Beyond the Confines of Colour and Landscape: A Reading of the Select Novels of Gloria Naylor

Abstract

Gloria Naylor (1950-2016) occupies a unique position in the magnificent array of African American women writers of fiction. Quite specifically, she is much known for her unique presentation and discussion of the African American Community. What is historical specific in Naylor is always clean. That is, she has been aware of the eternally oppressive black superstructure which creates the undesirable condition of African American society. This paper, entitled Beyond the Confines of Colour: The Affirmations of Sisterhood in the Select Novels of Gloria Naylor is confined to the study of Gloria Naylor’s select fiction. And for which, The Women of Brewster Place and Linden Hills are taken for discussion. Obviously, Naylor’s fiction is not patronized by the anti-white sentiments. Instead, her fiction more broadly expands with a new transcendental orientation which erases colour. Hence the novels move beyond the confines of colour politics only to expand on the arena of humanism. Hence consequently the novels gradually begin to assimilate the womanist precept in such a way that they form the centre of her novels. She is recognized for her outspoken female characters whose rights are denied and suppressed by the male society. She also projects the society within the society i.e she focuses the segregated African American society with the larger American Society. Naylor’s attention is African American women, culture, racism, religion, slavery, freedom and equality. Though Naylor settles in New York, she is an African woman by birth and tradition. Emily Dickson says “… she (Naylor) writes- and speaks- with the solid, decided vigour of someone who has given her subject its thoughtful due” (1).