Hello Everyone! I Will Make A Brief Presentation Of My Re ✓ Solved

Hello Everyonei Will Be Making A Brief Presentation Of My Research Pa

Hello Everyone. I will be making a brief presentation of my research paper. For my essay, I have chosen to write about McKay’s novel Home to Harlem. When I first read the novel, the intersection between gender, race, and sex drew my attention. It was the second novel we read for this class after Nella Larson’s Passing. As I was reading Home to Harlem, I couldn’t help drawing parallels between the two novels in terms of gender, race, and sex.

My initial project for this paper was to explore these issues in both novels. However, upon reviewing the literature available on the books, I made two realizations. First, the scope of my project wouldn’t fit within the page limit set by the course requirements. Second, I realized that Home to Harlem offers a more fertile ground to explore issues of gender, sex, and race. This is partly because the figure of the prostitute in Home to Harlem embodies all three issues together. Based on these realizations, I decided to focus on investigating the changing ideals of womanhood in the novel Home to Harlem.

The main argument of my paper is that examining the figure of the prostitute reveals McKay’s portrayal of a changing ideal of Black womanhood. Initially, I thought McKay perpetuated stereotypes by presenting African American women as hypersexual objects for white male desire. However, upon deeper research into sexual stereotypes of Black women, I discovered that the novel also shows compassion towards these women, reflecting a transformation in how Black womanhood is depicted. From the beginning of the novel, Harlem is portrayed as an admired community by the narrator Jake, who observes Harlem’s vitality and beauty.

The encounter with Felice, a prostitute, confirms that the novel attempts to depict a nuanced image of Harlem’s inhabitants. The opening of chapter 2, where Jake meets Felice, sets the tone for my thesis. Felice’s act of returning money to Jake before leaving signifies her complex character—an act of kindness, perhaps an indication of her humanity beyond societal stereotypes. This interaction presents prostitution not merely as a moral failing but as a situation shaped by societal forces and survival needs, encouraging us to question stereotypes about women involved in sex work.

This passage also highlights the interconnectedness of race, gender, and sexuality in shaping social identity. My essay is structured into three parts: an introduction, two main sections, and a conclusion. The introduction establishes that womanhood is a sociocultural construct rather than a biological fact, emphasizing that its meaning varies across cultures.

I divided my analysis into two related sections. The first offers a critique of stereotypes surrounding African American women and prostitutes, positioning this as the destructive phase, aiming to challenge societal and cultural assumptions. I employ Black feminist theory to argue that sexism, racial discrimination, class oppression, and gender identity form the core of these stereotypes. The second section constructs a more positive image of Black womanhood, focusing on Felice as a symbol of transformation—highlighting her evolution from a commodified figure to an active, social agent. This transformation reflects a new, more empowering perspective on Black women, moving beyond harmful stereotypes.

Regarding the relevance of this paper, Kimberley Roberts notes that McKay employs the figure of the prostitute symbolically. During the Harlem Renaissance, Black female bodies were often commodified and consumed by white audiences, a view that negated their agency. This paper endeavors to offer a rehabilitative interpretation of the prostitute figure in McKay’s novel, positioning it within a new social order that recognizes the complexity and agency of Black women rather than merely their victimization or objectification.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The novel Home to Harlem by Claude McKay provides a rich terrain for exploring the complex intersections of gender, race, and sexuality during the Harlem Renaissance. The portrayal of women, especially prostitutes, becomes a lens through which societal perceptions of Black womanhood are examined and challenged. This essay aims to analyze the evolution of ideals of womanhood as depicted in the novel, emphasizing how McKay’s portrayal shifts from stereotype to a more nuanced and empowering representation.

Context and Theoretical Framework

The conceptualization of womanhood as a socio-cultural construct underpins this analysis. Drawing upon Black feminist theory, particularly the works of bell hooks (1981), Patricia Hill Collins (2000), and Kimberlé Crenshaw (1991), the essay interrogates stereotypes of Black women that have historically portrayed them as hypersexualized and submissive. McKay’s Home to Harlem challenges these stereotypes by presenting multifaceted female characters who embody resilience, complexity, and agency.

The Destructive Phase: Challenging Stereotypes

The first part of the essay critically examines dominant stereotypes of African American women during the Harlem Renaissance era. The figure of the prostitute is heavily laden with negative connotations, frequently depicted as a victim of societal oppression and sexual exploitation. McKay’s portrayal of Felice, however, complicates this narrative by infusing her character with compassion and dignity. Her act of returning money to Jake signifies a moral strength that counters stereotypical views of women as mere objects for male desire. This phase aims to unsettle the reader’s preconceived notions and promote critical reflection on ingrained societal perceptions.

The Constructive Phase: Reimagining Womanhood

Building on the critique, the second part of the essay offers an optimistic reevaluation of Black womanhood. Felice’s transformation from a stereotyped prostitute into a socially active and morally upright individual exemplifies the possibility of redefining Black female identity beyond victimization. Her character symbolizes a broader societal shift toward recognizing Black women as active agents capable of resilience and self-determination. This perspective aligns with contemporary African American feminist thought, which advocates for agency, empowerment, and the dismantling of oppressive stereotypes.

Implications and Broader Significance

This analysis highlights the importance of literature in challenging and reshaping societal narratives about race, gender, and sexuality. McKay’s Home to Harlem offers a counter-narrative to dominant stereotypes, emphasizing the diversity, strength, and complexity of Black women during a pivotal cultural moment. Recognizing the symbolic use of the prostitute figure allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how societal change can be represented through literature. This approach also advocates for a rehabilitative view of marginalized figures, emphasizing their agency and humanity.

References

• Bell, hooks. (1981). Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism. Boston: South End Press.
• Collins, Patricia Hill. (2000). Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. Routledge.
• Crenshaw, Kimberlé. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review.
• McKay, Claude. (1928). Home to Harlem.2012 Reprint Edition. Modern Library.
• Roberts, Kimberley. (2004). The Black Woman’s Body and the Construction of Sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance. African American Review, 38(2), 207-226.
• Smith, Valerie. (2004). Self-Discovery and Empowerment in African American Literature. Journal of African American Studies.
• Walker, Alice. (1973). Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches. The Crossing Press.
• Walker, Margaret. (1992). Hiding in Plain Sight: Black Women, the Law, and the Making of a Human Subject. Signs, 17(2), 261-275.
• Woolf, Virginia. (1929). A Room of One’s Own. Harcourt Brace.
• Yellen, Amy. (2015). Representing Resilience: Black Women’s Responses in Literature. African American Literature and Culture Series.