흑인 탐정 추리소설의 지형학

Abstract

Chester Himes’ Harlem Cycle, the series of black detective fiction comprising nine novels, made him one of the most prominent black detective fiction writers in the U. S. His representation of Harlem in the series, however, has been criticized as a sensational and unreal geography distorted for a popular market. This paper intends to verify the validity of the criticism regarding Himes’s representation of Harlem. Examining the history of residential segregation by race in the U. S. cities and the resulting condition of Black residential areas, this paper proves that his representation of Harlem does not create a landscape of imaginary Harlem but provides a realistic record of Harlem. It further argues that Harlem Cycle is not written for commercial purpose but for exposing the racism in the housing policies of the U. S. government and accusing the greed of white capitalists in the urban renewal projects. In the later novels of Harlem Cycle, Himes’ representation of Harlem transforms from an internal colony of whites to the site of Black riots. Sick and tired of racial segregation and exploitative redevelopment, Black people in Harlem begin a fierce struggle. Moving from an area of poverty and crime to a war zone in representing Harlem, Himes warns against the possible future of the violent clash between Blacks and the ruling whites.