When the Oppressor is protected

When the Oppressor is protected

            The experience with landlords has not been one to look forward to for most tenants. Although some landlords are cool and live peacefully with their tenants, there exists a group of them who make their tenants’ lives hard for no reason. An encounter with a careless landlord is not anyone’s dream. Generally, the wrong types of landlords are known for their harsh demand for rental dues but slow response to the needs of the tenants. A tenant pays for the services provided by the landlord and, as such, expects the landlord to put outstanding efforts in making the tenant’s life worth the amount paid in terms of rent. A story is given by a man who has encountered a careless landlord who is only interested in the payment of the rental dues but cannot respond to little requests from the tenants, such as the repair of a leaking roof.

The roof to the house occupied by the tenant is leaking, and the landlord has not considered repairing it despite the tenant having reported the issue. Also, the steps are broken, although the landlord does not fall when he uses them to reach the tenant’s house. The response to the tenant’s complaints is not against the expectations of the tenant. Besides, landlords are known for prioritizing the collection of rent over the comfort of the tenants using their houses. The landlord demands that the tenant pays ten dollars first. However, tenants are also known for their firm positions when it comes to matters to do with their comfort when using a service they have already paid for. The tenant has chosen not to pay the amount due until the landlord repairs his house and makes it as good as a new house. Generally, conflicts between landlords and tenants are common and are mostly solved by legal authorities where both parties are unable to listen to each other.

Conflicts are bound to escalate to dangerous levels when careless landlords meet unrelenting tenants. The landlord must have thought that the tenant will pay the dues without complaining and continue suffering. The fact that the landlord has not responded to the previous complaints means that he does not respect the tenant, and he is willing to continue ignoring his pleas. However, the tenant has a different plan and is using the dues to force the landlord to address the issues with his house. The tenant teases the landlord by asking him what he would do if the tenant failed to pay the dues. The tenant further wonders whether the landlord will kick him out and throw his furniture out. Also, the tenant dares the landlords to continue talking until the tenant’s fist will silence him. The tenant’s reaction is triggered by the landlord’s attempts to talk down the tenant. Besides, the landlord represents a larger group of landlords who believe that tenants are unable to own houses hence ending up in rented houses.

Governments are expected to protect the people they lead but have, in most situations, been on the oppressor’s side. The landlord is forcing the tenant to pay dues despite the house being in a pathetic situation. The government authorities are expected to get to the bottom of the situation and ensure that both parties are satisfied with the solution provided. However, the police rush to the conclusion that the tenant is wrong, and an arrest is made. In his defense, the landlord accuses the tenant of going against the government’s order of paying for services. However, this brings out a weakness of the government in that people are forced to pay for low-quality services. The tenant is forced to pay for a house that has a leaking roof and broken steps. Also, the situation unfolds quickly to show that the police are in a position to respond to an arrest call but do not intervene at earlier stages to avoid the escalation of the conflict.

Racism is a stinking evil that destroys any attempts to promote cohesion among people. The main conflict between the tenant and the landlord comes out to become an issue of racism. The fact that both parties are from different races makes the conflict worse. The landlord looks down on the black tenant while the tenant disrespects the landlord for coming from the superior race. Also, the arrest of the tenant is racially made since he does not have an option of being bailed out. Besides, the local dailies report the arrest as a safety measure since the tenant had threatened a landlord and that he was not in a position to leave the court on bail. The unfolding of events brings out a system that has been corrupted by racism, and justice is only for the people from the race in power. Also, the tenant is sentenced to ninety days in jail for threatening a landlord who was forcing him to pay rent dues for a house that had a leaking roof and broken steps.

Reference

Hughes, L. (1958). Ballad of the Landlord. The Langston Hughes reader. New York: George       Braziller.