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
- Introduction
- Prejudice - newly defined
- The relationship of color and class consciousness to identity
- The role of the protagonist in the Harlem Renaissance
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work analyzes intra-racial prejudice within the context of the Harlem Renaissance, focusing on the experiences of dark-skinned African Americans. It examines how perceptions of skin color intersect with class consciousness and social identity, exploring the psychological and social impact of colorism.
- Intra-racial prejudice within the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance.
- The role of skin color in shaping identity and social status.
- The intersection of race and class in determining social standing.
- The psychological impact of colorism on individuals.
- The portrayal of these themes in Wallace Thurman's novel, The Blacker the Berry.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of intra-racial prejudice using Gwendolyn Brooks's poem as an example, highlighting the prevalent negative perception of dark-skinned individuals even within the same racial group. It sets the stage for analyzing Wallace Thurman's novel, The Blacker the Berry, and its exploration of the protagonist's struggle with her dark skin and its impact on her social standing and self-perception. The chapter establishes the key themes of colorism and class consciousness, setting the foundation for a deeper analysis of the novel. It also briefly addresses the complexities of defining racial terms and the diverse spectrum of appearances within the African American community.
Prejudice – newly defined: This chapter delves into the reasons behind prejudice, challenging the notion that physical differences automatically correlate with behavioral, attitudinal, or intellectual differences. It focuses on The Blacker the Berry, illustrating how skin-color variations lead to prejudice within the African American community. The chapter analyzes the protagonist, Emma Lou Morgan's, experiences, showcasing her internal struggle with her dark skin and her desire to achieve social acceptance by associating with those deemed socially superior. Emma Lou's pursuit of the “right sort of people” based on skin color and class highlights the pervasiveness and damaging effects of intra-racial prejudice.
Keywords
Intra-racial prejudice, colorism, Harlem Renaissance, The Blacker the Berry, Wallace Thurman, skin color, class consciousness, social identity, African American identity, psychological impact.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Intra-racial Prejudice in the Harlem Renaissance
What is the main focus of this academic work?
This academic work analyzes intra-racial prejudice within the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance, specifically focusing on the experiences of dark-skinned individuals. It examines how perceptions of skin color intersect with class consciousness and social identity, exploring the psychological and social impact of colorism.
Which literary work is central to this analysis?
The analysis centers on Wallace Thurman's novel, The Blacker the Berry, using it as a primary source to illustrate the themes of colorism and class consciousness within the Harlem Renaissance context.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include intra-racial prejudice, colorism, the role of skin color in shaping identity and social status, the intersection of race and class, the psychological impact of colorism, and the portrayal of these themes in The Blacker the Berry.
How does the analysis define and approach the concept of prejudice?
The analysis challenges the notion that physical differences automatically correlate with behavioral, attitudinal, or intellectual differences. It explores how variations in skin color lead to prejudice within the African American community, highlighting the internal struggles and social pressures faced by individuals based on their skin tone.
What is the role of the protagonist in The Blacker the Berry in the analysis?
The protagonist, Emma Lou Morgan, serves as a crucial example to illustrate the pervasive and damaging effects of intra-racial prejudice. Her internal struggle with her dark skin and her pursuit of social acceptance by associating with lighter-skinned individuals highlight the complexities of identity and social hierarchy within the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance.
What are the key chapters and their respective focuses?
The analysis includes an introduction setting the context and key themes, a chapter redefining prejudice in the context of colorism, a chapter exploring the relationship between color, class consciousness, and identity, a chapter focusing on the role of the protagonist in the Harlem Renaissance, and a concluding chapter. Each chapter uses textual evidence from The Blacker the Berry and other relevant sources.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include intra-racial prejudice, colorism, Harlem Renaissance, The Blacker the Berry, Wallace Thurman, skin color, class consciousness, social identity, African American identity, and psychological impact.
What is the overall objective of this analysis?
The overall objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of intra-racial prejudice during the Harlem Renaissance, using The Blacker the Berry to illuminate the complex interplay of skin color, class, and identity formation within the African American community.
- 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
