Amiri Baraka
1934-2014
The Dutchman was a component to post modernism aligned with the Black Power movement. Amiri Baraka's goal was to reach the community through the arts. He was a very provocative poet that did not spare or mince words when telling his story.
The Dutchman shows us how people of other races view one another. What a white woman's view of a uncle tom black man is. The white woman, Lula pinpoints the black man, Clay and immediately makes every assumption about him and clings to them as she believes her assumptions are true. She starts out by making sexual advances towards Clay. At first, Clay didn't seem to mind and thought she may be interested in him.
However, when he doesn't make any reciperical advances towards her, Lula becomes increasingly hostile in her attacks against Clay's manhood and identity making a mockery of him. Clay becomes agitated by her advances and stands up for himself. Lula does not take well to his realization that he does not have to take this type of treatment from her or any white person any longer. I think Lula was a little frightened by this because she suddenly realized that she would not have dominance over this black man like she thought she would. In her mind, this was unacceptable and she then stabs him to death.
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