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The Image of the “White Liberal” in Black American Fiction and Drama

Jones, Norma Ramsay
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1555931250435278

Abstract Details

1973, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, English.
Literary criticism has examined white American writing to determine whether black characters have received stereotypical treatment, but little notice has been paid to white characters created by black authors. Existing criticism has focused on the frequently appearing White Oppressor stereotype. This study presented the other major white characterization, the White Liberal, "who opposes prevailing standards by relatively less oppressive behavior toward blacks." It was hoped that studying the White Liberal would show whether black writers, free from the hatred and fear entering into creation of the Oppressor stereotype, had learned to create complex, round white characters, thus reflecting artistic growth. It was assumed that the white liberal image in various periods of history would indicate any progress made in race relations. The image of the White Liberal was examined in the black fiction and drama of four periods of black American experience: Protest (1853-1920), Harlem Renaissance (1920-1930), Between "Pride" and "Power" (1930 to the mid-Sixties), Militancy (mid-Sixties to the present). Major liberal characters were analyzed and typed according to motive for liberalism. Dominant character types and modes of artistic treatment were noted. Results of period analyses were then compared. Comparison of white liberal characters' motivation in historical context showed that the moral estimate of liberal motivation altered in relation to the amount of oppression blacks experienced in a given era and the extent to which they were dependent upon whites. Excepting a few multi-dimensional portraits from the late Fifties and early Sixties, the White Liberal was usually stereotyped. As a race relations indicator, the image of the White Liberal showed that blacks know whites as imperfectly as whites know blacks.
Alma J. Payne (Advisor)
African American Studies; American Literature

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jones, N. R. (1973). The Image of the “White Liberal” in Black American Fiction and Drama [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1555931250435278

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jones, Norma. The Image of the “White Liberal” in Black American Fiction and Drama. 1973. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1555931250435278.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jones, Norma. "The Image of the “White Liberal” in Black American Fiction and Drama." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 1973. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1555931250435278

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1555931250435278
333
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