English Language and Literature
Vol 12, No 2 (2023)

The Ambivalence of Identity in Tope Folarin's A Particular Kind of Black Man (2019)

Tiara Agnesi Windari (Universitas Negeri Padang)
Desvalini Anwar (Universitas Negeri Padang)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Jun 2023

Abstract

This study examined how the novel A Particular Kind of Black Man (2019) by Tope Folarin portrayed the issue of ambivalent identity. The main character named Tunde Akinola is a second-generation immigrant who experiences ambivalence of identity. This analysis is related to the concept of ambivalence and mimicry by Homi K. Bhaba. Researchers use those theories to interpret the hidden meaning of the novel. The data collection is in the form of sentences, and paragraphs from the novel. For this study, the researcher use the qualitative method by connecting the sentence and paragraph to many journals, books,s and also podcasts. The result is the factor's ambivalent identity of the main character is caused by the parent’s broken American dream and also the racism he gets because he is Black. Because of the racism, the main character concludes that he is not American because he is not White, and determined to be the perfect Black Man by mimicking many successful Black Men. The main character becomes sick of faking to be something he is not and finally embraces his identity as a hybrid.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ell

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE: E- JOURNAL English Language and Literature Study Program of FBS UNP. Volume 1, Number 1, September 2012, ISSN 2302-3546. English Language and Literature Study Program journal is published three times a year (March, June, and September). It consits of scientific ...