The theme that is prominent in
this week’s readings of African and African American literature is identity. Chinua
Achebe’s “Chike’s School Days” and Bessie Head’s “The Deep River” portray to
readers the significance of names and how identity and deeper meanings are
conveyed through them. Senghor’s poems and James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native
Son” express to readers the internal battles of African Americans who felt
confused on what their identities were.
The topic of African and African American literature can be
taught through the theme of identity and identity confusion. This week’s
readings expressed feelings of confusion, anger, and excitement that were
directly tied to the character’s search for their identities. White
missionaries who came to Africa during the time that the stories, “Chike’s
School Days” and “The Deep River”, were written in created a cultural divide
amongst the African people. Some were excited to learn about the English
customs and cultures and openly adapted to “the white man’s way” as Achebe
described in his story. Others felt their own African identities were being
erased by the English, as portrayed in Senghor’s poem “To New York”.
This clash of African
and American cultures and identity confusion can be seen in so much of pop
culture as it has affected society on a global scale despite happening so many
years ago. It would be interesting to have students think about the
implications of white missionaries trying to convert Africans that we see in
the modern world today. Videos, songs, plays, photos, etc. all portray the
consequences of what happened so many years ago to the African people.
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