The little Black Boy is a poem written in 1789 by William Blake. It is a narration about an African – American child who experiences racial discrimination around his society from the whites. The little black boy eventually embraces and comes to terms with this racial discrimination (Blake 1789). His mother guides him into accepting this reality about their black colour and gives him hope that since he has a good relationship with God and his soul is white; then all this suffering will all come to pass just like the clouds. She encourages her to continue being strong while persevering the intense rays of light since God blessed them with the black skin that can persist high heat.
In the poem “the little black boy” who compares his life and that of a white child, the major themes, daily experiences shared and everyday applications in our society today. The poem condemns racism and slavery. It emphasises human equality regardless of the race since God created everyone equally and even makes the sun shine on everyone without discrimination (Prawesti, 2015). The following themes are manifested in the poem.
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Guardianship
In “The Little Black Boy” by William Blake the idea of Guardianship is portrayed in various instances. Guardianship is defined as the deed of showing care or concern towards someone, watching over someone or protecting a person from harm (Blake 1789). Guardianship in Blake’s poem is revealed in 3 significant illustrations which include:
Guardianship by the mother of the little black boy to him. The little Black boy explains about the close relationship he has with his mother. His mother was holding him on her laps and kissing him, giving him hope that one day this suffering will ones come to pass. She tells him that their skin colour does not matter to God, as long as they have a close and good relationship with God when everything ends God will take him to heaven and sit with him.
Guardianship by God: the black boy's mother encourages his son to remain strong regardless of the suffering and the racial discrimination they are experiencing today (Blake 1789). She tells him that Its God who is enabling them to persevere the beams of heat from the hot sun and the other sufferings they are encountering.
She says to him that God is preparing them for how they will embrace Gods beams of love (Blake 1789). When all this suffering passes, God will take them to a better place full of love, and they will be the first one to be redeemed before the whites.
Guardianship by the Little Black Boy: he guards himself through his positive thoughts by consoling himself that even if he appears inferior before the whites, he is spiritually upright and has a good relationship with God (Blake 1789). His excellent relationship with God is what matters since when all this suffering will pass God will take him to heaven where he will live happily ever after.
The little black boy promises to shed the White child from heat until he can endure it. Since the Black boy had experienced a lot of suffering in the world, he believes that when the English child can bear the Beams of God’s love, then racial discrimination will end (Blake 1789). The black child thinks he will now be allowed to touch the white child's silver hair and the white child will start loving him. Gods love, and equality between them will bind them will prevail forever.
is relevant to my life. I grew up in a Latino neighbourhood and had a Latino friend called Marcos. Other whites used to insult him whenever he passed by their lawns(Prawesti, 2015). The insult that Marcos was subjected to was so much for a child to bare. However, his mother usually assured him that all the prejudice he faced would come to pass one day. Through the guardianship, Marco’s mother was able to offer Marcos support and guidance to succeed in life. Currently, Marcus is fully sponsored in education since he emerged as the topmost student in his school. In the current world, there are various types of discrimination. Therefore, parents should provide strong guardianship to their children; it will caution them from the cruel world.
Racial disparity
Racial disparity is one of the major themes in Williams Blake’s poem. It compares and depicts the different lives of the whites and blacks live (Swinburne, 2017). Blacks have to go through suffering in their environment with the whites due to the colour of their skin. The little black boy views himself as an inferior creature since he has black skin.
He even refers to it as “bereaved of light” or darkness which is associated with evil things or darkness. He cites the White child as an Angel who is perfect. He says that ones they cast off their black skin they will now be allowed to touch the white (Swinburne, 2017). The little boy to win the white child’s friendship and acceptance he has to cast off his black skin.
In high school, racial disparity is evident, students like associating themselves with different cliques, the students realign themselves based on race. I remember an incident during my second year of high school(Prawesti, 2015). When we were in a circle, a black student came by and wanted to join us. The leader of the circle insulted and made a mockery of him. The black student felt offended, and he even shed tears. Not minding what my clique would perceive about me I followed him and consoled him since he was contemplating suicide because of being mocked. After that, I quit my clique and championed racial equality amongst students since I understood what racially abused students undergoes. In reference to my experience and the poem, racism is real, and it should be addressed since the persons subjected to it may undergo depression. The present society should not accommodate anyone who advocates or practice racial disparity since it will derail the progress made to curb racial disparity.
Religion
Blake in this poem reveals how the blacks consoled themselves with the doctrine. The blacks worked as slaves and had to endure a lot of hardships and mistreatments from the whites (Swinburne, 2017). They sought their refuge in their religious belief. They believe that despite all the challenges they are going through, their life is God’s gift to them.
They endure all that suffering thinking that all the pain is just the cloud and will disappear with time. God will finally come to their rescue, and they will live happily ever after. The black boy and mother believe that they will be the first ones to be redeemed by God before the whites(Prawesti, 2015). The little black boy shows how the colour of the skin does not matter. His religious belief indicates that all Christians will be free from the cloud of skin colour and they are all equal in Gods eyes. Regardless of their races.
When championing racial equality in high school, I encountered several black students who found solace in the Bible when they are subjected to racism. They believed that God is the only person that would do away with their pain. I advised them to start demanding their rights and racial equality (Swinburne, 2017). Basing on my story and that of the poem people think that by praying they would be vindicated from the pains of racism, this is not the case since God helps those who help themselves since he Said in the scripture that a person should pray and work hard. In the present society, fighting racism is a collective responsibility of everyone to fight racism, this is the only way that it can be eradicated.
In conclusion, from William Blake’s poem “the little black boy”, we get to know about an African-American child who suffers humiliation and discrimination in the hands of the whites due to his race. These acts even occur in real life with racism being one of the major concerns in America. Blake aims at exposing the kind of humiliation and evils which also involves discrimination that the blacks face from the whites and tries to portray how unequal people are. Privileges have often been given to the white people legally and denied to most other different races. Black people had for a long time been denied exclusive rights on aspects which included proper criminal sentence procedure, proper education, acquisition of land and they were also denied voting rights. Blake, therefore, aims at educating people on the need for equality and effects of discrimination. The state should adhere to the set rules and regulations that aim at ensuring that people are treated equally. The growth of a State is dependent on all its citizens, without discrimination, the full potential of most people can be realised. Hence, the government should be the leading player in attaining equity and equality amongst its citizens.
References
Blake William (1789). The Little Black Boy.
Prawesti, A. H. (2015). DISCRIMINATION IN WILLIAM BLAKE'S THE LITTLE BLACK BOY (Doctoral dissertation, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya).
Swinburne, A. C. (2017). William Blake: A Critical Essay. Library of Alexandria.
