Class consciousness in song of Solomon: An expert's analysis

Since 1923 Marxists have been espousing the concept of Class Consciousness as a solution to capitalism. The theory goes that once the masses truly understand the true nature of their oppression and the true identity of their oppressors they will rise up against them as one and shatter the system that holds them in bondage. This idea was taken on by the radical black liberation movement in the United States and applied to race as well creating the idea of “Race Consciousness” In her critique of Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon Dorothea Mbalia takes both of these ideas and cross applies them to the development of the central character in the novel: Macon “Milkman” Dead. Her central Idea being that as the novel goes on the character of Milman becomes more and more class and race conscious. While this may be true in terms character of character development by the end of the novel despite what Ms Mbalia has to say, the black community is no closer to revolution or socialism. Mbalia starts the essay by describing “Milkman” in his pre “conscious” state depicting him as a man full of misogyny and indifferent towards the plight of his own people. As far as misogyny goes she says he is a man who “Shits on women”. This is fairly accurate and she uses examples of his treatment of Hagar to back up the claim. Mbalia then moves onto race consciousness describing a Milkman who is so focused on himself in his privileged wealthy life that the problems faced by his friend, guitar and other members of the black community mean nothing to him. As an example of this she brings up his indifference to Emmett Till’s murder again and again repeatedly citing the time he said “Fuck Till.. what about me”. All together in the first half of her essay Mbalia accurately demonstrates the complete lack of empathy Milkman exhibits towards everyone he meets clearly he is not conscious and yet despite her claims does milkman ever reach a conscious state by the end of the novel? Even if he does his consciousness makes little difference by the end of the novel, when he returns home he finds hagar dead, pilate stricken with grief and guitar full of violent religious zeal. His new found consciousness has brought nothing back to his own community. In fact his actions have lead to death and destruction for many of his closest friends and family members. All together Mbalia’s description of milkman’s character arc as a development of class consciousness sells both the idea and milkman short. It does not examine the motif of flight and is really trying to insert certain marxist ideas into the text while failing to understand much of the socialist symbolism that is already there.