Now that we've found love what are we gonna do with it?: a narrative understanding of black identity

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

Full content URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0959354304043641

Documents
Now that we've found love what are we gonna do with it?: a narrative understanding of black identity
[img] PDF
Now_that_we_Found_Love_2004.pdf - Whole Document
Restricted to Repository staff only

215kB
Item Type:Article
Item Status:Live Archive

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.

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 Science > School of Psychology
Related URLs:
ID Code:3270
Deposited On:10 Sep 2010 12:26

Repository Staff Only: item control page