Is it about race?
An interesting discussion came up in class today on whether or not Jazz is a book on race.
Obviously, we can all agree that race is a factor in this book. It is set during The Great Migration--and after into the Harlem Renaissance, so there is historical, racial credibility to the back drop of this narrative.
BUT.
Does that make this book a "race" book? Is it a "race" book on the same levels as Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave? Or is this addressing the same issues as Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was written by a white woman?
I don't think so.
Indeed, race has something to do with it, but (forgive me if I'm wrong)--I don't think Toni Morrison wrote this as a book focally on the basis of race. If anything, it seems she tackles gender/sex issues more than race issues.
I feel we are too quick to jump to the conclusion that it is a book on race, because it was written by an African-American female. Why do we not hold the same judgements when a white author writes a book? Couldn't they be writing a book based on being white? Their book is about race because their setting is based around a white society (if that's what the book is about)?
It just seems we play the "ethnic" card too much. As a Korean woman, I would like to think I could write a piece of fiction, and not have it immediately labled "ethnic" or "asian" or "regarding race"--Indeed, people of color tend to write about race and racism, but that's not ALL they write about. I feel it's short sticking Morrison if we automatically think, "oh...it's about race" when really--there's SO MUCH MORE.
open to disagreements--it's okay, you won't hurt my feelings :)
amlit338
Obviously, we can all agree that race is a factor in this book. It is set during The Great Migration--and after into the Harlem Renaissance, so there is historical, racial credibility to the back drop of this narrative.
BUT.
Does that make this book a "race" book? Is it a "race" book on the same levels as Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave? Or is this addressing the same issues as Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was written by a white woman?
I don't think so.
Indeed, race has something to do with it, but (forgive me if I'm wrong)--I don't think Toni Morrison wrote this as a book focally on the basis of race. If anything, it seems she tackles gender/sex issues more than race issues.
I feel we are too quick to jump to the conclusion that it is a book on race, because it was written by an African-American female. Why do we not hold the same judgements when a white author writes a book? Couldn't they be writing a book based on being white? Their book is about race because their setting is based around a white society (if that's what the book is about)?
It just seems we play the "ethnic" card too much. As a Korean woman, I would like to think I could write a piece of fiction, and not have it immediately labled "ethnic" or "asian" or "regarding race"--Indeed, people of color tend to write about race and racism, but that's not ALL they write about. I feel it's short sticking Morrison if we automatically think, "oh...it's about race" when really--there's SO MUCH MORE.
open to disagreements--it's okay, you won't hurt my feelings :)
amlit338
posted by jody at 2:20 AM
1 Comments:
OMG! Thank you Jody! You put into words EXACTLY what I was trying to say in class(and being scoffed at for by our republican). Just because it is set in a black community does not make it about race. Would that make EVERY novel set in an ethnic setting about race issues? Hell no! That is merely the backdrop and what Toni Morrison knows how to write well.
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