This paper examines the roots of Black Bourgeoisie in Franklin E. Frazier’s book "Black Bourgeoisie" from 1957 and addresses its role in the novel "Passing" by Nella Larsen. Franklin E. Frazier’s book is still one of the most important analysis of African American life. It traces the upcoming and the development of the black middle class from the separated South to the after-war period in the North. He asserts how African Americans in the middle class lost their roots and traditions instead of gaining the wished acknowledgment of their white counterparts. Frazier presents the losing of their identities and an inferiority complex they cannot escape as a result.
Until today Frazier’s remarks on the black bourgeoisie are still relevant to many other authors engaging in the topic of the African American middle class. His findings and considerations are often being referred to in other works, they are worshiped as well as reviled. Reading some of these works regarding Frazier’s early work, it gets clear that in the last decades a lot had changed, especially regarding the position of the blacks in the economy and white society and their feelings towards their black roots. To get a detailed insight into the life of a black bourgeois, it is important to firstly look at how the black middle class arose, how it came to wealth, how it changed through time and what status in the white economy and society it had. Following Frazier’s and newer remarks from other authors the findings will belooked at regarding the character Irene Redfield in "Passing".
Is she the black bourgeois Frazier describes in his book? Does she represent the old class of black bourgeoisie or rather the new one, which appeared in books and articles after Frazier wrote Black Bourgeoisie? Further to that analysis this work will concentrate on Irene Redfield’s behavior and attitude towards her black roots and traditions and towards the values of the American society she decides to live in. It will be analyzed in how far she tries to be acknowledged by the Whites and in how far this wish for recognition makes her break with her blackness. Summing up, in how far this process leads to becoming nobody as a result of a severe identity loss.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Historical Background
2.1. Frazier’s Remarks on the Roots of Black Bourgeoisie
2.2. Frazier’s Remarks on the Influence of the Freedman’s Savings Bank
2.3. Development of Black Bourgeoisie since Frazier
3. The Role of Black Bourgeoisie in Passing
3.1. Irene Redfield – A Typical Black Bourgeois?
3.2. Irene Redfield’s Loss of Identity
4. Conclusion
5. List of Works Cited
Objectives & Core Themes
The academic paper investigates the identity crisis of the character Irene Redfield in Nella Larsen’s novel "Passing," analyzed through the lens of E. Franklin Frazier’s 1957 sociological study "Black Bourgeoisie." The core research question addresses whether Irene exhibits the traits of the "old" black middle class—characterized by a rejection of black identity and a desperate, often futile pursuit of white societal acknowledgment—and how this psychological conflict leads to an erosion of her selfhood.
- The historical emergence and socioeconomic path of the American black middle class.
- Frazier’s concept of identity loss and the resulting inferiority complex within the black bourgeoisie.
- The tension between black cultural heritage and the adoption of white middle-class values.
- Character analysis of Irene Redfield as an example of a "typical black bourgeois" in literature.
- The sociopolitical impact of the post-1960s shift in the black middle-class status.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Irene Redfield – A Typical Black Bourgeois?
Now, after taking a detailed look at the historical events of the black bourgeoisie, I will focus on the role of the old black bourgeoisie, described by Frazier, in Nella Larsen’s novel Passing. The specific focus will be on Irene Redfield, the narrator of the story and in how far she can be considered a typical black bourgeois in the old way.
At the beginning of the novel Irene Redfield can be seen shopping for gifts for her sons in Chicago. She is walking through the streets looking for the things she had promised to bring home with her (Larsen 4) when returning to Harlem. This shopping for things is the first aspect of her whole behavior which leads to the assumption that she indeed is a member of the black bourgeoisie (Brody 1057), because Frazier names consumption as one of many values of the bourgeois lifestyle (26). This assumption confirms in the following actions: It is known for the black bourgeoisie to “look down upon masses of the race” as Bart Landry explains in his article (211) or as Frazier puts it, to “reject identification with the Negro masses” (24). This is a fact that one can see very clearly in the behavior of Irene Redfield. When walking through the streets of Chicago on a hot summer day and a man collapses right besides her, she, as soon as possible, flees from the masses that gather together to help the man. She herself feels “soiled from the contact with so many sweating bodies” (Larsen 4) and escapes into a hotel café on the rooftop of the Drayton, a presumably “only whites” hotel.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical framework based on E. Franklin Frazier’s work and outlines the objective to analyze Irene Redfield’s identity loss in Nella Larsen’s "Passing."
2. The Historical Background: This section details the emergence of the black middle class in the U.S., focusing on economic shifts, the influence of the Freedman’s Savings Bank, and the development of class consciousness versus identity suppression.
2.1. Frazier’s Remarks on the Roots of Black Bourgeoisie: This chapter examines the historical, economic, and land-owning origins of the black middle class as characterized by Frazier.
2.2. Frazier’s Remarks on the Influence of the Freedman’s Savings Bank: This section analyzes how the bank instilled bourgeois ideals and an aspiring, yet isolated, mindset among the black population.
2.3. Development of Black Bourgeoisie since Frazier: This chapter contrasts Frazier’s 1957 findings with post-1960s advancements and the emergence of a new, more integrated black middle class.
3. The Role of Black Bourgeoisie in Passing: This chapter transitions from historical context to literary application, focusing on the character Irene Redfield within Nella Larsen's narrative.
3.1. Irene Redfield – A Typical Black Bourgeois?: This section discusses Irene’s behavior, consumption habits, and attitudes toward the black masses in relation to Frazier’s sociological definitions.
3.2. Irene Redfield’s Loss of Identity: This chapter tracks Irene’s psychological development and her internal struggle between black identity and her desire for white societal acceptance.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes findings, affirming that Irene represents the tragic "black bourgeois" archetype while noting the broader historical evolution of the black middle class.
5. List of Works Cited: This section provides a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the research.
Keywords
Black Bourgeoisie, Nella Larsen, Passing, Irene Redfield, Identity Loss, African American Middle Class, E. Franklin Frazier, Racial Identity, Social Class, Socioeconomic Status, Cultural Heritage, Make-Believe, Discrimination, Post-Civil Rights Era, Literature Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper explores the psychological and socioeconomic identity crisis of Irene Redfield, the protagonist of Nella Larsen's novel "Passing," by applying the sociological theories of E. Franklin Frazier regarding the "black bourgeoisie."
Which thematic areas are primarily discussed in this research?
The study covers the historical development of the black middle class, the tension between race and class, the psychological impact of aspiring to white societal ideals, and the theme of passing in literature.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary aim is to determine if Irene Redfield reflects the characteristics of the "old" black middle class defined by Frazier, specifically whether her desire for white acknowledgment leads to an irreversible loss of her own cultural identity.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The research uses a socio-literary qualitative analysis, combining historical and sociological data from Frazier’s scholarly work with a close reading and character analysis of the novel "Passing."
What specific aspects are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main part encompasses a historical overview of the black middle class, an analysis of bourgeois values like consumption and social separation, and a detailed character study of Irene Redfield’s behavior and internal conflicts.
Which core concepts serve as keywords for this study?
The research is defined by key terms such as "Black Bourgeoisie," "Passing," "Identity Loss," "Nella Larsen," "Racial Identity," and "Middle-Class Aspirations."
How does Irene’s internal monologue reveal her identity loss?
Irene’s internal thoughts frequently projection her own dissatisfaction onto others, revealing her deep jealousy of the white lifestyle and her recurring desire to escape her black identity, which ultimately renders her a "nobody."
Why does the author consider Irene an "unreliable narrator"?
Because the story is told exclusively through Irene’s perspective, her interpretation of others (like Clare) is filtered through her own insecurities and desire for social status, leading the reader to question the authenticity of her perceptions.
What role does the "make-believe" world play in Irene’s life?
The "world of make-believe" serves as a psychological refuge where Irene tries to emulate the lifestyle and values of the wealthy white class to escape the harsh reality of her subordinate position and her race.
What is the significance of the conflict between Irene and Brian?
The growing distance between Irene and her husband, Brian, highlights her shifting priorities; as she becomes more obsessed with white societal validation, she distances herself from her husband’s pride in his black heritage.
- Citar trabajo
- Annika Gerle (Autor), 2018, Is Irene Redfield in Nella Larsen's "Passing" the "black bourgeois" Franklin E. Frazier described in his book?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1243930
