H. L. Mencken

Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956), better known as H. L. Mencken was a twentieth century journalist and social critic, a cynic and a freethinker, known as the "Sage of Baltimore" and the "American Nietzsche". He is often regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century.

Race issues

While it is true his essays are sprinkled liberally with epithets that any respectable author of today would deplore ("blackamoor," "niggero," "coon"), Mencken's life, beliefs, and writings show his views to be much more nuanced and progressive than those of most whites of the era.

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Mencken, as a libertarian, believed men should be measured as individuals, rather than categorized on the basis of race, and with remarkable consistency he accorded respect and friendship to individuals he deemed superior or excellent within their communities. Mencken considered the African-American intellectual George Schuyler to be a life-long friend —rare in any case, considering Mencken's infamous capacity for personal criticism.

Related Topics:
Libertarian - George Schuyler

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On the other hand, while Mencken was fair to individuals, he was deeply negative in regard to social groups and other groupings of people, and ethnic groups were no exception. The balance of abuse meted out by Mencken to races, religions, and groups is overwhelmingly skewed against the "dominant" groups, such as Southern Whites, Christians (especially of the Methodist or Baptist persuasion), and even German immigrants, with whom Mencken shared his heritage.

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Instead of arguing that one race or group was superior to another (like modern White supremacists), Mencken believed that every community— whether the community of train porters, African-Americans, newspapermen, or artists — produced a few people of clear superiority. He considered groupings on a par with heirarchies, which led to a kind of natural elitism and aristocracy. "Superior" individuals, in Mencken's view, were those wrongly oppressed and disdained by their own communities, but nevertheless distinguished by their will and personal achievement —not by race or birth. Of course, based on his heritage, achievement, and work ethic, Mencken considered himself a member of this group.

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Overall, Mencken engaged the African-American community with a respect, honesty, and lack of condecension absent from the racists of the day and even the progressive white advocates. Hence to call Mencken "racist" is perhaps simplistic— in many respects he was far ahead of his time in expressing an appreciation of African-American culture —in the balance, his writings are thought have had a positive influence on society rather than a negative one.

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Mencken, in his legendary salvo against Southern American culture, "The Sahara of the Bozart", argued that the whole Confederate region fell into cultureless savagery and backwardness after the Civil War— with the exception of the African-American community. In what was an audacious (and seriously intended) argument, Mencken claimed Southern blacks were actually the heirs and descendents of the talented aristocrats— by way of mistresses! Further Mencken opined that this community was the only site of cultural vitality or activity whatsoever, in spite of being hindered by the barbaric oppression of a culture that condoned and enforced Jim Crow laws and still tacitly sanctioned lynching.

Related Topics:
Jim Crow - Lynching

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The most authoritative work on this subject is Charles Scruggs' book, "The Sage in Harlem" — a survey of Mencken's influence on and support of African-American intellectuals. Mencken, as the editor and main creative force behind The American Mercury magazine, was responsible for publishing more black authors than any other publication of its stature —certainly more than any other white dominated publication. The articles by African-Americans ranged from a Pullman Porter's account of life in that occupation to sophisticated articles by important black thinkers.

Related Topics:
The American Mercury - Pullman Porter

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