Prospects of New Negro identity in Jessie Redmon Fauset's early novels

In this study called ?Prospects of New Negro Identity in Jessie Redmon Fauset?s Early Novels?, the writer?s novels, There is Confusion (1924) and Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral (1929), are handled. In the study, the situation of the black community living in the American society in the 1920s is examined. With a short history of the blacks? presence within American borders, especially the meaning of the Harlem Renaissance, which was a black intellectual movement, for the Afro-Americans is studied. Besides, what the leading intellectuals wanted to do for their people, their goals and the ways they envisioned to reach these goals are inferred. In the selected novels of Jessie Redmon Fauset, it is tried to reflect her perspective of the colored people and American society in general during the fervent years of the Renaissance. While her impressions on class, race and gender issues are traced with regard to the urban black society in general, the reflections of these discriminations within the white-male-class oriented American community in a narrower sense are also handled. In the introduction, the history of black people in America is presented in general terms. Beginning with the early 17th century, slavery and the process of betterment until the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century are shown. The events, foundations and especially black intellectuals that contributed to this improvement during this period are scrutinized. Additionally, detailed information about Fauset?s literary personality, who was the first Afro-American woman to attend Cornell University, and her approach to the problems of her day are stated. In the first chapter, the way how Fauset deals with `class? issues in the selected works is examined. While the power of economy in shaping the people?s attitudes towards such institutions as science, religion and marriage is stated, the effect of class in determining the human relations is also emphasized. Besides, the reality of `class consciousness? in the members of the society is reflected. In the second chapter, the `racial? issues in the works are studied. The idea of communal uplift is clarified with specific examples. However, the bitter facts of American society are also given: being a black person in this society brings a lot of disadvantages and having a dark skin is a sufficient criterion to be debased by whites. In the third chapter, as a female intellectual, Fauset?s point of view to the `gender? issues is made clear. Her criticism of the established gender roles and the women?s acceptance of status quo are analyzed. In addition, the female characters? distorted approaches to marriage as a way of escape, their class obsession and their feeling of dependence on men are revealed. Finally, the discourses of women that include a demand for equality and thereby appear as a reaction to the oppression of women are expressed. In the conclusion, some crucial facts inferred from the topics that Fauset studies in her novels are manifested. She emphasizes the fact that black people should abandon their illusions related to class and destroy the racist point of view to be happy and to be promotive for their race. As to race, Fauset is optimistic; she believes that black people can transcend the restrictions if they are equipped intellectually. Finally, the writer gives some messages about gender: first, the women should give up their self-interested relationships with men, and then blacks should avoid gender lines for racial solidarity. In the selected novels, she usually shows the negative features of her society and lets the reader see the positive and necessary ones; she envisions universal equality for the blacks within the scope of `New Negro?. Key Words: Harlem Renaissance, Jessie Redmon Fauset, There is Confusion, Plum Bun: a Novel without a Moral, class, race, gender, urban.