A Sold Birthright

Dear Old Ned,

During your conversation with your white "friends," you agreed with their assertion that Negroes were pushing to hard for equality and that they were still an inferior race. Afterwards, you left the room stating that you had sold your birth right and were going straight to hell. Clearly, your reference to Genesis 25 is an indication that you believe you were not strong enough to stand up for African American rights. You traded respect for immediate financial gain. Esau, in a moment of extreme hunger, sells his birthright to Jacob in order to satiate his immediate desire for food. In the passage, this is looked upon as a foolish and hasty decision, but is your situation really applicable?
This dilemma that you waded through is still a highly contested dilemma today. Should one sacrifice respect for practical necessities or desires? Is it better to assimilate to survive or to openly resist degradation?
This dilemma is also examined in a movie entitled The Butler. The butler faithfully serves in the White House without any protest when he is overlooked or treated disrespectfully. He does what he has to do to support his family. All the while, he is convincing the white people around him that he is respectable and equal because of his civil conduct. On the other hand, his son fights for equality and civil rights by loudly protesting and drawing attention to his cause. He angers the people around him and is persecuted while he protests, but ultimately his movement makes a difference.
At the end of the day, I am not much of an extremist, so I believe that there is a time and a place for both and that both forms of activism are absolutely necessary. Respectability politics are complicated and highly contested, but I appreciate your voice in the conversation.

Best regards,
Taylor Wright