In the novel If Beale Street Could Talk written by a world-famous author named James Baldwin, the story begins with Clementine (Tish) announcing her pregnancy to her husband Alonzo (Fonny). Tish worries about his and both families' reactions to the pregnancy, but she is happy when he reacts with joy, and her family reacts with love and happiness as well. Fonny's father (Frank) is also grateful, but Fonny's religious mother (Alice) and his two sisters pass judgment on the situation and spark a confrontation between the two families. However, a common theme throughout the novel is the connection between racism and fear, suggesting that prejudiced people use intimidation tactics to suppress African Americans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Fonny's friend Daniel is no stranger to the constant fear that comes with living in a racist justice system. While explaining to Fonny and Tish why he went to prison, Daniel says he was too afraid to defend his own innocence, explaining how his trial was "rigged" against him. “They said – they still say – that I stole a car,” he said. “Dude, I don't even know how to drive a car, and I tried to get my lawyer – but he was actually their lawyer, dig, he worked for the city – to prove it, but he didn't not done. Essentially they didn't even give Daniel a fair trial and automatically charged him and basically gave him no choice but to plead guilty. The justice system used Daniels' so-called "lawyer" as a way to isolate him from anyone who could help him and essentially convinced him to take responsibility, because since he is guilty of " green” on him, he is guilty of stealing a car. Furthermore, Daniel said: If I did not plead guilty, they would throw the book at me. Well, I was alone, baby, I was nobody, so I pleaded guilty (Baldwin, 102). Daniel repeatedly emphasized the fact that he “was alone” throughout this process. Not only do the prosecutors use scare tactics against him, but they also deceive him into saying he is guilty, but they make sure he feels alone and isolated from anyone who can witness and help him . Essentially, they made him feel guilty by not providing him with any help, leading Daniel to plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit, proving that fear is often what stops Afro -Americans to express themselves and break the chains imposed on them. because of racism and fear. Throughout the novel, he describes fear as something that prevents young African Americans like Fonny and his friend Daniel from standing up for their own oppression. It is very clear that this type of racism is institutionalized in power structures also known as authorities. In the case of Fonny and those close to him, it also talks about how all of these work together to keep them oppressed. Daniel sees where Fonny is coming from when they talk because Daniel previously spent time in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He says that now that he is out of prison, things are even worse and that he is even more afraid than before, too afraid to fight for real “freedom”. As Daniel and Fonny talk about Daniel's life after prison, we can see that Daniel is afraid for his life. We can see and imagine the fear he feels even outside of prison. The fear of him coming home. Fonny starts asking Daniel "How long have you been gone?"", to which Daniel responds: "About three months... Man, that was bad. Very bad. And it's bad now. Maybe I would feel different if I had done something. But I didn't do anything... The worst part is that they can scare you so much. Afraid, frightened man (Baldwin, 103).” The audience can see that white America oppresses people like Daniel and Fonny by placing them in positions where they have no power. This coupled with fear preventing them from defending themselves is one of the main reasons they remain oppressed and in fear. Baldwin also shows his readers how racist people with authority or power pit young black men against each other. Another instance where this happens is when Mom and Tish see Mr. Hayward at his office and look into Fonny's situation and explain why Daniel is "conveniently" arrested after he and Fonny talk and sent to prison where Mr. Hayward or anyone else cannot have access to it. What a coincidence that their only solid alibi is placed in prison and the woman who accused Fonny of rape has disappeared. Mr. Hayward explains: I know something about Officer Bell, who is racist and a liar... I also know something about the prosecutor in charge of his case, who is worse. Daniel Carty has just been arrested by the prosecutor's office and is being held at Communicado. I wasn't allowed to see him... What they're doing is definitely against the law, but Daniel has a criminal record, as you know. In other words, the DA. arrested Daniel because he's their only key alibi, and the prosecutor and Officer Bell both know he has a criminal record, so no one will suspect anything illegal is happening. What a coincidence too that they don't let Mr. Hayward see Daniel and Mrs. Rogers disappears. They're clearly doing their best to pin Fonny and his family against a hammer and a hard place, pin them down and make them fear the prosecutors. We also know that Officer Bell is a liar and a racist and therefore can conclude that he and the DA are doing all of this maliciously because they are black. It's no coincidence that these white authority figures do all this to try to incriminate Fonny and leave him with no choice but to plead guilty like they did with Daniel. Essentially, he uses Daniels' fears against him and tries to convince him to change his testimony. Baldwin explains how America's unjust systems of power disadvantage and disempower black people. It's basically using fear to isolate African Americans like Fonny and Daniel, making it even harder for them to speak out and defend themselves. Similar to Daniel's situation, Fonny faces similar racism towards him and Tish. In the article The Eye as a Weapon written by Trusier Harris, he begins to analyze the meaning of the things that were said in If Beale Street Could Talk and he remembers the time when Fonny helped Tish and defended her when the Italian drug addict accosted Tish. He sets up the scenario in a way that makes you understand and gives you an idea of ​​Officer Bell's real-life racism. He says: “When Tish sees Bell approaching, she puts her body between Fonny and Bell in the role of protector. “I was sure this cop was going to kill Fonny; but he couldn't kill Fonny if I could keep my body between Fonny and that cop (Harris, 58).” She sees that this officer is not attacking this white Italian drug addict but Fonny because he is a black man. Furthermore, he says, “Her awareness of what white officers do to black men forces Tish to take control and she knows that with her in between, the officer can't do anything. She has had enough experiences or seen.