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Introduction
‘The Marrow of Tradition’ is an historical novel written by the African-American author, Charles Chesnut. The novel depicts life in the American South where slavery has taken its deepest roots. Published in 1901, ‘The Marrow of Tradition,’ provides a deeper understanding of the South’s post-war society. The novel, particularly depicts the plight of Black Americans as they struggle to keep their humanity in a hostile and racially segregated society. After the civil war, the Negro has not totally achieved freedom since they were still widely discriminated upon. Despite the promise of citizenship through the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Blacks are still generally considered as inferior or second-class people. Although they are free in a legal sense of the word, their manner of living is extremely limited because of certain restrictions, both legal and social, that significantly impacts their way of life. White and Black segregation are common most especially in the South where slavery is deeply rooted. Discriminative laws towards Blacks, also known as Jim Crow laws, legalize the social persecution of African American during this era. These laws define the racial segregation that occurred in the post-war society of Southern America that continued for several decades after the end of the Civil War. The novel’s depiction of life in the South during the Jim Crow era is historically accurate. As observed by scholars, “Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws; It was a way of life”. The novel is historically inspired and can be considered as part of the literary culture brought by the institution of slavery that lasted for several centuries in America as seen by an African-American observer.
Historical Significance of the Novel
If there was anyone who can write with credibility and truthfulness regarding the plight of the Blacks and the racial tension that was experienced in the South in the post-civil war era, it could be no other than Charles Chesnutt. Charles was born on June 20, 1858 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents were free Blacks who migrated from Fayetteville, North Carolina prior to the civil war. Charles and his parents, however, returned to North Carolina, where he grew and spent his teaching career. He became a principal of a Negro school in Fayetteville from 1980 to 1983, but was forced to move out of the South because of his growing distress in the treatment of Blacks. Charles took his wife and migrated to Cleveland in 1883 where he passed the state’s bar examination and established a successful court reporting firm. Owing to the success of his firm, Charles became financially well-off, which helped in his activism towards racial discrimination and segregation of the Blacks that was rampant in the American society during his lifetime. ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ is one of Charles’ literary works that showed his intimate understanding of Black culture in the South. But unlike most Black fiction authors that dwell on common themes of plantation life that unwittingly degrade Blacks, Charles presents a different perspective of Blacks that differed from most traditional plantation writers. As observed by scholars, Charles addressed the cultural, political and social issues that confront Blacks, particularly in the Southern states where racial issues are intense by challenging the “myth of white superiority and black inferiority” that dominated the belief of Whites and even most Blacks in America. Charles, at first, drew attention in the novel, ‘The Goophered Grapevine,’ which was published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1887. After which, he was encouraged by the Atlantic’s editor, Walter Hines to publish his other fictional works and in the next few years, he published the three other novels; one of which is ‘The Marrow of Tradition,’ which he published in 1901. According to scholars, Charles’ goal in writing ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ is to initiate a moral revolution. As observed, Charles “pleaded for a quickening of conscience and for moral renewal in the hearts of Southern whites”.
Depiction of Black Oppression and Discrimination in the Jim Crow Era
One of the most remarkable historical features used in the novel is in its depiction of the Jim Crow era in the South. The term ‘Jim Crow’ was coined from a circus act that discriminates against blacks. After which, the name ‘Jim Crow’ stuck and became the common descriptive title for several state laws that aims to segregate Blacks from the White population. Jim Crow laws are a system of laws that severely restricted the access of African-Americans’ to important government and private facilities and services. These social services include education, health, transport, public utilities and many other services. Blacks, for instance, go to different schools and ride a different bus, because they are not allowed to mingle with the whites. Jim Crow norms are widely observed and have become a common way of life for most Southern Americans. It is commonly manifested in several practices that are currently considered as derogatory and unacceptable, but was a normal state of affairs during the time. Charles Chesnut’s ‘The Marrow of Tradition,’ provides many depictions of Jim Crow norms that are being observed during the time. Black people eating together with Whites, for example, is considered as unethical. It is also unethical for Blacks shake hands with White because it implies equality, which is taboo for Whites during the era. In most Southern states, Blacks have a transport system with a separate ticketing system and waiting areas. There is also a separate health care institution for Whites and Blacks, with Blacks getting inferior treatment. As much as possible, the Southern society under the Jim Crow era tried to segregate Whites from Blacks. What is remarkable with Charles Chesnut’s ‘The Marrow of Tradition,’ though, is its depiction of the awkwardness in the observance of Jim Crow statutes that ensue between the educated and morally sophisticated people of the South. While commuting their way to Wellington, for instance, Dr. Burns and Dr. Miller made a pleasant conversation while sharing the same train, but after they reached Virginia, Dr. Miller was forced to ride in another car for no particular reason except that he was black. In another instance, Dr. Miller was unable to assist in a surgery and help a white child just because the father of the child would not let him in the house because of his color.
Conclusion
Charles Chestnutt’s ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ depicts Black oppression and the social implication it has created during the reconstruction period in the South. But unlike traditional historical novels, ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ does not dwell on the helplessness of the Blacks, but rather focuses on how the Blacks struggled to keep their integrity during the trying times of the Jim Crow era. Despite being widely discriminated upon, Charles Chestnutt implied through his literary works that Blacks are intellectually, culturally and socially at par with Whites. His work in ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ demands racial equality as it tried to explore and reveal the completely unreasonable Jim Crow practices that are commonly observed especially in Southern states. As far as historical novels are concerned, Charles Chestnutt’s ‘The Marrow of Tradition’ can be considered as one of the most important African-American literary works that have inspired the civil rights movement in America and has lasting implication in the study of the African-American literature.
Works Cited
Andrews, W. Charles Waddell Chesnutt, 1858-1932. 1980. May 2016 <http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chesnuttcolonel/bio.html>.
Bruxvoort, H. An Analysis of the Ficton of Charles W. Chesnutt. 1988. May 2016 <file:///C:/Users/Cente/Downloads/Untitled.pdf>.
Chestnutt, C. The Marrow of Tradition. 1901. May 2016 <http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11228/pg11228-images.html>.
Little, B. Who Was Jim Crow? 2015. May 2016 <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150806-voting-rights-act-anniversary-jim-crow-segregation-discrimination-racism-history/>.
Pilgrim, D. "http://www.ferris.edu/." September 2000. What Was Jim Crow? May 2016 <http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm>.
