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Web of Proceedings - Francis Academic Press

Ethnic Identity and National Identity under Multiculturalism------ Analysis of Multiculturalism and Cultural Identity Reconstruction in A Raisin in the Sun

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DOI: 10.25236/assah.2021.036

Author(s)

NIU Pei, LI Linbin

Corresponding Author

NIU Pei

Abstract

The rise of multiculturalism poses many challenges to traditional American creeds. It attacks the whites’ American cultural values centered on WASP values, emphasizes the issue of equal power relations among various nations and cultures, and questions the racial superiority and cultural discourse hegemony. From the perspective of multiculturalism theory, the main characters in the classic play A Raisin in the Sun by African-American female playwright Lorraine Hansberry completed the reconstruction of self-cultural identity and realized the independent growth of the subject through the resolution of conflicts. Because of the unobtainable to politics of recognition in a long time, the characters in the text either completed the unity of the national identity and ethnic identity by buying new house, or completed the reconstruction of ethnic identity as mature black subject identity of self-esteem and self-love, and the reconciliation of the national identity and ethnic identity by returning to African culture. Multiculturalism plays a positive role in promoting equal stature of cultural differences. At the same time, it provides a new perspective for the research of African American literature.

Keywords

Multiculturalism, National identity, Ethnic identity, Identity reconstruction