American Literature

The African-American experience speaks explores the way of life of African-Americans during time when they were not treated as equals in American society. Even during that time of oppression, African-American authors rose up and were able to express their struggle and hardship through their literary works. For most acclaimed African-American authors of that time, this was done through the explicit expression of the struggle in the plot, characterization and progression of their literary works. However, the documentation of the struggle may very well have been completed through more subtle means.

By deconstructing the thought patterns of an African-American author and by analyzing his writing technique, despite the absence of text explicitly depicting the African-American experience, the documentation of the experience is broadened. In fact, by looking into thought patterns and opinions of African-Americans, the documentation of the African-American experience is enriched. Anatole Broyard was one such author. His writing was the expression of his personal struggle of being African-American. This research will show that the manner by which Broyard appreciated literary works of his time reveals African-Americans impression and experience of the African-American struggle.

Anatole Broyard was born in 1920 to African-American and Caucasian parents. Broyard was fair-skinned and this helped him to disguise his African-American heritage. When Broyard finished his university studies, he decided to live out his life as a Caucasian. He left behind any trace to his African-American ancestry and began to deport and introduce himself as a Caucasian. It was only to select friends that he disclosed his true racial background. His wife was privy to his secret but his children found out about their African-American inheritance only when Broyard was on his death bed.

Broyard was also professionally accepted as Caucasian. He held a stable post as a New York Times book reviewer. As such, Broyard was able to assess the works of African-Americans who were writing about the African-American experience. His impressions on these writings provide crucial insight into Broyards mindset regarding his racial heritage. Moreover, a comparison of how Broyard treated Caucasian literary works in contrast to African-American works would lend a hand in unraveling the African-American perspective on the role of the Caucasian in society.

This research does not intend to touch on Broyards motives for passing himself as Caucasian. It is not the intent of this researcher to pass judgment on such an act. Instead, the premise of the research will take full cognizance of Broyards African-American heritage. Despite Broyards presentation of himself as Caucasian, the research will also recognize the fact that Broyard was aware of his own racial background. The fact that he spoke of this to his close friends and to his wife shows that this was a fact that he did not detach himself from. As such, this formed part of his consciousness and played a role in his assessment of literary works as well as in his manner of writing.

In order to establish these facts, the research will utilize several sources of information. To be able to understand the mindset of a person, his environment and the prevailing sentiment of his time must be taken into consideration. This will require the use of texts which discuss the social climate during Broyards time. The general experience of African-Americans during the 1920s needs to be revisited in order to understand the factors which contributed to Broyards thinking.

Aside from these, the writings of Broyard must also be revisited. These writings are the expression of the man himself. It is through these works that the thought patterns of Broyard may be dissected. Apart from his published works, his book reviews should also be studied. In order to access these writings, archives of the New York Times must be searched. Of particular importance are Broyards reviews of African-American books which expressed the struggle of African-Americans during that time. Thus, knowledge of African-American authors who were published during that time and gained acclaim is required. However, the review of works of non-African-Americans should also be undertaken. This will afford insight into Broyards perception of the Caucasian race.

The research should also look into works written about Broyard. Biographies would present useful insight into how Broyard lived his life. As was previously discussed, the surrounding circumstances of a man influence his thought patterns and perspectives. It is in this light that Broyards biographies will be studied. By looking at what he valued in life and what he deemed to be important, Broyards positions as to African-American struggles may be understood more clearly.

The opinions of other researchers and authors regarding Broyard will also be studied. This will give the researcher a better understanding of factors that may have influenced Broyards writing. The insight of other researchers who have studied Broyards life will also give fresh perspectives on how to dissect Broyards writing.

The research will therefore be a close reading of the works and life of Broyard. First, the social climate and personal experience of Broyard will be established. This will require a discussion on the historical documentation of the 1920s relating particularly to the racial divide during such time. An introduction into the life of Broyard will also be undertaken to better understand the man that he was. This will require the use of biographies and memoirs written by those who knew him in life. By understanding the life that he lived, it will be easier to appreciate how he thought and what may have influenced his manner of thinking.

Having gained an understanding of the man and the factors which affected his thinking, an entry into his writing will then be undertaken. His writing was an expression of his thoughts and so an intimate assessment of his books and reviews will reflect how he perceived African-Americans. His book reviews of African-American authors will be assessed singularly and also in comparison to his reviews of Caucasian authors. Common themes in treatment of one race and differences in the treatment of the two races will reveal Broyards sentiment as to his own races struggle.

The analysis of Broyards writing will show his personal struggle and his African-American experience. More so, it will reflect a deep-rooted mindset held by African-Americas during a time of great racial discrimination. The number of African-Americans who subscribed to this mindset is irrelevant. The fact that even a few people did subscribe to such a mindset shows that the African-American experience is more complex than initially believed. Broyards life and works enhance understanding of the African-American experience by showing one mans method of struggle against the racial divide and his inner struggle between racial heritage and social climate.