Week 5 : Identity Explored in African and African American Literature

 Identity Explored on African and African American Literature 





In this week's literature, the unifying theme was identity. All works pointed to how culture, ancestors, and names are important signifiers to identify who we are to ourselves and others. 

 



In James Baldwin's  Notes of a Native Son, he shares how on the day that his father was buried, his sister was born, and riots breakout. The events tie together because they lead Baldwin to understand that his father's anger and frustration about racial discrimination did not define his own life. Baldwin concludes that injustice is everywhere and that every person must fight hate in their own hearts. In the end, Balwin realizes his identity does not need to be like that of his fathers.




In Chike's School Days by Chin Achebe, Chike talks about having a double identity, one is the child of an Igbo father and Osu mother, and the other is a Christian in a Igbo village. Chike was a Christian in an Igbo village meant that their family really had to set themselves apart from the rest of the village. Moreover, in "Chike's School Days," names seem to represent Chike's different identities. For example, Chike's Christian name is John, but his Igbo name is Chike, while his formal African name is Obiajulu. 




Deep River by Bessie Head tells the story of the origin of the Talaote tribe. The origin of the Talaote people is trading back to when a chief valued his own happiness over keeping the unity of the tribe. When the Chief announced that he was in love with his deceased father's wife and claimed their son as his biological son, the village became angry. They asked that the chief be exiled, and when this happened, many people opted to follow him, thus leaving those people to be named the Talaote people, named after their exile. The name given to the tribe defined that they were the people who had been exiled by the rest of the tribe. 



Lastly, in Leopold Sedar Senghor's poem's "To New York," "Night in Sine, "Prayer to the Masks," and "Letter to a Poet," there is a common theme expressed in how the modern African American identity can not be separate from that of their ancestors. Senghor asks his kindred to remember their legacy, be proud of it, and move forward into the world, forging new paths while keeping their ancestors in mind. 

Teaching

Class Open Discussion 

Ask your class what they think makes someone's identity? Is it a resume, I.D? Card, or is it more about the experiences we live through and the people we feel connected to? 

Ask students to list 3 things that could reveal identity who they are?

Ask students if they have ever wanted to change their name; if so, ask what and why?

Discuss what elements might have contributed to Chike's different identities under different names. Write answers on the board. 

Pop Culture Connection



Have your student watch the Story of Antwone Fisher. After viewing the movie, have a class discussion where students have the freedom to share their opinions and ideas aloud. Write key terms or ideas on the board. 
Ask students how Antwone was struggling?
What was the root cause of his struggle? Was it anger, was it sadness?
Highlight to students how Antwone needed to make peace with his past to move forward more positively in his life. 

Connecting with Literature

Both Antwone and Baldwin feel frustrated and traumatic experiences in their childhoods; although they are different, they cause both men to need to heal and think about their identities and how they decide to move through the world. 
Ask your students in what similar ways do both men decide that their identities can be different than what they have experienced from others? 

Activity 

Ask students to write a short mission statement for themselves. The mission statement should discuss how they wish to be understood by others and identify themselves for others. 

Ask students to look up the meaning of their names and write a short response on how the name compares to how they describe themselves? Is the name description accurate; if so, in what way or in what ways is it not? 





References:

(2021). Retrieved 2 August 2021, from https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/provide-some-thoughts-about-the-deep-river-by-2376832


Baldwin, J. (1955). Note of a Native Son. Retrieved 31 July 2021, from https://www.whatsoproudlywehail.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Baldwin_Notes-of-a-Native-Son.pdf

China Achebe. (1960). Retrieved 31 July 2021, from https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/eng2850kmwbfall2016/files/2016/08/Achebe-Chikes-School-Days.pdf

Léopold Sédar Senghor | Poetry Foundation. (2021). Retrieved 2 August 2021, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/leopold-sedar-senghor
















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