Journal 6# The effects of class membership

Class membership in this case, is only skin-deep. The degree of whiteness in a person’s skin serves as the determinant that indicates the social standing and place of an individual. Though one may be brought up in a lavish, educated and loving setting no different from that of their white counterparts, the way that they are viewed and treated differs drastically, for no other reason, but that they possess the one drop of negro blood.  Existing laws held that "one drop of Negro blood makes you a Negro”, and this is indeed a socially constructed mentality that the tyranny of society has agreed upon. An individual’s membership in a social class, thus pretty much determines their success in life, as Negros are not recognized as equal to their white counterparts, and are oppressed in numerous ways. It is impossible for one to break free from the fetters of their social status in life, as doors and opportunities closes on people, for no other reason, apart for the mere fact that they possess the wrong skin color. By being black, they are condemned to the lowest of the hierarchy order, and the social institution has made it such that many people have just come to accept the subordination of the colored skins as the norm.

Possessing wealth and a good upbringing is by no means an escape from one’s position in life, as highlighted in “The Quadroons”, where Xarifa eventually loses her mind and dies. Despite the fact that she belongs to the upper class, possesses genteel education and sees herself as someone worthy of love and care, society condemns her and views it as perfectly acceptable for her to be auctioned off, due to her mixed blood ancestry. This injustice is also highlighted in her mother Rosalie, who illustrates her subordination by passively accepting her lot in life. She does not oppose to Edward’s marriage nor display any signs of anger, as deep down inside, it is clear that she has been indoctrinated by the society’s ideology, and knows very well that by being possessing black blood, her marriage to Edward is “unrecognized on earth”. The death of both Xarifa and Rosalie can thus be regarded as the figurative death sentence imposed on all the non-whites. So long as the “one drop rule” applies, Native Americans will never be able to fully “live”. This- is a lesson that can be brought over even to today’s society.