Native Son
...o the psychological effects of racism on both the oppressed and the oppressor. The blacks’ basic thoughts, at this point, were substantially flawed and damaged. Persistent pressure from the oppressor’s racism forced blacks into a pressured and dangerous state of mind. Blacks were plagued with the hardship of economic oppression and forced to act obsequiously towards their white oppressors. As a result of their living conditions, Bigger’s attitude toward whites becomes a combination of both anger and fear. Instead of seeing whites as people, Bigger conceives them as an overpowering and antagonistic force that he must push against in fear of his life. Accordingly, Bigger does not distinguish between individual whites; to him they are all the same, frightening and conniving. This fear, anger, and perception of the white population cause Bigger to feel absolutely no guilt after the accidental killing of Mary Dalton. In fact, Bigger felt the opposite of guilt. Strange enough, Bigger felt an odd sense of triumph because he had won a battle against the white forces that have contrived to destroy his individuality. Racism isn’t just destructive to the black population, in reality, it is just as adverse to the whites. Their sense of supremacy over the blacks inhibited their ability to perceive the oppressed as people and instead gave them the illusion that blacks were less than human. This sense of superiority was a weakness among the whites that Bigger was able to take advantage of and manipulate it in his cover-up of Mary Dalton’s murder. Bigger knew that the prejudices of the detective, Britten, would never allow him to think that a black man like Bigger could have been competent enough to commit such a crime. And for a time Bigger managed to elude suspicion. Even characters like Mr. and Mrs. Dalton, who had a progressive attitude toward race relations, can be indicted of racism, although in a more subtle way. In spite that they ...