BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS IN CARIBBEAN LITERATURE: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SYLVIA WYNTER’S THE HILLS OF HEBRON, JOHN HEARNE’ S LAND OF THE LIVING, AND ANDREW SALKEY’S JOEY TYSON

BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS IN CARIBBEAN LITERATURE: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SYLVIA WYNTER’S THE HILLS OF HEBRON, JOHN HEARNE’ S LAND OF THE LIVING, AND ANDREW SALKEY’S JOEY TYSON

Abstract:

This thesis examines “Black Consciousness” in Caribbean literature using a Marxist framework.. The thesis argues that religion as it was interpreted by the whites was anti-black. Christianity was prejudicially, maliciously and cunningly used by European capitalist imperialists to enslave, colonise, and exploit black people in the Caribbean. This situation alienated the Caribbean. In an attempt to free themselves from their bondage, the black Caribbean set to reinterpret Christianity to fit their purpose. The thesis therefore argues that the miserable condition of the blacks in the Caribbean led them to turn to Africa, their original homeland, where they hoped to find salvation. Furthermore, the thesis postulates that the post-independence leaders of the region are as useless to the black masses as their predecessors (ex-colonial masters), for the new regimes are still serving imperialist purposes to the detriment of the masses. Thus, the people’s protest against the new established order. Over the years, Caribbean writers have, with varying degrees of success, defended the interests of the oppressed and dispossessed black masses, in a white-dominated environment. This study is directed to this commitment of Caribbean writers. In specific terms, this study examines this consciousness in relation to Sylvia Wynter’s The Hills of Hebron, John Hearne’s Land of the Living, and Andrew Salkey’s Joey Tyson. The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter One, the introduction, deals with the historical background of the Caribbean region; the statement of the research problem; the aim and objectives of the study; the significance of the study; the scope and delimitation of the study; the research methodology, literature review; and the theoretical framework. ChapterTwo gives Sylvia Wynter’s background and discusses the themes of poverty and black spiritual awareness as they relate to Wynter’s The Hill of Hebron. Chapter Three addresses black West Indians’ search for roots, by examining their longing for Africa, the myth of Haile Selassie,and the Sons of Sheba, with reference to Hearne’s Land of the Living, after giving the author’s background. Chapter Four gives Andrew Salkey’s background and treats the themes of neo-colonialism, oppression and protest with reference to Salkey’s Joey Tyson. Chapter Five synthesises and draws conclusion.

BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS IN CARIBBEAN LITERATURE: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SYLVIA WYNTER’S THE HILLS OF HEBRON, JOHN HEARNE’ S LAND OF THE LIVING, AND ANDREW SALKEY’S JOEY TYSON

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