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 the 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
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to analyze the portrayal of Black bourgeoisie in Nella Larsen's Passing, using Franklin E. Frazier's Black Bourgeoisie as a historical and sociological framework. It examines the evolution of the Black middle class, its relationship with both Black and white society, and the impact of racial and class conflicts on individual identity.
- The historical development of the Black middle class in the United States.
- The social and economic position of the Black bourgeoisie within a racially stratified society.
- The complexities of racial identity and the internal conflicts faced by Black individuals navigating racial boundaries.
- The concept of "passing" and its implications for identity and self-perception.
- The relevance of Frazier's observations on the Black bourgeoisie to contemporary analyses of race and class in America.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting the enduring relevance of Franklin E. Frazier's Black Bourgeoisie (1957) in understanding the African American middle class. It introduces Nella Larsen's Passing and its protagonist, Irene Redfield, as a potential case study for examining Frazier's observations. The chapter establishes the central research question: Does Irene Redfield embody the characteristics of the Black bourgeoisie described by Frazier, and to what extent does her pursuit of acceptance within white society lead to a loss of identity?
2. The Historical Background: This chapter delves into Frazier's analysis of the origins and development of the Black bourgeoisie, tracing its emergence from the late 18th century. It details the early economic strategies employed by free Black individuals, focusing on land ownership and the role of the Freedman's Savings Bank in fostering bourgeois ideals among formerly enslaved people. The chapter further examines the limitations faced by Black individuals in accessing high-paying, white-collar positions, even after achieving financial success, highlighting the persistence of racial barriers in the post-Civil War era. The economic and social realities of the Black bourgeoisie prior to the 1960s is laid out here in significant detail.
3. The Role of Black Bourgeoisie in Passing: This chapter analyzes Irene Redfield's character within the context of Frazier's framework. It explores whether Irene fits the profile of a Black bourgeois woman and whether her actions and attitudes reflect the themes and trends presented in the historical context. The chapter investigates Irene's complex relationship with her racial identity, her desires, and her actions, placing them within the larger framework of racial and class conflict presented in Passing. It considers how Irene's internal struggles are shaped by the social and economic realities of her time.
Keywords
Black bourgeoisie, racial identity, class conflict, passing, Nella Larsen, Irene Redfield, Franklin E. Frazier, African American literature, identity loss, social mobility, racial assimilation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Nella Larsen's *Passing* through the Lens of Franklin E. Frazier's *Black Bourgeoisie*
What is the main focus of this academic work?
This work analyzes the portrayal of the Black bourgeoisie in Nella Larsen's novel, Passing, using Franklin E. Frazier's sociological study, Black Bourgeoisie, as a framework. It examines the evolution of the Black middle class, its relationship with both Black and white society, and the impact of racial and class conflicts on individual identity, specifically focusing on the character Irene Redfield.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the historical development of the Black middle class in the United States, the social and economic position of the Black bourgeoisie within a racially stratified society, the complexities of racial identity and internal conflicts faced by Black individuals navigating racial boundaries, the concept of "passing" and its implications for identity and self-perception, and the relevance of Frazier's observations to contemporary understandings of race and class in America.
What historical context is provided?
The analysis delves into Frazier's work, tracing the origins and development of the Black bourgeoisie from the late 18th century. It explores early economic strategies, the role of the Freedman's Savings Bank, and the persistent racial barriers faced by Black individuals in accessing high-paying positions, even after achieving financial success. The economic and social realities of the Black bourgeoisie before the 1960s are examined in detail.
How is Irene Redfield's character analyzed?
Irene Redfield, the protagonist of Passing, is examined as a potential case study to determine if she embodies the characteristics of the Black bourgeoisie described by Frazier. The analysis investigates her complex relationship with her racial identity, her desires, and actions within the context of racial and class conflict depicted in the novel. It considers how her internal struggles are shaped by the social and economic realities of her time.
What is the significance of "passing" in this analysis?
The concept of "passing"—a Black person attempting to live as white—is central to the analysis. The study explores the implications of "passing" for Irene Redfield's identity and self-perception, highlighting the internal conflicts and the cost of assimilation into white society.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The work includes an introduction setting the stage for the analysis, a chapter detailing the historical background based on Frazier's work, a chapter analyzing Irene Redfield's character within that historical context, and a concluding chapter. Each chapter is summarized, providing a concise overview of its content and contribution to the overall argument.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include Black bourgeoisie, racial identity, class conflict, passing, Nella Larsen, Irene Redfield, Franklin E. Frazier, African American literature, identity loss, social mobility, and racial assimilation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Annika Gerle (Autor:in), 2018, Is Irene Redfield in Nella Larsen's "Passing" the "black bourgeois" Franklin E. Frazier described in his book?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1243930
