Explore Issues of Race, Gender, and Class in African American Culture: Identifying Themes in African American Literature

Shikha Sharma; Dr. Neetu Tyagi

doi:10.36676/irt.v10.i3.1529

Authors

Shikha Sharma Research center: V.S.P govt.college kairna( Shamli)
Dr. Neetu Tyagi Assistant Professor &head, Department of English V.S.P Govt.(P.G) College, kairana,Shamli.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36676/irt.v10.i3.1529

Keywords:

Race, Gender, Class, African American Culture, African American Literature, Intersectionality

Abstract

This review article delves into the complex relationship between gender, class, race, and African American literature and culture, looking at how these overlapping social identities impact African Americans' real-life experiences and literary creations. Through an analysis of seminal works and critical theories, the study highlights key themes such as identity, resistance, community, and intersectionality. This dissertation highlights the importance of gender, class, and race in African American literature by offering a thorough framework for comprehending these issues in relation to their cultural and historical backgrounds.

References

Athanases, S. Z. (1998). Diverse Learners, Diverse Texts: Exploring Identity and Difference through Literary Encounters. Journal of Literacy Research, 30(2), 273–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/10862969809547999

Burrell, J. O., Winston, C. E., & Freeman, K. E. (2013). Race-acting: The varied and complex affirmative meaning of “acting Black” for African-American adolescents. Culture & Psychology, 19(1), 95–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X12464981

Capodilupo, C. M., & Kim, S. (2014). Gender and race matter: The importance of considering intersections in Black women’s body image. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61(1), 37– 49. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034597

Cooper, S. M., Burnett, M., Johnson, M. S., Brooks, J., Shaheed, J., & McBride, M. (2020). ‘That is why we raise children’: African American fathers’ race‐related concerns for their adolescents and parenting strategies. Journal of Adolescence, 82(1), 67–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.06.001

Hesse-Biber, S., Howling, S., Leavy, P., & Lovejoy, M. (2015). Racial Identity and the Development of Body Image Issues among African American Adolescent Girls. The Qualitative Report. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2004.1937

Jones, M. K., Buque, M., & Miville, M. L. (2018). African American Gender Roles: A Content Analysis of Empirical Research From 1981 to 2017. Journal of Black Psychology, 44(5), 450–486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798418783561

Love, C. D., Booysen, L. A. E., & Essed, P. (2018). An exploration of the intersection of race, gender and generation in African American women doing social justice work. Gender, Work

& Organization, 25(5), 475–494. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12095