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Expanding What It Means to Be African-American Through Ragtimes Coalhouse Walker

E.L. Doctorows Ragtime presents an interesting and complex set of characters that
represent the attitudes in America during the turn-of-the-century. One of characters that is
presented in this novel is that of Coalhouse Walker, an African-American man whose story
becomes intertwined with that of the central familys due to his relationship with the black
woman, Sarah, who has been taken in by them. Coalhouse, then, becomes one of the novels
central characters, as his story quickly reveals the complexities that African-Americans had to
manage during that time and, in some ways, even in contemporary times. Coalhouse Walker,
throughout Ragtime, consistently challenges the stereotypes that affect black Americans while
expanding the scope of what exactly it means to be African-American in this country.
Coalhouses introduction in Ragtime immediately sets the tone of his characterization. In
chapter twenty one, Doctorow writes:
He [Coalhouse] was a Negro. His car shone. The brightwork gleamed. There was a glass
windshieldthe colored man was respectful, but there was something disturbingly
resolute and self-important in the way he asked her if he could please speak with Sarah.
(1575)
Just in these simple descriptions, Coalhouses demeanor is surprising. As a black man,
particularly in this time period, he appears to have a proud attitude and as the owner of a car, he
has achieved some sort of success and wealth. But the language in the aforementioned passage
also reveals something about the way in which Coalhouse is perceived. His attitude is described
as disturbingly resolute meaning that he exhibited a demeanor that was extremely determined
and unwavering. The fact that he was determined appears to be nothing more than a man who
has confidence in himself and all that he has accomplished in his life up until that point and that
confidence being described as disturbing can only be taken to mean that Coalhouse was not

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acting as black people should act. The passage goes on to describe Coalhouse as being dressed
in the affectation of wealth to which colored people lent themselves. (1587) Historically and
contemporarily, black people have felt compelled to show their wealth and status by dressing in
clothing that is traditionally associated with people who have money. Because of the nature of
the treatment of black people who embrace their own culture in America, assimilating oneself
into the general culture of the American majority, which happens to serve white people, more
specifically white males, the most. Coalhouse, here, is doing just that: although he is clearly
black, he is trying to appeal to white people by becoming as white as he possibly can. This
behavior is unnerving to the white family because, especially during this time period of the turn
of the century, Coalhouse is not behaving according to stereotype.
Doctorow even further complicates Coalhouses character. In the same chapter, twentyone, a fascinating discovery is made about Coalhouse. Doctorow writes:
It occurred to father one day that Coalhouse Walker Jr. didnt know he was a Negro. The
more he thought about this the more true it seemed. Walker didnt act or talk like a
colored man. He seemed to be able to transform the customary deferences practiced by
his race so that they reflected to his own dignity rather than the recipients. (1646)
In this passage, the perception of Coalhouse is more overt. His assimilation to white culture is
very obvious but instead of protecting him from the ills of systemic racism and prejudice, it only
further alienates him from white society. The family, with the exception of Mothers Younger
Brother, is confused with exactly how to handle Coalhouse, as he is mostly an anomaly in the
society in which they live.
Coalhouse has an idea of just how it is that he should be treated and that idea most
definitely does not match up with the ideas surrounding black people in the upper class
white society of Chicago in the early 1900s. After an incident in which his car is vandalized

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by some local white firemen, Coalhouse is quick to demand fair treatment and for his car to
be restored to its original condition. In chapter twenty-three, Doctorow writes, Apparently
it did not occur to ingratiate himself in the fashion of his race. (1797) Coalhouse never
considers just giving in to the white men and behaving as is acceptable of a black person of
this time period. Instead, he chooses to fight for his rights and even spends his money that
he had saved for his and Sarahs wedding on securing a lawyer to defend his case.
Coalhouse will do anything to prove that he is, in fact, worthy of proper and fair treatment.
He goes against the grain and what is expected of him just to prove something about the
state of black people. At the end of part two, Father describes Coalhouses fiery and
determined demeanor as damnable nigger pride. (2160) Although one would argue that
Coalhouse is merely fighting for what he deserves in this life, because he is black and that
automatically means that he has no rights in this society, there is something off-putting
about his want for human rights.
The black community has always experienced a divide in the ways in which black people
should behave. Though, like any other race or community, there are not just two ways to think
but two very prominent ideas present somewhat of a binary: the politics of respectability versus
fully embracing all parts of black culture. Respectability politics describe the set of behaviors
that some members of oppressed groups take on in order to try and achieve equality. For
example, Coalhouses adaption of white upper class culture is him subscribing to the politics of
respectability. He believes that by dressing the part, speaking the part, and, overall, acting the
part, he will gain respect from his white counterparts. However, as Ragtime progresses,
particularly with the situation involving the vandalism of Coalhouses car by the racist firemen, it

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is revealed that is does not matter that Coalhouse has money or nice clothes, he is still a black
man. Racism is still going to plague him no matter what.
One of the most important section of Ragtime comes when Booker T. Washington
attempts to reason with Coalhouse about his militancy and radicalism. This is a pivotal
moment that reveals a great deal about the state of black people in this country. It is also worth
noting that this mimics a lot of essential moments about black people. Whenever black people
commit a crime or some sort of injustice is served to black people, prominent black leaders
always have something to say about it, whether it is negative or positive. Doctorow describes
Washington, at the beginning of this chapter as:
Booker T. Washington was at this time the most famous Negro in the country. Since the
founding of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama he had become the leading exponent of
vocational training for colored people. He was against all Negro agitation on questions of
political and social equality. He had written a best-selling book about his life, a struggle
up from slavery to self-realization, and about his ideas, which called for the Negros
advancement with the help of his white neighbor. (2845)
The passage points to Washington as what some black people may consider a traitor to the
race. Booker T. Washington wanted black people to substitute their want and fight for equality
for economic and educational gain. He felt that truly assimilating into white society and
forgetting about making any political strides would be the best thing for African-Americans in
this country. In his speech to Coalhouse, Washington remarks, I have had to persuade the white
man that he need not fear us or murder us, because we wanted only to improve ourselves and
peaceably join him in enjoyment of the fruits of American democracy. (2869) Washington is
trying to convince Coalhouse that they need to appeal to white people by changing themselves
completely. Washington is, essentially, holding black people responsible for ending their own
prejudice.

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The conversation exposes a dark and rather extreme side to respectability politics. The
two men come to represent the two sides of argument concerning black peoples civil rights in
America. Washington claims:
Every Negro in prison, every shiftless no-good gambling and fornicating colored man has
been my enemy, and every incident of faulted Negro character has cost me a piece of my
life. What will your misguided criminal recklessness cost me! What will it cost my
students laboring to learn a trade by which they can earn their livelihood and still white
criticism!
The lengths that Washington is going to in order to persuade Coalhouse to abandon his mission
and become what Washington himself is, merely a puppet of white America. It also appears to
Washington has attributed his own individual success as a sign that racism is dying when he is
only perpetuating the system that made him feel compelled to start the Tuskegee Institute in the
first place. The irony of Booker T. Washington forgetting where it is that he has come from. This
part of the speech also is demonstrative of the fact that he does not care about the well-being of
his race, but he cares more about gaining economic power.
Coalhouses response to Washingtons indictment of him is extremely contrary. After
thanking him for coming and speaking of his own great admiration of him, Coalhouse simply
states, And that therefore, possibly, we might both be servants of our color who insist on the
truth of our manhood and the respect that it demands. (2881) With this statement, Coalhouse is
convinced that his behavior and his politics are essential to his fight. One is forced to look at the
situation that sparked this entire riot and realize that Coalhouse believes that what he is doing is
right. He is not interested in economic gain or education. He had those things and it still did not
protect him from prejudice. But he has realized that those are not the end all, be all of making it
in American society. Here, Coalhouse continues to challenge the norm; he chooses not to listen
to Booker T. Washington, a man with a lot of influence and prominence at the time but he

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chooses to buck the system in order to try and get what he feel is right and what he feels like he
deserves.
Sacrificing himself and willing to die for his cause is something that sets Coalhouse apart
from a great deal of the black people of his time. What Doctorow has presented is a character
that has manifested into a lot of the different types of black people but Coalhouse is not just
another black character. He complicates the stereotypes: he subscribes to some aspects of
respectability politics but he does so most likely because he wants to show off the fruits of his
labor and he also could be classified as merely an angry black man when he begins his terroristic
acts and militancy. But he is not just angry. He is fighting for a cause in the best way that he can
especially after he tried to get justice in a very legal and rather calm way. Coalhouse Walker
represents a group of black people who take the matter of their injustice into their own hands and
although it often doesnt end well for them, it sets a precedent for what could possibly happen in
the future.

WORKS CITED

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Doctorow, E.L. Ragtime. New York: Random House, 1975. Print.