A Voice from the South: By a Black Woman of the South

In “The Gain From a Belief,” Cooper juxtaposes her ideological stance, informed by African American culture, with Western philosophical developments of the 19th century, exploring the racial debates and possibilities for social change. While other essays are more focused on social and cultural criticism, here Cooper articulates philosophical criticisms in an effort to show how certain strains of philosophical thought undermine the cause of racial progress. For example, Cooper contests positivism, agnosticism, and skepticism to proclaim her Christian faith and its significance for the cause of equality. For Cooper, schools of thought that exclude the idea of God and spiritual life impede any envisioning of the future. Such values can lead humanity into a deadlock, as they undermine self-development: “The inspiration of beginning now a growth which is to mature in endless development through eternity is removed from our efforts at self-culture” (172).

Cooper situates faith as an essential component of her entire worldview: Without faith, the ideals of societal progress are rendered meaningless. Skepticism is therefore a threat because it denies faith, which Cooper argues is necessary for the progress of a race or a nation as well as essential to character formation. Faith leads to “endless expansion and perfectibility” for humanity (173). The theme of The Quest for Liberation in the Post-Reconstruction Era recurs, as Cooper’s arguments highlight that faith humanizes thinking. Faith is empowering because it reinforces the belief in the future of humanity and the belief in a more humane world, “a far away country where a man’s a man” (176). Ultimately, Cooper makes evident the quest of African Americans for humanity and equality and reiterates the possibility of social change and the belief in a better future for all, so long as one has faith.