Deconstructing Racial Identity through African American Literature - Research Paper Example

May 18, Deconstructing Racial Identity through African – American Literature Introduction The divisions that occurred in America through the Civil War not only caused lines between the regions and in political arenas. There were also different forms of thought that began to arise between ethnicities in various regions. Some of the ethnic behaviors responded to the culture and political arena by carrying a specific mentality and ideal. However, in other ethnicities, there was a rejection of the popular culture that was a part of America during this region. A movement that began to occur in literature was a rejection of the Eurocentric thoughts and behaviors. African – Americans began to move against the main concepts that were related to this mentality and showed a side of America that was unique to the African – American experience. Writers such as Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, Frances Harper and Paul Laurence Dunbar created an alternative culture that didn’t accept the mainstream ideologies in society. The approach that each of the writers took was one that was based on representing the voice of a marginalized culture in America. By creating this voice, there was the ability to break through the boundaries that were associated with America and African – Americans during this time frame and to associate with an alternative voice that made up the minorities of America. Background The main association with Eurocentric thoughts was from the defining of what it meant to belong to a civilized nation, as opposed to living in a class that was believed to have a less fortunate situation. The basis for this was created to show that individuals that belonged to a certain class should have a different status over others. For one to belong to a civil society and to have any merit, they also had to affiliate with different political parties and associate with the philosophies that were accepted during this time. The tensions that were a part of this time frame were not only associated with political ideologies, but were also based around territorial boundaries that were in various regions, specifically between the North and the South. The divisions that were created in these two terms then led to social divisions between an elite group of individuals and those that were considered a part of a lower close in each region. The several divisions that arose during this time are what led to the Eurocentric thoughts and the changes in social interaction. The forms that led to the different areas of prestige included changes in communication, exchanges of money, rules of conduct and political associations (Kaldor, 17). As the different divisions began to occur, the Eurocentric thought and the establishments in society began to divide. This led to the uprising against the Eurocentric establishment, which was divided by political thought processes, race, class and status. The response by those that were in the Civil War frame was the rise of Black Nationalism as an alternative voice of the country. The main voice that was created from this debated against the Eurocentric class system and demanded equal rights for African – Americans and those that were facing the Civil War through the slavery movement. The main Eurocentric process was known as the “get shut” concept, which meant that the African – Americans should be expelled from all social aspects of society. The Black Nationalist movement that rose against this created a different perspective on the social banishment and created a voice that opposed the current treatment of those that were in society. “Most white Americans have long thought blacks to be essentially different; and they have used that idea to justify expelling blacks, restricting black movement and limiting the range of rights, privileges, and opportunities available to black people. It stands to reason, then, that most attempts by black people to identify their differences from the majority population and pursue political and economic autonomy on that basis, conform to one of the oldest American political fantasies” (Robinson, 2). The concept of Eurocentric thought is one that led to a division between the marginalized population, which consisted of African – Americans from the Civil War. The result was a direct division between those who had opportunity because of race and class, as opposed to those that were not considered to be a part of the main stream in society. To further the movement of Black Nationalism from this approach, was also the need to create a voice and ideology that moved against the main Eurocentric thoughts and culture. Justification The examination of literature during the Civil War and beyond is one of the main ways in which one can understand the concept of the African – Americans and the voice that was created. The review of different authors and philosophies that moved against the Eurocentric thoughts shows what the basis of the debate was within America during this time frame. More importantly, the creation of the voice through the literature moved toward a silent revolution that was based on the rights, freedoms and privileges of every race. The examination of the voices of different authors that were linked directly to the African – American movement and the understanding of the perspectives that were taken created a different relationship to the rights that were a part of this time period and into the contemporary age. The statements and approach toward the political, economic and social division allowed for African – Americans and others that were a part of this movement to have a different voice and moved them into an understanding of the equality that was being asked for out of the Eurocentric social class. More importantly, it caused those that were a part of the Eurocentric social class to reconsider their thought processes and to take a different role within society, especially in regards to the identity and division that was currently accepted in society. Examining these roles will create a deeper understanding of how the voices and philosophies began to shape America and the changes of division that were a part of society. Limitations While examining the voices of literature against the Eurocentric thoughts and society, several limitations will also be placed. The authors that will be examined will be focused on some of the stronger statements and voices made during this time frame. However, there were other well known African – American voices who also moved outside of the Eurocentric social class and which developed a different understanding of slavery, race and class. Not being able to examine the several areas of literature and show the different influences and movements is one of the main limitations of this paper. Instead, there will be a focus on the literature that made the strongest impact during this time and which pushed forward the revolution and the voice of a marginalized society. Not being able to completely examine the depths of literature and the ways in which society was influenced is one of the main limitations that are a part of this paper. The second set of limitations that are a part of an understanding of the literature and movement against Eurocentric thought is based on the complete analysis of the time frame and historical components. There were other movements, philosophies and a creation of division that was associated with this time frame. The changes that occurred from this impacted the economic, political and cultural arenas throughout the United States and created more diverse sets of understanding and thought. More importantly, there were other divisions and thoughts that emerged before the Civil War and which led into contemporary thought, specifically which created alterations in both the African – American mindset and Eurocentric thought. Examining the depth of this movement from alternative perspectives and other influences from culture will not be possible within the range of this research project. Gaining the full impact of the African – American movement against Eurocentric thought from these alternative perspectives is one of the main limitations that won’t be examined when looking at the impact of this movement. Questions The impact of the literature that moved against the Eurocentric thought process is one that moved into a deeper understanding of what was occurring during the Civil War, as well as how the thought processes began to arise during this time frame. There were several elements that added into this and which created a different understanding of what was occurring during this time. When researching this specific topic, it could be noted that the literature created a revolutionary movement against Eurocentric thought without the use of the mainstream culture which needed to create different boundaries against race. When examining this, the following questions arose: 1. Which social settings did the African American literature affect most when moving against Eurocentric thought? 2. Why and how did the African – Americans gain their insight and philosophies to move into the ideologies against the Eurocentric thought? 3. What was the main voice or set of philosophies that arose as a contrast to the Eurocentric social class? 4. What was the overall impact of the voice that was created during this time? These questions answer not only the impact that was created when looking at the Civil War in America and the movement against the Eurocentric thought process. More importantly, it shows what new ideologies were created through African – American literature and how this impacted the nation not only within the realm of literature, but also outside of it. The understanding that one can develop by looking at the literature of the time shows how the thought processes changed not only from social class, but also through the several newer philosophies of the identity of being an African – American in society. Methodology To examine the impact of literature and the movement against Eurocentric thought, will be a specific process used to show the new identity and voice that was created. The methodology used will be based on examining different aspects of the literature and society, while creating a deeper understanding of the social movements that were a part of this time frame. The methodology will begin with an understanding of the Eurocentric social movement and the ways in which this was divided during this time frame. There will also be an examination of the mentality and rising ideas from African – Americans. These two defining points will lead into finding specific pieces of literature that represent the African – American movement into Black Nationalism and against the Eurocentric social movement. The literature that is chosen will show the voice of African – Americans as well as examine how this has led into the revolutionary thoughts and philosophies of this group. The last step to the methodology will be an examination of how the literature has impacted the African – Americans during this time frame, as well as how it led into a change in social understanding and status and different levels of the impact through the Civil War. Showing how these different pieces of literature changed the political, economic and social movements of the time will provide a broader picture of how the different writing also worked as a philosophy and voice for African – Americans and against the mainstream. Review of the Literature The main concept that began to arise during the Civil War and beyond was a defining of culture, race and social status. The Civil War was a defining point for America because it was the first time that African – Americans were not considered as slaves and instead a growing belief was forming that they deserved to have rights as humans and with full equality of American citizens. To further this, there was a question of how African – Americans communicated outside of the context of slavery as well as a race and subculture. Defining the ideologies through Eurocentric thought was one that didn’t provide a strong culture, specifically because of the biases that were a part of the Eurocentric paradigm. However, there was also the need to create a sense of African – American communication that reflected the various areas of life and the experience that was a part of this culture and race. The communication was able to define the economy, politics, sociology, psychology and education that was unique to the African – American experience. It was from this main philosophy that the literature began to submerge outside of the voice of the Eurocentric community (Hecht et al, 17). One of the African – American voices that began to emerge during this time and in response to the Eurocentric society was Phillis Wheatley. The main concept that Wheatley was recognized for was based on the history of the African – American, specifically as they were taken into slavery and which forced them to change identity that was outside of their roots. The transition that Wheatley focuses on within her works is based on the transition from Africa and into America as not only a voyage, but also toward an exchange and loss of identity. Wheatley moves her stories into different patterns that are associated with the psychology and cultural exchanges of African – American experiences. More importantly, Wheatley creates a distinctive line between those who were taken into slavery and those who are a part of Eurocentric thought. “The distinctive pattern of crossing and cultural production seems to have begun with Phyllis Wheatley, the eighteenth century slave poet whose outer national career has been repeatedly cited as a symbol of the dilemmas and difficulties that attend the distinctive plight of black intellectuals. The Wheatley story is still a powerful means to mediate the relationship between black Americans and the Eurocentric” (Chambers, Curti, 18). The concepts that Wheatley provided were based on creating an alternative identity through the cultural crossing of African – Americans. The relationship that Wheatley focuses on is one that creates an alternative experience, history and culture with African – Americans, specifically which moves outside of the bounds of Eurocentric thought. The second figure that can be examined in the same manner is Frederick Douglass. Douglass was also known for creating a historical perspective and individual identity of what it meant to be black as well as what it meant to live outside of slavery and toward freedom. The voice that Douglass created was one in which he became a representation of what it meant to be African – American. The particular representation that Douglass created was based on his experiences, first as a slave, then into the arenas of freedom in which the intellectual and the Eurocentric was experienced. The main concept that Douglass presented was based on identity politics, in which Douglass was able to create divisions and contradictions of the politics of the time. More importantly, Douglass was able to represent the idea of the individual and the contradictions of social identity, specifically by addressing and challenging Eurocentric thought. For slaves, as well as those that were a part of Eurocentric thought, was the ability to identify and question the social status and mentality toward African – Americans, specifically through the writings and philosophies that Douglass questioned (Moses, 5). Another African – American writer which created this same presentation was Frances Harper. Harper was known for the political and economic agenda that was a part of her writings and which created a specific impact on society. The questioning that was created through this was based on the concept of equality and freedom, not only seen through the Eurocentric experience, but also through the African – American identity. More importantly, Harper focuses on the identity of the African – American family and the impact that was a part of the slave legacies of the time. The different concepts approached by Harper were designed to question the ideas of prejudice and the definitions that many associated with this through an intellectual point of view. The literature that Harper presents is one that reverses the circumstances and identity between white and black, which creates a different association with concepts of politics, economy and the family as a racial division and identity (Handley, 102). Each of the writers that presented the idea of race, politics and class then were able to create different philosophies by changing the identity of the African – American experience. Another writer who showed this specific attribute was Paul Laurence Dunbar. The association with racial identity in the several writings of Dunbar was based on the same recreation of history and social status among African – Americans, which immediately challenged the Eurocentric thought. The approach that was taken by Dunbar was one that interrogated the idea of whiteness as a social movement and questioned the philosophies that were associated with this. More importantly, Dunbar was able to create a deconstruction of the assumptions of race, specifically by showing the African – American experience and the identity that was associated with this. The recreation of identity was then able to create a challenge to social status, politics and the economy that was currently a part of society (Keating, 901). Conclusion The concepts of racial identity and the African – American experience began to associate with an alternative voice during the Civil War. The main concepts that were associated with this were based on the ideologies of what it meant to overcome slavery and to have a culture that was outside of the mainstream social, political and economic status. The pieces of literature that were a part of this time frame represented the voice, history and identity of African – American thought. More importantly, this voice was able to challenge the Eurocentric society and the prejudices that were against African – Americans. The writers that were a part of this movement were able to recreate history, deconstruct race and create a sense of Black Nationalism that altered the racial divisions that were a part of society during this time frame. Works Cited Chambers, Iain, Lidia Curti. The Post – Colonial Question: Common Skies, Divided Horizons. Routledge: New York, 1998. Handley, George. Postslavery Literatures in the Americas: Family Portraits in Black and White. The University Press of Virginia: Virginia, 2000. Hecht, Michael, Mary Jane Collier, Sidney Ribeau. African American Communication: Ethnic Identity and Cultural Interpretation. Sage Publications: California, 1993. Keating, Ann Louise. Interrogating Whiteness, Deconstructing Race. College English (57), (8), 1995. Moses, Wilson. Creative Conflict in African American Thought: Frederick Douglass. Cambridge University Press: UK, 2004. Robinson, Dean. Black Nationalism in American Politics and Thought. Cambridge University Press: UK, 2001. Kaldor, Mary. Global Civil Society: an Answer to War. Blackwell Publishing: UK, 2003. Read More