Around World War One, two American authors from different minority backgrounds published their seemingly unlike novels. In 1912, the African American diplomat and writer James Weldon Johnson published his narrative “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” anonymously, and in 1917, the Jewish American editor and journalist Abraham Cahan put out his novel “The Rise of David Levinsky”. Despite all differences obvious between the authors and their protagonists, both novels nevertheless describe at their core the need to assimilate, the search for an American identity and the costs of assimilation.
In their quest for an American identity, both protagonists, the former Orthodox Jew from Russia and the anonymous, light-skinned African American, chose to escape white Anglo-Saxon Protestant hostility towards their minority status by assimilating respectively by passing as far as possible into the dominant culture of white American society. The need to assimilate derives from the fear of marginalization and the hostility shown towards minority groups in America. It is precisely this threatening attitude in combination with a longing to take part in the dominant culture of American society that finally forces these characters to assimilate respectively to pass entirely.
Despite their minority backgrounds, both protagonists manage to enter the dominant culture at last. But even though both men live up to a life of financial and social success at the end of the novels, their narratives are not simply average American success-stories, but rather tragic tales on the high costs of assimilation. Levinsky and the Ex-Colored Man live the classical American dream from “rags to riches”, but in the end, both must nevertheless realize that wealth and a high social status alone do not guarantee true inner happiness.
The conclusion seems bitter: one’s marginality and minority status must be overcome in order to take part in the “American success story”. But even though ethnic and racial backgrounds can be denied and essential parts of one’s own identity can be ignored, full assimilation can never be achieved. The successful economic and social rise of the two men cannot be separated from the tragic personal failure to find their true identity and inner happiness. In their novels, Cahan and Johnson thus voice the dreadful loss of individual identity that full assimilation and passing ask for.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Assimilation and Passing: Two Different Strategies in the Search for an American Identity
- III. Assimilation in Abraham Cahan's "The Rise of David Levinsky"
- IV. Passing in James W. Johnson's "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man"
- V. Conclusion
- VI. Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This novel examines the complex journey of two American authors from different minority backgrounds who published their works around World War I. Through the narratives of David Levinsky and the anonymous Ex-Colored Man, the author delves into the themes of assimilation and passing, highlighting the desire to achieve an American identity and the often-tragic consequences of this pursuit. The novel explores the pressures faced by marginalized groups in the early 20th century, the inherent dangers of trying to blend into the dominant culture, and the lasting impact of these choices on the individual's sense of self.
- The search for an American identity within a society marked by racial and ethnic prejudice.
- The consequences of assimilation and passing as strategies for escaping marginalization.
- The inherent tensions between individual identity and societal pressures to conform.
- The complexities of achieving economic and social success while grappling with the loss of one's cultural heritage.
- The lasting impact of societal structures and hierarchies on the experiences of minority groups.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introductory chapter sets the stage for the narrative by introducing the two protagonists, David Levinsky and the Ex-Colored Man, and their respective journeys toward achieving an American identity. It also provides a historical context, highlighting the prejudice and hostility faced by both Jewish and African American communities in early 20th century America.
The second chapter dives deeper into the concepts of assimilation and passing, exploring their distinct meanings and highlighting the unequal positions of Jewish and African American communities within the American social hierarchy. It emphasizes the greater risks and dangers associated with passing for African Americans compared to assimilation for Jewish Americans.
The third chapter focuses on the process of assimilation as depicted in Abraham Cahan's "The Rise of David Levinsky". It traces the protagonist's journey from a recent immigrant to a successful American cloak-manufacturer, highlighting the role of physical transformation and the rejection of his original cultural heritage in achieving this success.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work centers around the core themes of assimilation, passing, American identity, minority experiences, cultural heritage, social and economic success, and the enduring impact of societal prejudices and hierarchies on the lives of individuals.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Longolius (Author), 2005, The need to assimilate: Searching for an american identity in Abraham Cahan's "The Rise of David Levinsky" and James Weldon Johnson's "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80440
