Black Masculinity and White Femininity in Imamu Amiri Baraka's Dutchman

Abstract

In my thesis I attempt to analyse the characters of the drama’s two protagonists, examining their racial and gender conflicts and at the same time I attempt to scrutinize the psychological components from which they are built– up. First of all, I shall introduce the general background to the era including historical, social, cultural etc. aspects. Then I briefly analyse the relation between the social circumstances mentioned before, in connection with Baraka’s activities at those times. Afterwards I would like to place the drama itself into this social context in order to understand the character– building of Baraka along with some basic components of the work.