Introduction
THERE! That’s the kind I’ve been wanting
to show you! One of the best
examples of the specie. Not like
those diluted Negroes you see so much of on
the streets these days, but the
real thing.
Black, ugly, and odd. You
can see the savagery. The blunt
blankness. That is the real
thing. (Gwendolyn Brooks)(1)
It is not only Lincoln in Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem (1970) who is regarded as ugly because of his pronounced black features. In Wallace Thurman’s novel The Blacker the Berry the protagonist also experiences different forms of intra-racial prejudice. Like Lincoln, Emma Lou is regarded as “the real thing [–] black, ugly and odd.” This is at least how she feels and how she sees herself, always observing herself through the eyes of others. To give a brief introduction to the topic of intra-racial prejudice, Brooks’s poem was chosen to support the fact that people are prejudiced against other people; even though they belong to the same race. Although the utterance about Lincoln is made by a white man in a movie theater, it cannot be denied that those racist remarks also occur among people who are perceived to belong to one and the same race. Either way, Lincoln is regarded as being the ugliest boy that everyone ever saw. And this is exactly how Emma Lou feels. She supports the misconception of the white man at the movie theater and of society’s stereotypes that dark-skinned blacks do not know as much as light-skinned blacks and therefore are considered to be inferior. The author already makes a distinction between dark-skinned African Americans and not that dark-skinned African Americans when he compares the “real thing” black person with “those diluted Negroes you see so much of on the streets these days”. With this phrase she covers one of the major topics in Wallace Thurman’s novel which is about prejudice within one race. The protagonist is always aware of her color which is a result of her sstruggle with the society and herself and it will be described on several examples in the novel.
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1 http://www2.gasou.edu.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Prejudice – newly defined
3. The relationship of color and class consciousness to identity
4. The role of the protagonist in the Harlem Renaissance
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the theme of intra-racial prejudice within Wallace Thurman’s novel The Blacker the Berry. It analyzes how the protagonist’s dark skin pigmentation and obsession with class consciousness lead to self-hatred, identity denial, and the internal adoption of discriminatory hierarchies prevalent during the Harlem Renaissance.
- Intra-racial prejudice and skin color hierarchy
- Class consciousness and the search for social status
- The psychological impact of self-hatred and societal stereotypes
- The tension between individual identity and the Harlem Renaissance movement
Excerpt from the Book
3. The relationship of color and class consciousness to identity
As Emma is always and in every situation conscious of her color she has a very hard time feeling comfortable among people with lighter complexion even though she wants to be like them. This phenomenon of discomfort among people with a lighter complexion breaks the first time at her graduation day through. Thinking that everyone participating the ceremony watches her, Emma cannot enjoy her graduation day at all because all she worries about is her appearance in her white gown, which, in her eyes, is just too complementary to her complexion. It is not her diploma she cares about. It is her own skin color that she regards as her future identification tag in society. The tragedy is that she cannot remove this unwelcome mask from her face in order to be more like the people she wants to be compared with. And here lies the problem. She feels uncomfortable among many white people because she thinks to be of a lower class than them. This is the reason for her wish to be like them for she does not want to be regarded as an alien member of society anymore.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the protagonist Emma Lou and the thematic focus on intra-racial prejudice in The Blacker the Berry, highlighting the protagonist's struggle with her dark skin pigmentation.
2. Prejudice – newly defined: This section explores how prejudice functions within a single race, detailing Emma Lou’s obsession with finding the "right sort of people" and the discriminatory behavior she faces and internalizes.
3. The relationship of color and class consciousness to identity: This chapter discusses how Emma’s sensitivity regarding her complexion and her desire for upward mobility cause her to deny her heritage and feel alienated from her own community.
4. The role of the protagonist in the Harlem Renaissance: This chapter contextualizes Emma Lou’s character within the progressive movement of the 1920s, arguing that her negative self-perception contradicts the era's focus on racial pride.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes that the novel serves as an autobiographical satire, reflecting the struggles of African American identity and the enduring impact of internalized racial hierarchies.
Keywords
Harlem Renaissance, intra-racial prejudice, Wallace Thurman, The Blacker the Berry, Emma Lou Morgan, skin color, class consciousness, identity, self-hatred, discrimination, African American literature, social hierarchy, racial pride, assimilation, stereotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the depiction of intra-racial prejudice in Wallace Thurman’s 1929 novel The Blacker the Berry, specifically analyzing the protagonist's internal and external struggles with her skin color.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
Key themes include the psychological effects of colorism, the intersection of race and class consciousness, the pursuit of social status, and the struggle for self-acceptance.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how the protagonist’s dark-skinned identity influences her social interactions and self-perception, and to question whether the novel aligns with or contradicts the progressive goals of the Harlem Renaissance.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work employs a literary analysis approach, closely examining the protagonist’s internal thoughts, dialogue, and encounters with other characters to interpret the narrative's social critique.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body treats the definition of intra-racial prejudice, the connection between identity, color, and class, and the role of the protagonist in contrast to the broader cultural movement of the 1920s.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include Harlem Renaissance, intra-racial prejudice, colorism, self-hatred, identity, Wallace Thurman, and class consciousness.
How does Emma Lou’s graduation day serve as a symbol in the text?
Her anxiety about wearing a white gown reveals her deep-seated discomfort with her own skin color and her belief that her complexion serves as a negative identification tag in society.
How is the character of Truman used by the author?
Truman acts as a mouthpiece for the author, expressing the internal conflict and the perceived hierarchy of skin color, reflecting a sense of resignation regarding the persistence of racial prejudice.
- Quote paper
- Catrin Collath (Author), 2002, The color of skin: Intra-racial prejudice in the Harlem Renaissance, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1740
