Hylton, Patrick and Miller, Hugh (2004) Now that we've found love what are we gonna do with it?: a narrative understanding of black identity. Theory & Psychology, 14 (2). pp. 373-408. ISSN 0959-3543

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Abstract

This paper offers an interpretation of the changes in Black identity during the last century. By drawing on psychological literature and cultural artefacts, changing understandings of Blackness are read as different narrative forms. The shift from ‘Negro’ to ‘Black’ is presented as a shift from tragicto romanticnarrative, while the ‘African’ narrative that now occupies the centre stage of Black identity represents a satiricalstory. It is suggested that with a growing awareness of being both Black and ‘something else’, the apparent opposing themes in performing Blackness can be resolved by enacting a comedynarrative. There is some evidence that the comedy narrative is present but it has yet to gain ascendancy.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This paper offers an interpretation of the changes in Black identity during the last century. By drawing on psychological literature and cultural artefacts, changing understandings of Blackness are read as different narrative forms. The shift from ‘Negro’ to ‘Black’ is presented as a shift from tragicto romanticnarrative, while the ‘African’ narrative that now occupies the centre stage of Black identity represents a satiricalstory. It is suggested that with a growing awareness of being both Black and ‘something else’, the apparent opposing themes in performing Blackness can be resolved by enacting a comedynarrative. There is some evidence that the comedy narrative is present but it has yet to gain ascendancy.
Keywords:	black identity, history, narrative, Social constructionism
Subjects:	C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology V Historical and Philosophical studies > V320 Social History C Biological Sciences > C880 Social Psychology C Biological Sciences > C890 Psychology not elsewhere classified
Divisions:	College of Social Sciences > Faculty of Health & Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User:	Alison Wilson
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2010 12:26
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2013 08:45
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/3270

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