In the excerpt of the struggle for race and class consciousness based on the novel, Song of Solomon, the author analyzes Milkman’s persona on what the story is really about. Doreatha targets his attitude about being of African-American descent. He doesn’t see what’s the purpose of having a racial identity while many thought it mattered during the critical period of the 1950s to 60s when the civil rights were beginning to be demanded. He doesn’t care about what’s occurring because Milkman doesn’t believe there’s much correlation because it doesn’t affect him directly or personally. This is indicated when he reacts to the death of Till, a black girl who was lynched stating’ “Fuck Till. I’m the one in trouble”. By saying this, Milkman believes that his problems are so much more bigger than a boy who is now dead and doesn’t see the reasoning of why people are concerned over who isn’t living anymore. As the book continues, Milkman comes to an epiphany that he can’t be cynical for he’s bigger than what he thought he was since he belongs to a group that’s brutally discriminated against.
The big eye-opener to Milkman was when he was assaulted an officer. He realizes that he’s still African-American and people won’t treat him differently regardless of what’s his economic status. This is a turning point for him in his journey of his identity of what it means being black.
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