Reconstructing African-American identity : a transcultural reading of Octavia butler’s kindred (1979)‎ and Colson Whitehead’s the intuitionist (1999)‎

Abstract EN

The identity formation of African-Americans has primarily been determined by the ethnological white discourse and the stereotypical representation of their long history through its Eurocentric perspective.

Against such a discursive hegemony, the leading African-American writers as well as the transcultural critics have tried to open new channels of expression, in order to provide a more authentic version of their own legacy.

In connection with this, the present paper proposes an analytic reading of Kindred, the time-travel novel of black American, science-fiction writer, Octavia Butler and The Intuitionist, the speculative fiction novel of black American novelist Colson Whitehead.

Taken as representative works of avant-garde writing, both novels presumably reveal how writers and critics, alike, have frequently attempted to reconstruct the Afro-American integrity, via 'Afrofuturism' and the 'Critical Race Theory'.

In the process, they have challenged stereotypes and questioned Euro-centric representations, only to offer possible, alternative futures, through science fiction.

This study will, consequently, contend that science fiction, as a literary genre, provides not only a redeeming escape for the African-American identity but also a secure refuge, in an age of widespread scientific ventures and extensive technological advancements.