Crossing the color line

The two texts, "Deathlok" by McDuffie and "Conservation of Races" by W.E.B. Du Bois voice concerns of African Americans and their identities as an african and as an american. This common duality is seen often in entertainment - like the pervasive "Power Rangers." Power Rangers deal with the obligation to be a ranger of the world protecting people from puttymen and they have to cope with being a regular schmo in school without revealing their super identities. I just used Power Rangers as an example of a concept of duality that exists in almost all super hero genres - from Batman to Superman to Spiderman just to name three. Super heros have to learn to cope with their idenity as a super hero as well as their idenity as a regular guy. This is similar to the african american race predicament in which African Americans are disrespected because of their inability to place faith in their african heritage while living for the american dream. W.E.B. Du Bois and McDuffie both employ strategies to attact an academic audience and a young adult audience respectively. However both writers share messages that attempt to expose the prevality of the color line while questioning the Critical Race theory.

W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the leading writers in the Critical Race theory wrote "Conservation of Races" to delve into the meaning and purpose of race. Du Bois questions whether race exists, what race is, how many races are there and what characteristics define race. The definition Du Bois proposes is that race "is a vast family of human beings, generally of common blood and language, always of common history, tradition and impulses, who are both voluntarily and involuntarily striving together for the accomplishments of certain more or less vividly conceived ideals of life." (Du Bois 817) The definition is certaintly ambiguous - what is common blood? What is common impulse? What goals? Common history is the only constant race defining factor and my departure point for this essay. Common history itself is ambiguous. HIstory from 50 years ago? 100? 3000? The time line continues infinitely so history can't really define the entire span. This begins the predicament of the duality of African American. African American race is defined by the common history of Africans in tribes of Africa, with their own marriage customs, customary traditions, and religious beliefs. This is a unique history. But according to Du Bois their history is also defined by the Civil War in 1865 partly caused by the emancipation of black slaves in 1863. This history shares a very proud and defined culture of an oppresed society that broke through the chains of bondage and broke the slave block. This is a unique history. Then which is it? Does being black "place upon any more obligation to assert nationality than German, or Irish, or Italian blood would?" (Du Bois 810) Is an African American more African or more American? This is where we find out that this ambiguity is the "crossroads" in which African Americans must ask "am I an American or am I a Negro?" (Du Bois 810)

Though McDuffie's "Deathlok" does not offer a clear solution to this question he helps to expand its importance. Using a man/machine dualism, Deathlok begins to address the same African American duality. Michael Collins is betrayed by fellow worker Rykan and his brain is implanted into a cyborg. However his brain overrides the onboard computer and allows him to think in programming language - allowing him to be both cyborg and human. The fusing of Michael's neurons with the electrical circuits of the cyborg suit is a symbol of the inherent combination of the heritage and traditions of africanism with the responsibilities and privelages as an American. Michael Collins finds it hard to be accepted by his own family and society because he is neither man nor machine. His own wife calls him "some kind of monster" (McDuffie 39) which poses as a latent message of the alienation of african americans by Africans and Americans.

Whether it be because of individual pride or preservation of race tradition, the critical race theory needs acceptance. Possibly reinventing a new definition of color and race. By defining race, a color line is inherently drawn. The frusturation of people inbetween the lines are that they find themselves in the "none of the above" or "other" sections. McDuffie's "Deathlok" and W.E.B. Du Bois expose the consequences of the colorline and the definitions of race. McDuffie proposes a possible answer to the critical race theory, a way to cease alienation and live in unity with respect for other heritages. Instead of hiding different heritages and histories, they should be used to protect humanity itself.

W.E.B. Du Bois. "Conservation of Races."

McDuffie, Dwayne. "Deathlok."