Way to Self Identity: Examples from African-American Cultural Writings on Problems of Integration

The historical background of african-american experience began with their being brought to the colonies as early as 17th century as slaves; cut off from their african heritage, forbidden to form a family, having no access to literacy, they could only be admitted to the codes of so-called ‘civilization’ of the white majority as long as they remained loyal to the rules imposed on them. they could neither dissociate themselves from the mainstream nor could they be past because of the insignia they bear, the color of their skin. their adventure of almost two hundred years is eventually marked with revolts, resistances; small gains of freedom marked by lynching and torture all ascribing to an identity found under oppression, dispossessions and fear. emancipation and proclamation has reluctantly admitted their limited participation in public life, which was taunted with jim crow laws- a political threat to keep them obedient. thus, african-american activists, writers, thinkers and intellectuals have struggled to have rightful place and build respectable identity for their community, by keeping the tragic history in mind, in the american society in which they exist. the purpose of this study is to examine their struggle by means of their cultural writings such as autobiographies, story-telling, and evaluate such struggles of the african-american community in america.