-
Use Of Language In The Expression Of Racism
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 1 of 3
-
-
-
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Racism
changes its form, as well as strength, over time and from place to
place. It manifests itself in different forms in Australia today.
Indeed, it is this changing quality of racism which makes it difficult
to identify and challenge, and which helps make racism so contentious an
issue today. First, people are identified as members of a group because
of their physical appearance, culture or ethnic origin, real or
supposed. Secondly, they are judged according to the presumed
characteristics of that group. Thus people are being labelled, and those
labels are often on the basis of stereotypes of the group (Cardwell,
1991).
Stereotypes are generalised images of people in a particular
group or category, which are held whether or not most, or even some,
people in that category fit the image. We are constantly categorising
people and things, and making generalisations about them, for we have
neither the time nor the information to make new judgments each time we
meet an individual or enter into a new situation. However, stereotypes
are relatively fixed generalisations, which are reinforced by selective
perception and selective forgetting — we notice characteristics or
behaviour which confirms our views; we overlook or rationalise away the
many exceptions (Beaver & Harold, 1974). Hence stereotypes are
exaggerated or distorted pictures of others. Even where they reflect
elements of truth, these are usually misinterpreted, or combined with
inaccurate and derogatory images. This is made especially easy because
we hold stereotypes about many groups without having any personal
experience of them (Brown, 1969).
Racism in literary studies is
defined by Wikipedia as the belief the of genetic factors which
constitute race, are the primary determinants of human traits and
capacities and that racial differences produces an inherent superiority
of a particular race. Racism effects are called racial discrimination.
Although the term racism usually denotes race based on prejudice,
violence, dislike, discrimination or oppression. Racism is also defined
simply as a reflection of the economic system and its cultural, ethnic
and political ways. The concept of racism is derived from the word race
and it is believed that one racial or ethnic group is inferior to
another and the unequal treatment is therefore justified.
According
to Charles V. Hamilton and Kwame Ture they defined racism as “A
prediction of decision and policies on consideration of race for the
purpose of subordinating a racial group and maintaining control over
that groupâ€. On the other hand, oppression is defined by the
encyclopedia as torture or degrading treatment and the use of threat or
violence. It is also the exercise of power/authority in a burden, cruel
or unjust manner. Oppression is also defined by Wikipedia as an act or
instance of oppressing the state of being oppressed and the feeling of
being heavily burdened; mentally or physically by troubles adverse
conditions and anxiety (Charles, Hamilton and Kwame. 1986).
It is
this experience of Black Slaves that Richard Wright tries to capture in
BlackBoy (1945). In the text, Wright recalls the plight of the Africans
that were sold into slavery between the early 1700’s and 1860’s through
the convenience of their own fellow Africans. They were transplanted to
American, Canada, the Caribbean Island and other parts of the world. The
Africans taken into America were now referred to as “Black Americansâ€
while those on the Caribbean Island are called “Afro Caribbean†but they
all have a common roots and common problem- Racial Discrimination. The
Africans faced a great ordeal trying to survive hardship on their
journey across the Atlantic Ocean on arrival to America; they were
conscripted into force labour, maltreated, abused and demoralized on the
cotton fields and plantation where they were put to work as slaves. As a
result of this hardship deprivation and degradation, the blacks began
expressing themselves through Negro spirituals which marked the
beginning of the artistic expressions of the emotion. They told stories
of unpleasant experience of slavery and oppression through pamphlet and
short stories, which formed the basic of Black writings and which were
later referred to as “Slave Narrative†or “secret text†because they
were written without the knowledge of the slave owners. This inhuman
trade led to the transportation of Africans to American to work as slave
on the plantation where they experienced unimaginable oppression from
the white owner. Many youth are ignorant of this fact and see American
as a peaceful place and a bed of roses.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 1 of 3
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Obviously, it has been brought to mind that racism is one of the major issues in Black American literature and has triggered concerns over the years. This study will attempt to make readers realize these themes in Richard Wright’s Black Boy by analyzing the concept of racial segregation of Black in America. We will examine the historical perspective of Black writing narrative and the effects of racism, which include poverty, hunger assault etc. and the ways through which the blacks reacte ... Continue reading---
