LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 23:8 August 2023
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

Celebrate India!
Unity in Diversity!!

HOME PAGE

Click Here for Back Issues of Language in India - From 2001

Poetic Encounter
Available in https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09TT86S4T

Poems
Naked: the honest browsings of two brown women
Available in https://www.amazon.in

Decrees
Available in https://www.amazon.com

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ AND DOWNLOAD FREE!

REFERENCE MATERIALS

BACK ISSUES

  • E-mail your articles and book-length reports in Microsoft Word to languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.

  • PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES GIVEN IN HOME PAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIST OF CONTENTS.

  • Your articles and book-length reports should be written following the APA, MLA, LSA, or IJDL Stylesheet.

  • The Editorial Board has the right to accept, reject, or suggest modifications to the articles submitted for publication, and to make suitable stylistic adjustments. High quality, academic integrity, ethics and morals are expected from the authors and discussants.

Copyright © 2023
M. S. Thirumalai

Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
11249 Oregon Circle
Bloomington, MN 55438
USA
Custom Search

Racial Oppression and Resilience in Alice Walker’s Novel
The Third Life of Grange Copeland

Aravinda Reddy N.

Abstract

The present article examines Alice Walker's 1970 novel, The Third Life of Grange Copeland which probes the enduring and distressing repercussions of racial oppression faced by African Americans in the early 20th-century southern United States. Spanning three generations of the Copeland family, the narrative offers a poignant exploration of systemic racism's profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. Set against the backdrop of the sharecropping system, a prevalent form of agricultural labour, the novel unveils a cycle of poverty and exploitation that ensnares African American families. The Copeland’s experiences illuminate the oppressive nature of sharecropping, where white landowners wield dominion over labourers, ensnaring them in cycles of debt and destitution.

A central theme reveals the insidious reach of racial discrimination, overt and covert, penetrating every facet of African American life. The characters grapple with internalized racism, inherited from generations of oppression, resulting in self-esteem and relationship repercussions. Walker's work further delves into the pursuit of identity and self-discovery within a hostile milieu. Characters yearn for freedom and a brighter future, yet racial prejudice stifles their aspirations and possibilities. Despite their determination, they encounter barriers and constrained prospects due to their skin colour. The Third Life of Grange Copeland lays bare the intergenerational trauma borne from racial oppression and the complex web of racism entrenched in society. Through vivid storytelling and compelling characters, the novel both underscores the enduring fight against racial bias and celebrates the unwavering spirit of those who persevere amidst adversity.

Keywords: Alice Walker, The Third Life of Grange Copeland, African Americans, Sharecropping, Racial discrimination, Economic struggles, Oppression.

African American Women Writers

African American women writers have made significant contributions to American literature and have played a crucial role in shaping the cultural and literary landscape of the United States. Throughout history, they have used their unique voices to explore themes of race, gender, identity, and social injustice, creating powerful narratives that have resonated with readers of diverse backgrounds.

The legacy of African American women writers can be traced back to the early 19th century when women like Phillis Wheatley, Alice Walker and Harriet E. Wilson challenged societal norms by publishing their works and sharing their perspectives.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Aravinda Reddy N.
Assistant Professor, Department of English
Government College for Women, Chintamani-563125
Chikkaballapur District, Karnataka, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3202-0868
Email Id: aravindgfgc@gmail.com
Contact No: 09739049777
Custom Search
  • Click Here to Go to Creative Writing Section

  • Send your articles
    as an attachment
    to your e-mail to
    languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.
  • Please ensure that your name, academic degrees, institutional affiliation and institutional address, and your e-mail address are all given in the first page of your article. Also include a declaration that your article or work submitted for publication in LANGUAGE IN INDIA is an original work by you and that you have duly acknowledged the work or works of others you used in writing your articles, etc. Remember that by maintaining academic integrity we not only do the right thing but also help the growth, development and recognition of Indian/South Asian scholarship.