Date of Graduation
1999
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
Committee Chair
Deborah Janson
Committee Co-Chair
Johan Seynnaeve
Committee Member
Johan Seynnaeve
Committee Member
Jürgen E. Schlunk
Abstract
Eva Demski and Ika Hügel-Marshall are two contemporary women writers whose works contribute significantly to the Afro-German culture. Demski is a “white” German author who depicts in her novel the life of an Afro-German woman, Afra, as well as the life of her “white” daughter, Nivea. Hügel-Marshall, who was born in 1947 as the daughter of a German mother and an African-American father, depicts in her autobiography her own development from object to subject. This thesis demonstrates that both authors encourage a development of critical consciousness by creating written evidence of a shared Afro-German identity and by expressing the problems and pain of Afro-German women. Their works provide minority readers with opportunities to heal similar wounds and thus construct a positive self-concept. Additionally, they encourage self-reflective “white” Germans to re-evaluate their attitudes toward AfroGermans and to help initiate changes that will improve the Afro-German public image.
Recommended Citation
Knebel, Maren, "Developing critical consciousness: Representations of race and gender in two Afro-German works." (1999). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 10437.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10437