Derrick Bell
Faces at the Bottom of the Well
Derrick Bell authored a metaphorical polemic on race and struggle titled, “The Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence of Racism”, published in 1992. The book is a collection of allegorical narratives that conflates the composite of orthodox racial thinking, and the structural/institutionalized racial plutocracy beneficial for those inherently reserving that power.
“The Space Traders” aliens arrive on earth with wealth and solutions to prosperity, but will trade only if the nation can a depose of a commodity in return.
“The Afrolantic Awakening” discovers an island of abundance where life thrives only skin deep.
“The Racial Preference Licensing Act” enacts and codifies discriminatory practices finance by a tax. Etc..
Derrick Bell summarizes his undertaking best—
“ Black people are the magical faces at the bottom of society’s well. Even the poorest whites, those who must live their lives only a few levels above, gain their self-esteem by gazing down on us. Surely, they must know that their deliverance depends on letting down their ropes. Only by working together is escape possible. Over time, many reach out, but most simply watch, mesmerized into maintaining their unspoken commitment to keeping us where we are, at whatever cost to them or to us.”
A current reading of Bell’s various writing posits his underlying political, social and moral principles in greater depth.
― Derrick A. Bell, Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism
“We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained.”
― Derrick A. Bell, Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth
“Education leads to enlightenment. Enlightenment opens the way to empathy. Empathy foreshadows reform.”
― Derrick A. Bell, Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism
“Power in the hands of the reformer is no less potentially corrupting than in the hands of the oppressor.”
― Derrick A. Bell, Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth unorthodox allegorical .
Fin
JB
But I digress…
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