a need of acceptance based on their cultural values and skin color, and a need for justice in their community. "If everyone in the “Aframerican” race was introduced to a scientific development that would turn every dark American white, would there still be any racial problems?" (Schuyler back cover).
George S. Schuyler, a critic who contributed to the African-American literature during the Harlem Renaissance. He became one of this country’s most eminent black journalists. He published an autobiography entitled Black and Conservative. He also wrote occasional articles to the Honolulu Commercial Advertiser. He later joined the staff of The Messenger, the organization’s official magazines. He became involved with the Friends of Negro Freedom, a black socialist group. He also published fictional novels based upon race relations to the Courier Black Empire (Schuyler v-vii).
This novel plays on the Ethos of America society; as well as the values and beliefs of Americas citizens during the 1930’s and now. African Americans can relate to this novel in many ways. Around the 1930’s in America history blacks were being discriminated against as well as tortured and threatened because of their skin color. Majority was killed, beaten, and put into jails, because whites felt their culture was being threatened by the darker skin colored people. This novel plays on the Ethos of American society because most Americans can relate to the feeling of not being accepted into their own community or society. African Americans have to work harder in order to obtain half of what the white Americans race has. By looking at African American history, one can recognize the struggles of these American’s in a white society. The African Americans were put into slavery, killed just because of their skin color, their living conditions was horrible, and educationally they were not academically strong. Looking back at this history touches many African Americans emotionally as well as personally. Moreover, even some whites weren’t accepted into America society because they weren’t “pure whites”, they didn’t have blond hair and blue eyes, and therefore, they too were being discriminated against. Schuyler ethos is created through comical but heart touching and familiar themes related to America history.
Based upon the issue among the two races, African American were considered to be inferior towards the Caucasian race, as a result black Americans was strongly willing to change their natural appearance of having all their ancestral black features under one surgical treatment disappear forever. To be a part of the American society and to be accepted by the white race; demonstrates the desperation and belonging of the black race in America society. Dr. Crookman, a scientist in the novel who created the “Black No More” treatment says, “My sociology teacher had once said that there were three ways for the Negro to solve his problem in America; to either get out, get white, or get along.” (Schuyler 11). In reality these themes plays on a major role in the development and values of American culture and history. In today's world there's still that fight for acceptance, although it may not be as demanded as it was in the year's 1930's-1960's. African Americans back then and now are beginning to take more pride in their culture as well as their skin color. They are not looking towards other race for acceptance; they are now looking among themselves for self-satisfaction, pride, and a feeling of belonging; as well as the Caucasians.
The central character is a man named Max Disher; an African American who lived in the 1930’s “Black Harlem. He worked as an Aframerican Fire Insurance Company crack agent. In his days, African American; especially the darker skin tones, would do and give anything to be a white American; since they have been treated so badly and unfairly among the white Americans. It was just their luck a scientist named Dr. Junius Crookman, created a scientific development that would turn blacks white, and that would change the racial view of America society. Dr. Crookman created, “Black No More,” treatment, and every dark skin person went down to his sanitarium in Harlem to not only observe, but also to volunteer in this revolutionary development. Max Disher was the first person in Harlem to volunteer for the treatment, and he was satisfied with the results; him and many others.
No one could tell whether an individual was a “pure white” or a black turned into a white person by the treatment. Even the offspring of these individual could be turned white by the “Black No More” treatment. Max later moved to Atlanta, changed his name to Mathew Fisher and married a white woman named Helen Givens. Helens father was “The Imperial Grand Wizard” of the Nights of Nordica’s association. Mathew joined this group, although he didn’t share the same beliefs as the people in the group. He became one of the prominent leaders of this group. Individuals in this group were mesmerized by his speeches and his “seemed” dedication. The group members of the Nights of Nordica’s association wanted to popularized the “pure white” race, and they felt they were the best, and that all other race especially blacks, and mixed races was invading and weakening the America race, because of their impurity. “White skin was a sure indication of the possession of superior intellectual and moral qualities; that all Negroes were inferior to them; that God had intended for the United States to be a white man’s country” (Schuyler 55). Come to find out majority of the group members weren’t pure white themselves, most had Negro ancestors, down the line in their family tree. They were upset, worried, and cautious about this, because they too would be discriminated against because they were not “pure whites”. Even Givens the group leader was not pure white.
As a result, base upon the Black No More treatment; Dr. Crookman realizes that Black No More not only turned black skin color white, but this treatment also made these individual have a lighter and paler complexion then the white people. “The old Caucasians had never been really white but rather were pale pink shading down to a sand color and a red. Even when an old Caucasian contracted the vitiligo; a skin condition that turns individual skin color lighter, he pointed out, the skin became much lighter.” (Schuyler 177). These individuals became self-conscious, and also was threatened, and discriminated against and they didn’t like it. “They protested vehemently against the effort on the part of employers to pay them less and on the part of the management of public institutions to segregate them.” (Schuyler 177). As a result, Mrs. Sari Blandine created a skin pigment cream that would darken and tan the pale whites. This was popular because anybody who didn’t have this skin color was considered poor and not intelligent.
Considering the author’s belief and knowledge of America history and the social situation on racism, this novel plays on the beliefs and cultural values of American citizens in the 1930’s. The author recognizes that if there really was a scientific method that can change the race line, making every individual the same race, will there still be prejudice and racism? Of course the ideal of this method might be the key solution to end racist, but in reality not even a scientific method stated in this novel end racial discrimination. For instance, there are different shades of black American, which are light skin, darker skin, caramel skin, light brown, and etc. And even among the black race darker skin may discriminate against the lighter skin black person and vice versa thinking they are better, more intelligent, and have more class then the other. Just like in the novel Black No More at the end of the story, Dr. Crookman realized that the black people who turned white because of treatment was whiter then the average white person, as a result, the Caucasians began discriminating among the paler colored whites who didn’t have blue eyes; segregating their institutions and lowering their income wages. They too had to fight for justice and acceptance in their community. Therefore, there isn’t a real solution to end racial profiles, because even among an individual race there will always be discrimination.
