DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit: The Representation of Segregation In The House behind the Cedars, Cane and Black Boy Verfasserin: Carina Mazzucato, BA angestrebter akademischer Grad: Magistra der Philosophie (Mag.phil.) Wien, Jänner 2013 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 343 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Anglistik und Amerikanistik Betreuer: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Waldemar Zacharasiewicz Contents 1 Acknowledgements ......................................................................... 1 2 Abbreviations ................................................................................... 2 3 Introduction ...................................................................................... 3 4 Historical Background .................................................................... 6 5 Segregation Narrative ................................................................... 12 6 Categories ...................................................................................... 14 6.1 Racial Cartography ......................................................................... 14 6.2 Fear and Violence ........................................................................... 15 6.2.1 Intimate Violence ......................................................................................... 15 6.2.2 Disciplinary Violence ................................................................................... 16 6.3 Folklore ............................................................................................ 18 6.4 Language and Education ................................................................ 19 6.5 Cross-Racial Contact ...................................................................... 20 6.6 Political Critique .............................................................................. 21 7 Black Boy ....................................................................................... 22 7.1 Richard Wright - Biography ............................................................ 22 7.2 Black Boy ......................................................................................... 23 7.2.1 Racial Cartographies ................................................................................... 27 7.2.2 Violence and Fear in Black Boy .................................................................. 28 7.2.2.1 Domestic Violence (“Intimate” Violence) ............................................. 29 7.2.2.2 Extralegal Violence (“Disciplinary” Violence) ...................................... 30 7.2.2.3 “Retributive” Violence .......................................................................... 31 7.2.3 Folklore in Black Boy ................................................................................... 32 7.2.3.1 Catalogues .......................................................................................... 33 7.2.3.2 The “Street Gang Code” ...................................................................... 34 7.2.3.3 Religion ................................................................................................ 35 7.2.3.4 The Blues ............................................................................................ 37 7.2.4 Language and Education ............................................................................ 37 7.2.4.1 Language ............................................................................................. 38 7.2.4.2 Education ............................................................................................. 39 7.2.5 Cross-Racial Contact................................................................................... 42 7.2.6 Political Critique ........................................................................................... 44 8 The House Behind the Cedars ...................................................... 47 8.1 Charles Chesnutt - Biography ........................................................ 48 8.2 The House Behind the Cedars........................................................ 51 8.2.1 Racial Cartographies ................................................................................... 51 8.2.2 Fear and Violence ....................................................................................... 56 8.2.3 Folklore ........................................................................................................ 57 8.2.3.1 The Cakewalk in the Fiction of Charles Chesnutt ............................... 58 8.2.3.1.1 The Tragic Mulatto ........................................................................ 59 8.2.3.1.2 The Faithful Darky ......................................................................... 62 8.2.3.1.3 The Southern Gentleman .............................................................. 63 8.2.3.2 Dreams ................................................................................................ 65 8.2.3.3 Religion ................................................................................................ 68 8.2.4 Language and Education ............................................................................ 69 8.2.4.1 Language ............................................................................................. 69 8.2.4.2 Education ............................................................................................. 71 8.2.5 Cross-Racial Contacts ................................................................................. 73 8.2.6 Political Critique ........................................................................................... 75 9 Cane ................................................................................................ 77 9.1 Jean Toomer – Biography .............................................................. 77 9.2 Cane ................................................................................................. 80 9.2.1 Violence and Fear ....................................................................................... 82 9.2.1.1 Retributive Violence............................................................................. 83 9.2.1.2 Intimate Violence ................................................................................. 89 9.2.2 Racial Cartographies ................................................................................... 91 9.2.3 Folklore in Cane .......................................................................................... 96 9.2.3.1 Religion ................................................................................................ 97 9.2.4 Language ................................................................................................... 101 9.2.4.1 Language as an Operational Tool ..................................................... 101 9.2.4.2 The Representation of Black Speech ................................................ 102 9.2.5 Cross-Racial Contacts ............................................................................... 103 9.2.6 Political Critique ......................................................................................... 104 10 Results .......................................................................................... 106 11 Conclusion ................................................................................... 109 12 Bibliography ................................................................................. 110 12.1 Primary Sources .............................................................................110 12.2 Secondary Sources ........................................................................110 12.2.1 Books/Essays in Books ............................................................................. 110 12.2.2 Articles in Periodicals ................................................................................ 115 12.2.3 Internet-Based Resources ......................................................................... 117 13 Index ............................................................................................. 119 14 Abstract in English ...................................................................... 122 15 Abstract in German/Deutsche Kurzfassung .............................. 123 1 1 Acknowledgements It has taken almost a year of thinking, research and writing to accomplish this thesis, and there are a number of people that have knowingly or unknowingly helped me survive. First, special thanks goes to my supervisor Prof. Zacharasiewicz, who from the beginning has shown immense enthusiasm for this project. He encouraged me to apply for the KWA-Stipendium and set up initial contact with the staff of the Institute of Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina. Despite his workload, he has always had valuable advice and insight for me. I thank the staff of the Institute of Southern Studies at U of SC, especially Bob Ellis and Bob Brinkmeyer, as well as Travis Weatherford, who made my stay in Columbia more than pleasant, both on an academic and personal level. During this time I saw and learned more than I had ever hoped for, and you made that possible. I thank my parents for their patience, their support and their interest in what I do. I thank them for giving me the time I needed to complete my studies. Last but not least I thank the group of people that has been with me every step of the way, LITERALLY. You made those endless library days worthwhile, and because of you, I probably laughed just as much as I fretted. You know who you are, and you will