Double Consciousness: The Impact Of Different Cultures

The biography of Stuart Hall was written by Annie Paul in July 2020. Stuart Hall is a pioneer in the field of cultural studies. He is a renowned Caribbean intellectual. His body of work is produced on the relationship between power and culture. Hall grew up in a middle-class upbringing in colonial Jamaica, later he migrated to the United Kingdom- on experiences he encountered. This writing is comprised of eight chapters. This book provides a glimpse into Hall’s formative unpublished writings. The writings were based in the post-emancipation era where slavery was abolished and a century after the apprenticeship system was put in place. The impact of the colour stratification on social standing, identity in regard to double consciousness and American imperialism as well as Religion post-emancipation will be discussed. Social inequality in regard to thought processes, organized by hierarchies of race, class and gender has caused a widespread of limited access to rights and resources to get ahead which results in violent conflicts, double consciousness, discrimination, and resistance among societies. Additionally, the influence of other cultures did much to set back nationalism and the quest for national identity in the Caribbean region.

As observed in the text, those of light complexion had a higher social standing of those of darker complexion ( Paul 1). Being light-skinned, was something persons were proud of as this granted opportunities for greater resources as they were groomed to inherit positions left by the former colonial masters. A good example of this is portrayed through Hall’s mother Jessie Hall. She feigned the same attitudes and values of the planters during slavery. She was born of mixed complexion but was adopted by white aunts where she maximized this opportunity that benefitted the Jamaican upper- class who are aspiring to become whites. She became so obsessed with it that she wanted the same for her husband and children. She was able to influence her daughter by forcibly preventing her marriage to a black person whom she deeply loved which caused her a breakdown. (Kelly 2020) explained that social inequality arises due to perceived ethnic-racial homogeneity and of the past which was colonial. In today’s society, it has led to skin bleaching as there is a preference for brownness/ hybridity. Non- black Jamaicans, lighter-skinned and mixed-race obtained higher-class status through the colonial structure. ( Hall 1997 p.53) reported that he has never heard anyone calling themselves black and that his grandmother is able to differentiate about 15 different shades between light brown and dark brown). This is related to issues of culture as it is of societal racial discrimination. When one regards themselves as superior over the other due to skin colour, it emerges as an issue that develops in society due to culture. The historical context of the writing is 1990 post-emancipation where the people were still staggering from a history of enslavement. This influenced the events and ideas presented as there was still some amount of inequality present based on complexion. This has contributed to a broadened understanding of this particular aspect of Caribbean society in regard to social inequality – what it is like and how persons were really impacted. This is exemplified in the course of study during chattel slavery as they had no rights that a white person had to respect. Their children inherited the status they were born into. Their heritage was not prized but only that of the Europeans. They were a group at the bottom of the social ladder. The arguments presented in this book were convincing as this is still a common issue in today’s society where black persons are being subjected to social inequality. Such commodities include job rejection, being ridiculed which all comes together to form racism. It is widespread in countries dominated by whites and these acts can be portrayed through the media where there are many protests, which can become violent and from personal experiences shared. Therefore, the writer achieved his aim when expressing the social stratification class structure.

Religion was considered a black culture. This was something the “ white upper class” looked down on. A good example of this could be seen during Hall’s childhood years as he was forbidden to have close physical contact to churches. ( Paul 1) Whenever he visited his grandmother, he relished the physical closeness to the Pentecostal church where loud singing and clapping which he personally considered African music could be heard. It was obvious that mostly the helpers – the cook and the gardeners would go to church on a regular basis. Hall was the only one having an interest in the church where he joined Christian groups and attended meetings where he even preached. He would use the opportunity to talk about social inequality and wondered if it was God’s plan to design such a system. He also studied other religions inclusive of Rastafarianism. (Stewart 1992 ) research explained that religion was a way of coping with discrimination faced by black descents. Majority of the religions consisted of persons who are black. Those who experience racism said that the church-based social support had no form of racism. They used prayer to deal with the experiences faced. This topic correlates with the topic Religion taught in the course where after post-emancipation many African slaves started to set up their own churches apart from the European cultured Christianity inclusive of African Methodist and native Baptist churches. These African faiths were discriminated against in which there were repressive laws and acts against their practices. A number of these African religious groups were even refused marriage rights during and even after colonial rule. Today, there is still some discrimination but not many. Those of the European faith consider their teaching as the right and only way and thus dismissing teachings of other faiths. Many people of the European faith still believe that those practised by Africans are wrong and not in the ways of the Lord. There is also discrimination against obeah as it considered as evil doing and it is not practised much in the Caribbean today. Even with this minor discrimination, churches of all denomination and faith is practised today without acts or repressive laws against them. This is a culture issue as persons were the ones to classify which faith was good or bad based on the race that started it. This concept contributes to the understanding of the pressures that these religious people had to face due to racism and how they used the church as an escape route. The social and historical context was of the post-emancipation period in which there was the class stratification system in which white considered themselves superior along with their beliefs and values. The fact that the African churches were set up by black slaves in that era, the upper classes were strongly against it. They considered their practice as non-Christian.

During Hall stay in England, he encountered an identity crisis as he did not know where he belonged. ( Paul 2) During college years at the prestigious Oxford University, he was able to have met other writers from various backgrounds. There was a difference between colour and race and the non-white migrants were devalued as being equalled therefore he became a part of the West Indian Society where they all were alike in terms of complexion. He then started to practice his West Indian Identity rather than a Jamaican Identity. They perceived this as a forced identity as their national identities were shed and they all were branded as West Indians. However, this came to an end. It was then that he developed a double-consciousness in relation to his identity as he was straddling two worlds that of his home country to which he was not sure how he belonged and that of England, to which he knew he didn’t belong. Then emerged a diasporic double-consciousness. ( Abulwassie 2014) argues that having a double-consciousness a person will feel the notion to acquire different roles in society such as having a black identity and also a white identity. This is an issue of identity. This issue is made aware when Hall did not know where he belonged; he was torn between two sets of identities making it difficult to develop a sense of true self. The social and historical context had a severe impact on the ideas and event as this took place in England, a white-dominated country and Hall was originally from Jamaica. This is a good example of double-consciousness taught in the course where there is a view that one must settle in the new setting and on the other hand there is a belief that their homeland will always be home no matter what. Double consciousness eventually leads to dual identity. It can be quite a struggle and can cause a conflicting perspective. This concept contributes to understanding the struggles faced by persons like African – Americans in acquiring their true identity. Double consciousness is still relevant and is difficult to resolve as people in society believe that we are living in a post-racial society. The arguments are convincing as the media portrayed mixed -African men as criminals, rappers etc. This causes other sub-cultures to perceive Africans as such. This can cause younger males to believe that these limited choices are their only options in making a better life. This book has allowed understanding of the struggle faced by most Caribbean people who were mixed as their history of being a British colony and also an African has caused a double identity in which they were forced to view themselves from the perspectives of both cultures. Identity is not static and the influence of other cultures can have an impact on the evolution of the Caribbean identity.

The shaping of Caribbean identity is partly due to United States Imperialism (Paul 1). Their interference in the Caribbean was due to racism, economic development, Humanitarian Aid, Defence / Military/ Strategic purpose. According to the text, during 1940, there was an influence of American culture through Hollywood movies and jazz. ( Paul 1) On Saturdays, Hall and his friends would go to the cinema and make up games pertaining to films they had just seen such as romance, cowboy, or war thrillers. He became fond of goose-stepping like an SS officer. There were also dance parties with American dances and afterwards sexual exploration. (Ferguson and Marc 2015) study explained that most adolescents in Jamaica gravitate to cultures outside of the Caribbean mostly that of America. Americanization is another term for remote acculturation. Maturational and socially prescribed developments are prevalent in teenage years as one tends to seek out their identity. Mass media through music, internet and television shows originating from the United States is a potential vehicle that transports the American Culture. Many adolescents have emigrant relatives in the US and communication contributes to further Americanisation and also the exposure to American cuisine observed through media. This topic is related to the shaping of the Caribbean identity that was taught in the course. This concept has allowed understanding in regarding to the impact of cultures on developing a national identity for a country. Herbert Hoover introduced a Good neighbour policy in the Caribbean to describe its relationship. By the 1930s American businesses played a key role in in the Caribbean nations. This was economically advantageous for the US but it set back nationalism and the search for national identity in the Caribbean. Although many Caribbean countries have independence, they are still very much subjected to American policies both indirectly and directly through movies, music, styles, clothes, psyche etc. This has had an impact on Caribbean identity evolution. This has caused Caribbean nationals to not know their true identity and thus are persuaded by other cultures and not their own. This is a further shaping of double consciousness. This issue was made aware as it was what Hall and his friends did every Saturday. Americanization is still evident in the Caribbean and this supports the argument as even today people are influenced by American Cultures. It is portrayed through the media as American cultures, news and movies are broadcast throughout the Caribbean and a lot of Caribbean national tend to gravitate to this influence and adapt it as part of their daily regime instead of creating or living their own Caribbean identity.

In conclusion, social inequality in regard to thought processes, organized by hierarchies of race, class and gender has caused a widespread of limited access to rights and resources to get ahead which results in violent conflicts, double consciousness, discrimination and resistance among societies. Additionally, the influence of other cultures did much to set back nationalism and the quest for national identity in the Caribbean region. The social stratification system introduced in the Caribbean by the Europeans has caused limited opportunities to black individuals as they were considered inferior as they occupied the bottom of the social ladder which resulted in religion becoming an escape route for those who were faced by racism. It was considered the culture of blacks. The white upper class looked down on the faiths set up by Africans and thus discrimination arose. Caribbean identity is very essential in developing one true self. However, exposure to more than one culture can result in double consciousness - not knowing where one truly belong. Finally, the effect of American imperialism also has an effect on identity causing Caribbean nationals to be practising other cultures apart from their own and adapting it as their daily lifestyle. This only sets back a country’s nationalism and the quest to creating a national identity. During the post-emancipation, Caribbean nationals were faced with many difficulties stemming from social inequality and the class stratification system created in colonial time. These occurrences have shaped the Caribbean history that is being taught in today. Western nations are completely “diasporaised” beyond repair and are becoming multicultural- ethnicity, religion, culture, and language. It is the history that defines a Caribbean national.