Ragtime - Black misfortune and misdirection in literature: Coalhouse Walker Jr.
In literature, especially literature driven by diverse characters, it is rare for characters to end up with a fortunate or positively driven storyline throughout. The lack of fortune and positivity stems from trauma, racism, or racial injustice as a whole. I find this to be most common when it comes to stories with Black or queer characters, for these groups of people have always been heavily targeted or centered around. There are many reasons the topic of misfortune and misdirection may be popular amongst Black and queer literature, such as an “interesting” addition to the storyline, or because that's what the author wants you to believe is the reality of all African Americans. Although within the context of Ragtime, I believe the concept of finding pleasure in the pain of Black characters is used heavily, particularly through the introduction and storyline of Coalhouse Walker Jr.
In Ragtime, Coalhouse Walker Jr. is a Black ragtime musician who is a great example of turning race relations in America. Many reacted strongly to his mannerisms and personality, as they believed his behaviour did not "accurately represent his appearance". I felt that Coalhouse was a good representation of African Americans who challenge the expectations or thought processes of white people. Though as the story went on, he began to feed into the stereotypes of being an "angry Black male" as he resorted to violence to express his annoyance with the system and world he lived in. I became a bit irritated with this plot point.
Yes, I understand why a story like Ragtime, touching on key events in American history, would need to expand on racism and being a Black man in America, though I fully believe this could have been done without Coalhouse going on a stereotypical and crime-driven journey. As mentioned above, I primarily think the use of Coalhouse's negative ark was for the pleasure of the audience, and to make his pain into a compelling plot point. His constant frustrations with seeking justice and being failed by the system are what drove him to his criminal ways, highlighting the use of his pain for the plot. The answer to every issue faced by Black people in America doesn't always have to be stereotypical violence, especially when an author has the opportunity to change the character's path and story, historical fiction or not.
In all, the initial path of Coalhouse Walker Jr. was used to represent African Americans who challenge the expectations or thought processes of white people. To bring down the message of his character to fit into the stereotypes surrounding Black people did nothing but destroy the representation of his character. As one of the main plot points in Ragtime, Coalhouse Walker Jr.'s negative development is a large and accurate example proving that Black characters in literature are repetitively used as a plot point to represent pain and misfortune, rather than to fight stereotypes and gain positive development.
Hi Brianna, I thought your interpretation of Coalhouse Walker Jr.'s descent into madness was very interesting. I hadn't noticed the trend you mentioned about black characters generally resorting to violence, but when you pointed it out I realized how prevalent the theme was in books I'd read. I agree that having him resort to violence to fulfill a stereotype is a terrible conclusion - I'd like it much better if he continued his original mannerisms and personality till the end. I also think that by fulfilling a stereotype, Doctorow treats Coalhouse more as an object than a real human. We already see that he doesn't implement his usual irony when describing him, and that lot of his descriptions come from the perspectives of others like Father or Mother. Doctorow is, in a way, degrading Coalhouse's humanity by using him as a plot point and having his descriptions come in relation to others.
ReplyDeleteI found this blog as a really powerful critique of the way Ragtime uses Coalhouse storyline to highlight the racial injustice while also inducing into common and harmful stereotypes as well. I agree, how you pointed out how that his character starts as a challenge to white expectations but is reduced to the "angry Black guy" trope. Although it also shows the history behind beliefs and ideologies throughout history that still lingers today.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting perspective on his storyline. I think a lot of our analysis of this book has taken his tragic arc at face value, rather than really diving into the stereotypes it perpetuates. I think it's interesting that originally he is completely different than the stereotype, but ends up dying as the "villain" of the story, perfectly fitting him into the box that audiences expect.
ReplyDeleteHiii Brianna! I like your take on Coalhouse's story! I agree that the trope of victimizing and revenge-taking has been more than too often a staple in racism stories. However, I'm not so sure if this fate is plotted for the reader's pleasure or plot necessity. As a reader, I did not enjoy seeing the downfall of such a well-mannered, brave character. However, I did feel like necessary for Coalhouse to commit some extraordinary actions for his demands to be heard. Or the stereotypical idea of racism in his world will never be challenged. In all, I'm not sure if Doctorow used Coalhouse as a stereotypical example for his type of writing, but it is for sure that the plot inflicted on these people is too biased towards one mode, rather than promoting all facets.
ReplyDeleteThese are all excellent points about the ways in which Doctorow clearly "uses" Coalhouse as a device for exposing aspects of American systemic racism, rather than developing him fully as a character in his own right. In some ways, these aspects of his character connect to what we were discussing in class about how he's *fictional* but is treated as "historical" within the text--so we see him as a "catalyst" who serves to draw out the racism that underlies the New Rochelle community, even if the local residents are unaware of it. I would say that there are "worse" examples of Black characters embodying stereotypes in the service of raising social awareness within a work of fiction: Coalhouse's version of "angry" and "crazy" is depicted by Doctorow throughout as calm, cool, collected, and deliberate. He has the same eyes that reflect his undaunted will as JP Morgan. His emotions are always under control. His "gang" is organized like a paramilitary operation. He comports himself with dignity and a high sense of moral purpose, even as he is caricatured in the press as a "madman" and "maniac." But it remains true that he is mainly "used" by the plot to occasion character development in MYB, Father, Mother, and the other "main characters." And Booker T. Washington's condemnation of his terrorism also has to count for something!
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