Introduction
One of James Baldwin’s early novels, Go Tell It on the Mountain, took several years to write. Like many debut works, its basic structure is greatly influenced by autobiography. Baldwin grew up in Harlem under the puritanical guidance of a religious stepfather, just like his protagonist John Grimes. Generally, the horrific father-son conflict and religious hypocrisy regarding Christianity at the center of the book are perhaps most relevant today within the systemic issues that America continues to experience.
Relevancy of Baldwin’s Work Today in the Context of Systemic Issues
One of the pressing issues that Americans continue to deal with is sexuality. Baldwin draws attention to the uncomfortable fuzziness between the desire and perception of righteousness and the likelihood and actuality of life heading toward eternal damnation to examine themes relating to sexuality (13). The main character, John, finds himself struggling to overcome the obstacles placed by religion on the issue of sexual identity. John tries to take faith seriously but finds it difficult to follow the rules. Baldwin notes, “In the school lavatory, alone, thinking of the boys, older, bigger, braver, who made bets with each other as to whose urine could arch higher, he had watched in himself a transformation of which he would never dare to speak (20). John appears to be slightly interested in the male students at his institution. Additionally, John masturbates while fantasizing about men and not women. Unfortunately, his faith views feelings of this nature as sinful. John’s sex life exposes the church’s hypocrisy on how sexuality should be feared and punished.
Many Americans today struggle to publicly reveal their sexuality because of fear of being judged. In the novel, John grapples with his newly discovered sins, including masturbation and fantasizing about men. Although the book does not explicitly state that John accepts his homosexual urges as a part of who he is, it appears that he does. However, John fails to publicly declare this as that would have complicated his quest to find a place for himself in his family, life, and body. John struggles to focus during Sunday school because he is perplexed by Elisha’s body, power, and voice. The entire narrative eroticizes Elisha, portraying his experience of being overpowered by the Holy Spirit in a church ecstasy. John’s feelings may be those of a young person going through puberty, when gay feelings may have begun to emerge.
Another systemic issue that Americans have been experiencing in the past and even today is racial structure and hierarchies that dominate and marginalize people who are perceived as inferior. The first of this kind is the family framework, which is the defining feature of the marginalized community. Baldwin notes, “On Sunday mornings, the women all seemed patient, all the men seemed mighty” (16). In this patriarchal structure, men are given immense societal responsibilities while women are undermined. For instance, in the novel, males are empowered by religion to assume leadership positions while having morally dubious pasts. Similar to what is taught in the Bible, there are community members, like John’s father, whom God has chosen to guide others to salvation. The church in the book demonstrates how males typically assume leadership positions and apply the doctrine favoring men.
Concepts of Domestic Violence and Abuse
The concepts of domestic violence (DV) and abuse are pertinent to the conversation Baldwin develops in the novel. For instance, the author portrays that the father often physically assaults John. Baldwin asserts, “This was not, in John, a faith subject to death or alteration; it was his identity, and part, therefore, of that wickedness for which his father beat him” (23). John’s father was the minister of God, yet he struggled to obey his teachings. He reminded the family members, especially John, that he “could not bow before the throne of grace without first kneeling to his father” (Baldwin 23). In essence, this depicts that John’s defiance had flourished due to the father’s wickedness. In the context of the patriarchal framework, Deacon Gabriel Grimes exemplifies the characteristics of a father. He dominates his family with an iron grip, as evidenced by the time he slaps his wife, Elizabeth, for neglecting his children after Roy, one of the sons, is stabbed. Despite working hard to support his family, he plays a double-edged role by abusing them whenever they do not comply with his demands.
Domestic violence and abuse were still relevant throughout 2020 and even today. According to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, there was a 25–33% increase in DV cases in 2020 (Newman). An alarming rise in DV was one of the COVID-19 pandemic’s hidden costs. In essence, this demonstrates that DV was prevalent in the community at the time. The 1930s in American society were the setting for Baldwin’s semi-autobiography. History indicates that patriarchy was prominent in society during this period. Individuals continue to grapple with the idea that men are still predominantly viewed as the head of the family and have undisputed control over all other members of society.
The Ramifications of Environmental Racism
Numerous factors, such as deliberate neglect, a lack of institutional power, and the low land values of people of color, contribute to environmental racism (ER). Baldwin attempts to show how ER continues to affect populations who come from underserved communities, especially how it impacts the psyche of John. For instance, there are no programs to appreciate the efforts of Black individuals in the community. John Grimes became popular, yet “it was only colored people who praised him” (Baldwin 22). Essentially, this cripples John’s advancement in many aspects of life. However, soon, the principal recognizes him and praises how he is “a bright boy” (Baldwin 22). Ultimately, John becomes alert to everything around him, including domestic violence and abuse.
Baldwin presents the concept of self-esteem by portraying John’s progress after being acknowledged as bright. Generally, readers can note that after John’s fame and intelligence are recognized, he starts to view things differently and identify vices like those executed by his father. Baldwin states, “That moment gave John, from that time on, if not a weapon at least a shield; he apprehended, without belief or understanding, that he had in himself a power that other people lacked” (Baldwin 22). How crucial self-esteem is to teenagers is demonstrated at the moment when Elisha and Ella Mae are humiliated in front of the crowd. Essentially, it proposes that humans see others as sinners and easily despise them despite their efforts in society. Ultimately, the interaction between John and Elisha, in which he narrates the importance of being saved, shows that individuals try to perceive themselves as holy and rightful through the eyes of others.
Conclusion
In brief, the book’s central religious hypocrisy and dreadful father-son conflict are arguably most pertinent today, given the systemic problems that America is still facing. Baldwin engages the reader using John Grimes’s life experience to describe how environmental prejudice, domestic violence, and other factors like racial structure and hierarchy impact the character. Generally, John is attempting to escape the hardship that originates from society, especially his father.
Works Cited
Baldwin, James. Go Tell it on the Mountain. Vintage, 1953, Web.
Newman, Caroline. “The Pandemic is Increasing Intimate Partner Violence. Here is How Health Care Providers Can Help.” UAB News, Web.