Baldwin explains how America functioned as a county and also as an ideal, which would make it "extremely unlikely that blacks would ever rise to power in the United States" (Baldwin, p. 83) Baldwin uses the example of how black Americans were kidnapped, brought here and sold like animals and treated as such. It is therefore impossible for their situation to change without the most radical changes. With this statement Baldwin shows his mix of ideals, here he is more aligned with Malcom X. Baldwin continues to explain how freedom in political terms is difficult to obtain. The only way to do this is to be “able to bear the burden” (Baldwin, p. 91). Therefore, without the acceptance of this burden, the principles of transformation into one nation will not allow us to recognize ourselves as we are. Baldwin addresses this message primarily to white people in America, but also to black people. Baldwin, like Dr. Martin Luther King, had great hope that blacks and whites could integrate and become one nation. He states that "blacks and whites have a deep need for each other if we are truly to become a nation – if we are truly to, that is, to realize our identity, our maturity, as men." and women” (Baldwin, p. 97) Even though deep in his heart he knew that the only way for America and the people living here to become one was to let go of the past.