H.M.

         In The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, Murfin and Ray define both of these terms, helpful for understanding them being used in different contexts and written works. Naturalism is defined as a literary movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that represented people in a pessimistic light as products of heredity and environment (Murfin and Ray 283). Binary opposition is said to be a concept borrowed from linguistics by post structuralist theorist Jacques Derrid, to suggest that people in Western culture tend to think and express their thoughts in terms of contrary pairs (Murfin and Ray 34).“Message to the Grassroots”, an influential speech by Malcolm X, an African American human rights activist, integrates both the belief of naturalism as well as demonstrating the use of binary opposition(s) in his 1963 dialogue. Anne Petry’s short story published in 1945, “Like a Winding Sheet”, can be viewed as incorporating both naturalism and binary opposition; likewise to Malcolm X’s speech, although in a different manner. The two works being analyzed share the similarity of these terms being used both successfully, and arguably unsuccessfully, as well as being highlighted in a different light throughout each piece respectively, as they both give insight into the struggles black men face living in a predominantly white society.

        Looking firstly at “Like a Winding Sheet”, Petry introduces Johnson and Mae, an African American couple working grueling hours at different plants to make a living. Johnson, the story's protagonist, is tied up in his sheets attempting to get out of bed, as he compares his black skin to the whiteness of the sheet. This comparison sets up the entirety of the short story, as readers witness Johnson forcefully smiling through this similarity, as he lives in a dominantly white society.  As the story progresses, Johnson arrives late to work because of his wife, Mae, which allows the reader vision into Johnson’s personality, as the narrator states, “But he couldn’t bring himself to talk to her roughly or threaten to strike her like a lot of men might have done. He wasn’t made that way” (Petry 1499). Once arriving at work, his boss, being a white female, made a derogatory comment that made Johnson’s blood boil, but he still vowed he would never hit a woman. Although he had these strong morals, Johnson’s thoughts wandered to a place of thinking how nice it would have been to strike her anyways, to “feel the soft flesh of her face give under the hardness of his hands” (Petry 1500). When being denied coffee from a white female worker, he dreamt of hitting her much like his boss, but continues to stick to his morals, that is until he is behind closed doors and beats his wife solely out of built up frustration towards the other (white) females. Petry described Johnson as being wrapped up “like a winding sheet” as he was striking his wife and felt unable to stop himself, with “a winding sheet” representing a predominantly white society, similar to the comparison made at the start of the story.  The use of binary opposites by Petry was focused around the contrast between black and white, as well as female versus male power, strengthening the short story and the message behind it. 

        Ann Petry demonstrates binary oppositions without specified limits, unlike Malcolm X in “Message to the Grassroots”, who is attempting to speak on behalf of all black people in attendance. Early in his speech Malcolm X compares America to prison, believing that black people are considered nothing but “ex-slaves” who arrived on slave-ships as opposed to those who arrived on the Mayflower. Tracking back to the time of slavery, Malcolm X emphasises the difference between the house Negro and the field Negro. The house Negro was decribed as being content with their situation, and thinking “what can get better than this?”. On the other hand, the field Negro hated his master and would go to any means to escape. Malcolm X pushes the idea that the white male is all of their prevalent enemy, considering most black males share a similar background, which challenges his argument of comparing the house Negro to the field Negro. The Black Revolution and the Negro Revolution is anaylzed by Malcolm in his speech, pointing out their crucial differences. The Black Revolution is “world-wide in scope and in nature”  (X, Message to the Grassroots), sweeping Asia, Africa, and into Latin America. However, the Negro Revolution is decribed as a nonviolent revolution, where the goal is loving your enemy, the only revolution thought to bear that goal. Malcolm X characterizes those Negros as wanting to “crawl back to the plantation”, considering an ordinary revolution is bloody, violent, and mainly about acqiuring land.  

        Malcolm X incorporates an array of binary opposites throughout his 1963 rally speech, focusing on African Americans and their continuous struggles living in a particularly white society. Although similar in their broader topic, Petry and X use different contrasts to support their claim, much like with the notion of naturalism throughout their works as well.. In “Like a Winding Sheet” Petry portrays Johnson as believing women are prejudice against him because of his race; something hereditary he cannot control. Johnson’s pessimistic attitude is heightened after the encounter with his boss Mrs. Scott, who feels has the right to treat him disrespectfully due to America’s history of racism. Johnson, being very sensitive to this topic, turns to another identity he carries: masculinity. The history of sexism in America allows Johnson to believe he can prevail Mrs. Scott through physical abuse, thinking how good his “hard hands” would feel against her “soft flesh”. This comparison also displays sexist thinking, implying men are stronger and work harder than women do. Concluding the story, when Johnson strikes his wife, he describes it as having “lost control over his hands'' (Petry, 1504). Being behind closed doors with his pessimistic attitude directed towards prejudices he receives from women, he lashes out at his wife because he does not have the societal pressure limiting his choice to be physically violent towards women. Johnson’s own morals were negotiated when he chose to channel his anger towards women through violence on his wife, impacted by environmental factors. 

        In an article by Keith Clark, “A Distaff Dream Deferred? Ann Petry and the Art of Subversion”, he looks closer into Petry’s use of naturalist beliefs throughout her stories. Analyzing a similar work from Petry, Clark states,  “The Street transcends the limitations of "thesis literature" and naturalism, which concentrate microscopically on a single victim and the violence that society inflicts upon him or her” (Clark, 503). Clark argues that this specific use of the tenet of naturalism (as this was the basis of “Like a Winding Sheet, as well) would classify Petry as a typical African-American writer, who views the black community in its totality. 

        The mention of viewing the black community in its totality by Clark also pertains to Malcolm X and his speech. X’s speech is given from a pessimistic perspective, rightfully so, as African Americans during this time were actively fighting for their rights, trying to escape America’s history of racism. Malcolm X uses the metaphor of “he’s a wolf and you’re a sheep” (X, Message to the Grassroots), the wolf meaning the white males in America, and the sheep referring to the black male. Using this analogy, X is getting the message across that anytime someone teaches a black male to not run away from their master, he is considered a traitor to them, signifying the right to equality. Further going on to discuss the March On Washington, he heavily emphasizes the fact that white people took it over, but integrated Negroes as a way to make themselves look inclusive to the public eye for their own benefit. Mostly all of Malcolm X’s point of view came from a pessimistic perspective, integrating the times of slavery and environmental factors causing such a divide between blacks and whites in America. The belief of naturalism was used in a broader way by Malcolm X, whereas Ann Petry integrated sexism, racism, and masculinity stemming from a naturalist perspective.   

        Ann Petry and Malcolm X integrate the belief of naturalism throughout their different works, being successful in broader terms, but leaving readers open to interpreting it variously. Both Petry and X were successful in including environmental factors into their theme, while taking a pessimistic perspective, as fighting for equality was still an uphill battle. Their use of binary oppositions circled around males living in a predominantly white society, and the endeavors that come with that reality, focusing on different, yet specific motives.