A Feeling of Vengeance

                Guitar, up to now a discrete and subtle character when discussing racism, experiences a complete change in personality in this section of the book. He becomes part of a very exclusive society of African Americans that are organized to kill whites as a form of vengeance for the killing of blacks. In it very interesting to see the calmness with which Guitar presents his new role and the importance he gives to certain of its characteristics. For example, the fact that the members of this organization do not give importance to who or how the killing was done, just that it happened. Also, it is important to highlight that the resentment does not go only to the whites that have murdered African Americans, but to all the white population in general. This can be seen when Guitar states, “It doesn’t matter who did it. Each and every one of them could do it. So you just get any one of them” (p. 155).

            In Booker T. Washington’s speech, he declares that African Americans can be very good citizens and quite helpful community members if they were given the opportunity to be so. Washington presents the problem from a positive point of view, stating what benefits could be attained if African Americans were given the same privileges as whites. On the contrary, Guitar presents the issue from a negative point of view, stating the consequences that will occur in whites continue their mistreatment and racism. Both of these individuals have radical opinions on racism, but have very different ways of expressing them. I believe that Washington’s perspective is much more effective since it is encouraging whites to work together in order to build a stronger and healthier community, rather than taking revenge for past actions, which will only increase the tensions between the members of the two races.