Soul On Ice

4 Pages 928 Words

In the book entitled Soul On Ice, author Eldridge Cleaver presents many of his philosophical ideas and personal experiences while scrutinizing the social dilemmas, civil injustices, and overbearing realities that non-white peoples have faced through their history. Some of the ideologies he develops are highlighted in the essay “Black Man’s Stake in Vietnam.” Through this examination he studies the common interest that black Americans share with Third World countries. Even though his presumptions do appear pragmatically masculine at times, his descriptions of injustices experienced by black people are vivid and definite. However, constructive strategies to achieve African American unity and social equality seem to be missing.
One may be inclined to believe that no matter how clearly a person of color conceives the issues of unfair treatment, exclusion, or injustice, in order to ameliorate the situation for themselves or their people, they must suggest steps which address the problems they describe. By failing to outline positive ways to deal with the troubles he reputes, Cleaver estranges those readers with the potential to understand and unite these victims of oppression. Simultaneously, Cleaver frequently expresses this moment in history as “the last act of the show.” This expression of despair and hopelessness negatively effects the search for solutions to the issues he recognizes as being so very significant. (151)
African Americans have always played a crucial role in America’s development as a powerful and independent nation. Even still, the expectation of dying for one’s nation is unrealistic for people who feel oppressed by the country and society in which they live. Growing awareness within America’s borders brought about varying types public protest during the 1960's.
“Both inherently and overtly political in content, the Black Arts movement was the only American literary movement to advance "soci...