Black Men and Masculinity in Toni Morrison’s Early Novels
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
Li, Guan-Syun
Abstract
In this thesis, I contextualize black masculinity in history from the Black diaspora to the twentieth century, and explore its trajectory of change and transformation. It can be observed that black masculinity has undergone a sea change since the Black diaspora, and that the discourse on black masculinity also contributes to its transformation. On the one hand, three apocalyptic moments in history contribute to such change, that is, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement, and the Black movement. The black movements foreground the racial issues between the black and the white. On the other hand, the discourse on black masculinity also has corresponding changes. Race comes to intersect with gender among the black with the advent of black feminist movement where black feminists, male and female alike, begin to highlight the fissure between black men and black women in their joint venture against white supremacy.
It is in this context that I intend to read Toni Morrison’s early novels where the representations of black men and masculinity are heavily informed by the politico-historical climate. In Morrison’s novels, black masculinity is subject to a motley assortment of representations rather than a rigid form of masculinity as generally defined. In this way, Morrison deconstructs black masculinity which is defined as opposed to hegemonic white masculinity. However, Morrison not merely deconstructs black masculinity, but also endorses a vision of black masculinity with black feminism, a form of black masculinity thatshe believes is conducive to black liberation.
Subjects
black masculinity
representations
race
gender
SDGs
Type
thesis
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