Racial passing and class mobility in Philip Roth's the human stain and Zoë wicomb’s playing in the light

Joint Authors

Bu Rahlah, Jallul
Mawi, Husayni

Source

al-Athar

Issue

Vol. 2018, Issue 30 (30 Jun. 2018), pp.131-138, 8 p.

Publisher

University Kasdi Merbah Ouargla Faculty of Arts and Languages

Publication Date

2018-06-30

Country of Publication

Algeria

No. of Pages

8

Main Subjects

Comparative Literature

Abstract EN

This article explores the phenomena of racial passing and its relation to class mobility in South African and American literature.

The paper compares the American novel The Human Stain by Philip Roth and the South African novel Playing in the Light by Zoe Wicomb.

We first discuss how racial passing has been present in American and South African history and literature.

We then show the ways in which race is a social construct in both novels.

We then argue that the act of passing is not only an escape from oppression and marginalization, but also a desire to belong to 'whiteness' and get access to its privileges.

This condition is revelatory of the persistence of racism, racial discrimination and inequality in post-segregation America and post-apartheid South Africa.

Abstract FRE

Cet article examine le phénomène du passage racial et sa relation avec la mobilité de classe dans les littératures Américaine et Sud-africaine.

L’article compare le roman américain « The Human Stain » de Philip Roth et le roman sudafricain « Playing in the Light » de Zoe Wicomb.

Nous discutons d’abord comment le passage racial a été présent dans l’histoire et la littérature américaines et sud-africaines.

Nous montrons par la suite, à travers les deux romans, comment la race est une construction sociale.

Et nous soutenons, enfin ; que le fait du passage n’est pas seulement une échappatoire de l’oppression et de la marginalisation, mais aussi un désir d’appartenir à la «blancheur» et d’accéder à ses privilèges.

Cette condition est révélatrice de la persistance du racisme, de la discrimination raciale et de l’inégalité dans la post-ségrégation en Amérique et le post-apartheid en Afrique du Sud.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Bu Rahlah, Jallul& Mawi, Husayni. 2018. Racial passing and class mobility in Philip Roth's the human stain and Zoë wicomb’s playing in the light. al-Athar،Vol. 2018, no. 30, pp.131-138.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-809385

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Bu Rahlah, Jallul& Mawi, Husayni. Racial passing and class mobility in Philip Roth's the human stain and Zoë wicomb’s playing in the light. al-Athar No. 30 (Jun. 2018), pp.131-138.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-809385

American Medical Association (AMA)

Bu Rahlah, Jallul& Mawi, Husayni. Racial passing and class mobility in Philip Roth's the human stain and Zoë wicomb’s playing in the light. al-Athar. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 30, pp.131-138.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-809385

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references : p. 138

Record ID

BIM-809385