The Black Arts Movement In The Dutchman By Amiri Baraka

The Black Arts Movement was the name given to writers, black poets, dramatists, musicians, and artists who appeared in the wake of the Black Power movement. The movement was established by Amiri Baraka in 1963, who opened a Black Arts Repertory theater in Harlem. The movement was also provoked by the assassination of Malcolm X. The movement inspired black people to initiate magazines, journals, art institutions, and publishing houses. The black arts movement saw artistic manufacture as the key to re-evaluate black Americans recognition of themselves and was believed to be an essential element of the political, economic, and cultural empowerment of the black community. The movement really brought out a lot of creative artists to write, speak, …show more content…
Clay tried to blend in with the white people around him, in an attempt to be identified and accepted as an equal part of their society, but his endeavor quickly fails. The assimilation that African Americans and Clay tried to achieve only developed in the mislaying of cultural identity. Clay chose to renounce his sense of radical identity mirrored by his death. He resigns himself to assimilation and that is why Lula murders him. Clay’s aspiration to blend in with the white society becomes noticeable in the opening scene. Clay is displayed as a middle class black man who is wearing a nice button-up suit and carrying tons of books. He later tells Lula that his appearance, tie, and suit is an act to cover up his differences from his hatred regarding wealthy white men that is around him. Amiri Baraka uses symbolism in “Dutchman” to carry out the outcomes of assimilation. Lula entered the scene eating an apple, and after she introduces herself to Clay, she offered him an apple as well. This reflects to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, when Eve bites into the apple and offered it to Adam. Once Eve offered Adam an apple, it enhances humankind’s downfall into sin. This can be seen in the result for Adam and Eve in parallel to Clay and Lula. Adam receives the apple and dooms himself, just as Clay did. This is a …show more content…
Race and racism is also a theme that Amiri Baraka displays throughout the “Dutchman.” Race and racism play a huge role in this play. Racial persecution and racist hatred lie at the heart of the “Dutchman.” A person can reflect that back to when Clay is carrying a couple of books, and he wears the attire of a well- educated white man. Lula seems to hate Clay as soon as she sees him, explaining that he is a type a man that she has seen numerous of times. Identity and hidden paths is also a theme in the “Dutchman.” Lula clearly has a lot of issues that is not seen by the visible eye. A person can base this off of how she acts on the train. She secretes her emotions and true feelings through her mysterious games and sense of humor. Clay also plays a role on identity when it comes down to his past, although his secrets are more subtle. Unlike Lula, he composed himself differently and tried to remain more reserved. He built up a wall around him to keep people from seeing his past, even though he is more opened to his past more than Lula. Lula only focuses on other people lives that are concealed in hopes to keep her life hidden and in