Racial and Gender Implications in African Female Literature: an Afrocentric Feminist Reading of Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

Abstract

The paper analyzes and explains the racial and gender meanings in African female literature, particularly in Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen. The analysis is made from an Afrocentric -feminist perspective. Thus the research findings have shown how the social and ideological constructions of race and gender could engender networks of racism and sexism for both sexes. Through the experience of Adah, the paper describes the manner in which the colored woman could be double oppressed due to her gender and race. In spite of the obstacles placed before her due to racism and sexism, the findings have indicated that the heroine, Adah, thanks to her determination, and her strong desire to be independent, was able to integrate the English society by obtaining a first class job as librarian at North Finchley Library. She succeeded where many black men failed like her husband, Francis. Although the paper concludes that education and financial independence are efficient means for the empowerment of the African woman, it also reveals the Eurocentric attitude of the novelist. It is therefore found out that Emecheta reproduces some of the same Eurocentrists' stereotypes about Africa by considering the African man and his culture as responsible for the marginalization of the African woman.