My work will deal with some new and interesting subjects all united by a common thread: the color line. In the prologue I will dedicate a chapter to the importance of the Vernacular tradition, in particular the spirituals in African American history, from a linguistic point of view, then I will proceed with a historical part dedicated to a political background still to many unknown. In the first part of my work I will deal with the novel “The House Behind the Cedars” by Charles W. Chesnutt” within the context of a Jim Crow America. I will add a summary and a comment on the work, pointing out all those features directed to my thread “crossing the color line”. Then I will follow my thread by introducing the Harlem Renaissance through two of its main founders, Alain Locke and W.E.B. Dubois. The third part will be dedicated to “ Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison within the historical discrimination context up to the Civil Rights movement. The last part will deal with Obama’s autobiography and election, using some interviews taken from Time.com and recent issues of international magazines.
I will try to prove in all parts of my work that if a crossing the color line was and still is in some periods of U.S. history more or less possible, it is still not possible to ignore all racial divisions. “Obama’s victory will not heal all differences, but has proved it can mobilize black and white Americans alike”.
The African Slaves who provided most of the labor that built the White House never imagined that a black man would ever own embossed stationery that reads 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Even the dreamer himself, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., would not have imagined that 40 short years after his assassination, America would be planning an Inauguration of the first man of African descent to ascend to its presidency.
No minority of any ethnicity had ever looked beyond the scarce representation of a few Senators and seen anything that suggested that the doorknob of the Oval Office could be opened by anything other than the hand of a middle-aged white male”.
According to T.D. Jakes, a writer and pastor at the Potter`s House church in Texas and producer of an upcoming film Not Easily Broken “the current economic crisis demands that the Obama Administration move past the pettiness of race matters with the haste of a paramedic driving an ambulance.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Vernacular Tradition: The Spirituals as a milestone for African American Literature
Reconstruction
“The House behind the Cedars” by C.W. Chesnutt in the Jim Crow context
The Harlem Renaissance through W.E.B. Dubois and Alain Locke
“The Invisible Man” and Discrimination up to the Civil Rights movements
From cultural to political color crossing: how Barack Obama can cope with the future without forgetting the past
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this thesis is to examine the historical and cultural significance of the "color line" in the United States, tracing its manifestation from the era of slavery and the Jim Crow context through the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights movement, ultimately culminating in the political emergence of Barack Obama. The study seeks to investigate whether racial divisions can be effectively overcome or if they remain entrenched in the American socio-political landscape.
- The importance of the Vernacular tradition and African American oral forms.
- The literary exploration of mixed-race identity in Charles W. Chesnutt’s work.
- The Harlem Renaissance as a movement for racial assertiveness and cultural contribution.
- The sociological impact of discrimination as depicted in Ralph Ellison’s "Invisible Man".
- The evolution of political rhetoric regarding race from the 20th century to the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
Excerpt from the Book
“The House behind the Cedars” by C.W. Chesnutt in the Jim Crow context
After a brief digression on some little known passages of American history, particularly on the very constitution of it, I would like to present the historical and cultural background which accompanied the phenomenon of Jim Crow.
After the famous Boston Tea Party in 1773, during which tea chests coming from Great Britain were dropped into the sea as a sign of protest, the government decided to close the port and besiege it. The U.S. colonies decided to get together and constitute a real American army, led by George Washington. On July 4th 1776 the Declaration of Independence followed, and 13 States (Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware) joined together in order to obtain more political and economic autonomy from the British Crown. The war ended in 1783, with the establishment of the United States of America: in 1787 the federal constitution was elaborated in Annapolis and George Washington became the first president.
From a cultural point of view the only people who held social and political power were the land owners: Indian tribes as well as slaves originating from Africa and even women had no right to a place in the American political or economic scene.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: An overview of the thematic focus on the "color line" and the structure of the investigation from historical literature to modern political developments.
The Vernacular Tradition: The Spirituals as a milestone for African American Literature: Explores the linguistic and cultural significance of African American oral traditions, specifically spirituals, as an essential legacy of self-awareness.
Reconstruction: Examines the socio-political context of the late 19th century, focusing on the rise of the "money aristocracy" and the development of federalism.
“The House behind the Cedars” by C.W. Chesnutt in the Jim Crow context: Analyzes the struggle for racial identity and the complexities of passing as white during the segregationist Jim Crow era.
The Harlem Renaissance through W.E.B. Dubois and Alain Locke: Documents the rise of African American artistic and intellectual movements during the 1920s as a means of challenging white supremacy.
“The Invisible Man” and Discrimination up to the Civil Rights movements: Discusses the systemic nature of discrimination and the metaphorical "invisibility" of black Americans as portrayed in Ralph Ellison’s seminal novel.
From cultural to political color crossing: how Barack Obama can cope with the future without forgetting the past: Investigates the historical significance of the election of Barack Obama as a potential turning point in addressing racial and economic disparities.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and reflects on the persistence of racial tensions globally and the ongoing quest for racial reconciliation.
Keywords
Color line, African American literature, Jim Crow, Harlem Renaissance, W.E.B. Du Bois, Alain Locke, Ralph Ellison, Barack Obama, Civil Rights movement, Reconstruction, passing, racial identity, systemic discrimination, vernacular tradition, American politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The work explores the persistent phenomenon of the "color line" in American history, analyzing how it has shaped society, politics, and literature from the era of slavery to the 21st century.
What are the primary fields of study included in this research?
The thesis integrates literary analysis, historical research, and contemporary socio-political commentary to examine the evolution of racial relations in the U.S.
What is the overarching goal of the research?
The goal is to determine if historical racial divisions persist despite political progress and to assess the role of cultural and intellectual movements in advocating for equality.
Which scientific methods does the author use?
The author employs a qualitative approach, analyzing primary literary texts, historical documents, and contemporary journalistic articles to provide a contextualized narrative.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the Vernacular tradition, the Jim Crow context, the Harlem Renaissance, Ralph Ellison’s insights on invisibility, and a contemporary look at the election of Barack Obama.
What are the essential keywords associated with the work?
The key concepts include the "color line," Jim Crow, Harlem Renaissance, civil rights, racial identity, and the sociopolitical significance of the Obama presidency.
How does Charles W. Chesnutt contribute to the thesis?
Chesnutt’s novel "The House behind the Cedars" is used to illustrate the psychological and social complexities faced by individuals of mixed heritage who attempted to cross the racial divide.
What is the significance of "The Invisible Man" in this study?
Ralph Ellison’s work is used to explore the concept of racial invisibility, explaining how societal biases and structural racism lead to the systemic exclusion of black individuals from being seen as fully realized human beings.
- Quote paper
- Cristina Nilsson (Author), 2009, Crossing the color line in American politics and African American literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/162102
