Throughout many years, African Americans have been struggling in defining and constructing their identity, especially male African Americans had problems to build up self-esteem and to reassure their cultural masculinity, which was undermined by white men. Not only does history confirm this struggle but so does literature. In liter-ature, many different aspects about male black identity and their struggle for identity can be found. However, one of the most important authors in this context is Langston Hughes. In his works, he focuses on the urban life of African Americans and the problems they had to face because of oppression and racism evoked by white Americans. Furthermore, Hughes wanted “to record and interpret the lives of the common black folk, their thoughts and habits and dreams, their struggle for political freedom and economic well-being” (Jemie: 1). By doing so in his writings, he took this struggle for and negotiation of racial identity to another level in developing a unique form of expression.
In this thesis, I will concentrate on three major works by Langston Hughes: Mulatto: A Tragedy of the Deep South, “Simple speaks his mind” and Not without laughter. All three texts display emotional conflicts and the struggle for identity of African American men with “simplicity and depth” (Tidwell: 3). Furthermore, all three pro-tagonists have a rather low status in society, which contributes, according to Lang-ston Hughes, to their authenticity since they are the ones who represent the African American and thus their pursuit of identity (cf. Tidwell: 3).
Moreover, I am going to begin with a general overview of the male black identity and the struggle for an African American male perspective in a culture which is dom-inated by white American men. Afterwards, I will transfer this concept of male black identity to the three selected works by Langston Hughes and analyse in how far these texts engage in constructing their main characters in similar terms. The next significant aspect will be concerned with the question in how far education is perceived as a part of this male black identity and in how far it supports the development of an African American male identity. When having discussed the influence of education in the protagonists’ male black identity development, I am going to turn to the topic of identity crisis. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Male black identity
3. Male black identity in selected works by Langston Hughes
3.1. The drama Mulatto
3.2. The short stories “Simple speaks his mind”
3.3. The prose Not without laughter
4. The influence of education on male black identity
4.1. The drama Mulatto
4.2. The short stories “Simple speaks his mind”
4.3. The prose Not without laughter
5. Identity crisis within male black identity development
5.1. The drama Mulatto
5.2. The short stories “Simple speaks his mind”
5.3. The prose Not without laughter
6. Langston Hughes’s works Mulatto, “Simple speaks his mind” and Not without laughter in the historical context
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This thesis examines the construction of male black identity in three selected works by Langston Hughes—Mulatto, “Simple speaks his mind”, and Not without laughter. The study aims to analyze how protagonists struggle with identity formation, the impact of racial oppression, and the roles that education and identity crises play in their development within a white-dominated society.
- The struggle for African American male identity in literature.
- The impact of education on identity formation and self-perception.
- The nature and effects of identity crises for black men.
- The role of historical context, including slavery and the Jim Crow laws.
- Comparative analysis of different protagonists' coping mechanisms (violence, language, and education).
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The drama Mulatto
Langston Hughes’s drama Mulatto: A Tragedy of the Deep South was written in 1930 and first performed on Broadway in 1935. Mulatto was one of “the longest – running black authored play on Broadway” (Elam: 87). Not least due to its negotiation of the tragic mulatto and its didactic purpose. The drama is about Robert Lewis, who is a son of mixed blood of his mother Cora and the white plantation owner Colonel Norwood. Robert has to deal with several racial issues and social restriction because he is a biracial. However, this play portrays Robert’s strife for equality and his own identity.
The play not only illustrates the frustration of an African American man living in a white male dominated social order but also the behaviour of white Americans towards black men and especially biracial persons. Robert illustrates a perfect example of a person of mixed blood because he has the “emotions of a black but the cleverness of a white” (Allen: 35). This becomes obvious throughout the play when Robert cannot control his temper and is disrupting the existing social order. He does not want to accept the white supremacy and the social hierarchy anymore and therefore is violating it on purpose in order to claim his rights.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on male black identity in Hughes's works, highlighting the historical struggle against white supremacy and the significance of the selected texts.
2. Male black identity: Provides a theoretical overview of the political and social emasculation faced by African American men and how white-constructed stereotypes have historically impeded identity formation.
3. Male black identity in selected works by Langston Hughes: Introduces the primary texts and analyzes how each protagonist navigates the struggle for identity within a society controlled by white Americans.
4. The influence of education on male black identity: Examines education as a crucial factor in the protagonists' development, contrasting how each character utilizes or lacks access to educational opportunities.
5. Identity crisis within male black identity development: Investigates the manifestation of identity crises in the protagonists, emphasizing the lack of role models and the psychological impact of discrimination.
6. Langston Hughes’s works Mulatto, “Simple speaks his mind” and Not without laughter in the historical context: Embeds the literary analyses into the broader historical framework of slavery, the Jim Crow laws, and the Harlem Renaissance.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, noting that while the protagonists cope differently, education and overcoming identity crises remain vital for asserting male black identity.
8. Bibliography: Lists all primary and secondary sources utilized in the research.
Keywords
Langston Hughes, male black identity, African American, identity crisis, Mulatto, Simple speaks his mind, Not without laughter, education, racism, white supremacy, Jim Crow laws, masculinity, racial consciousness, role models, literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the construction of male black identity and the influence of societal factors like education and identity crises on African American male protagonists in three works by Langston Hughes.
Which works by Langston Hughes are analyzed?
The study analyzes the drama Mulatto, the short story collection “Simple speaks his mind”, and the novel Not without laughter.
What is the core research question?
The work investigates how these protagonists develop their identity, how they are affected by racial oppression, and the extent to which education and identity crises influence their path toward self-definition.
What scientific methods are applied?
The author uses a literary and contextual analysis method, grounding the fictional character developments within the documented historical realities of the Jim Crow era and white supremacy.
What does the main body address regarding education?
The main body demonstrates that education serves as a potential tool for emancipation and identity formation for characters like Robert and Sandy, while also highlighting the barriers to educational access during the era of segregation.
How are the keywords characterized?
The work is characterized by themes of identity, masculinity, racial trauma, the search for role models, and the use of language and literature as forms of resistance and self-assertion.
How does the protagonist Robert in "Mulatto" deal with his identity crisis?
Robert struggles with his biracial status and his rejection by his white father, eventually resorting to violence and aggression to assert his masculinity, which ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.
What role does the setting of Harlem play for the character "Simple"?
For Simple, Harlem acts as a protective, inclusive community that allows him to feel accepted and self-assured, helping him to overcome the identity crisis he suffered during his earlier years in the South.
How does Sandy’s approach to education differ from the other characters?
Sandy views education as a legitimate path out of his identity crisis and a way to achieve his life goals, whereas Simple often dismisses formal education in favor of real-world "street smarts" and philosophical observations.
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- Sarah Wienand (Autor:in), 2013, Male black identity in selected works by Langston Hughes, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/271145
