University of Virginia Library

Address By Bryce—LaPorte

Significance Of Slavery Examined

By Richard Jones

Emphasizing the point that, "the
study of slavery is necessary to
understand the blacks today," Roy S.
Bryce-LaPorte, Director of
Afro-American Studies at Yale
University, concluded that it is in the
self-interest of blacks to correct images
injurious to their race.

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte was introduced by
University President Edgar F. Shannon,
Jr., who stated, "we have much to learn
and gain from these lectures."

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte, who has taught at
Hunter College and is now Associate
Professor of Anthropology at Yale University,
has also written on the adaptation of Western
Indians to American Culture, and has also done
research on urban and rural minorities in Puerto
Rico, Los Angeles, and Santo Domingo.

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte explained in his speech
the historical significance of slavery and its
effect on black culture. He said that plantation
America, Leuben's phrase for black America in
antebellum days, was a total institution. A
total institution is a place of life and work cut
off from society which administers a complete,
separate way of life.

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte stated that there are four
levels of a slave plantation as a total institution.
They are the objectives, the relationship to
external society, the certain kinds of work
necessary to carry out the goals, and the
behavior of the inhabitants. He concentrated on
the behavior of the inhabitants.

Relating the slave's submission to the
master, Mr. Bryce-LaPorte said that the slaves
would either be zombified by submission or
killed in an outright revolution. He suggested
that the blacks conditioned their culture to the
environment through secondary adjustments.

According to Mr. Bryce-LaPorte, this
secondary adjustment or form of behavior is
exemplified by Malcolm X's action when he
presented himself at the enlistment center for
the Army.

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte said that Malcolm X was
sent to the psychiatrist and released from duty
because he was insane. After entering the
doctor's office; Malcolm X attempted to call a
dog through the crack at the bottom of the
door.

Mr. Bryce-LaPorte said that Malcolm X won
his point by utilizing patterns of behavior
particular to blacks that are often overlooked
by whites. He added that a subtlety was
involved and in order to know the black culture
this behavior must be understood.

Andy Kline

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