Postkolonyal Çalışmalar Işığında Afro-Amerikan Edebiyatından Örnekler (1890-1950)

Abstract

Post-colonial studies have been come into prominence after World War II. Postcolonial studies inherently stem from literature and cultural studies. Post-colonial studies have many important aims. One of them is to present the situations of the victims of colonization and post-colonial studies put into practice this via victims’ or sufferers’ viewpoints instead of colonizer. These victims or sufferers are generally citizens of African, Asian nations known as Third World countries. Even though post-colonial studies are interested in Third World countries’ decolonization processes that newly gained independence, the United States of America has a different story and a unique place in the context of post-colonial studies. The dissolution of colonization has influenced the situation of the United States. Imperialism substituted with colonization. The United States of America became a pioneer and supporter of imperialism. Post-colonial studies do not only focus on material process of Third World nations and folks but also to explain by examining the roots of spiritual tiredness, identity crisis, racism, oppression and discrimination. In this thesis studying, racist activities starting with slavery institution, African Americans’ identity crisis and being together coming with cultural awakening of Civil Rights Movement will be examined and analyzed in the light of post-colonial studies that has become very important since the mid of the 20th century and examples of some significant novels written between 1890s and 1950s.