RACISM IN 20th-CENTURY AMERICAN NOVELS
Keywords:
KEYWORDS: Racism, discrimination, prejudice, segregation, jim crow, slaveryAbstract
This abstract provides an overview of the theme of racism as depicted in 20th-
century American novels. The 20th century was a period marked by significant social
and political changes in the United States, including the ongoing struggle for racial
equality and civil rights. American novelists of this era often engaged with the issue of
racism, exploring its complexities, consequences, and the experiences of marginalized
communities.
References
REFERENCES
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (1960): Set in the 1930s, this Pulitzer Prize-
winning novel explores racial injustice and the loss of innocence through the eyes
of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the segregated South.
"Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison (1952): Ellison's novel follows an unnamed
African-American narrator who grapples with identity, invisibility, and racism in
mid-20th century America. It explores the themes of individuality and the
complexities of racial prejudice.
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison (1987): Set in the aftermath of slavery, this Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel tells the story of Sethe, a former slave haunted by the trauma
of her past and the ghostly presence of her deceased daughter. It delves into the
enduring legacy of slavery and the destructive effects of racism.
