Between the Reservation and Me: Race Identity in the Works of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Sherman Alexie

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Cameron T Green (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: I will be analyzing the works of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Sherman Alexie , primarily as these works relate to how both authors tackle the issue of racial identity , as well its affect on their writing. In order to accommodate the requirements of an English Studies thesis , I will be discussing the themes of race identity in the writing of these two authors across two mediums each: one primarily textual and one primarily visual. I will also be looking at how their discussion of identity changes from the textual to visual medium. In the case of Ta-Nehisi Coates , I will predominantly be looking at his prose , specifically his seminal book Between the World and Me and how the author tackles race identity and race relations. Finally , to move to the more visual medium , I will be analyzing themes of race and identity in Coates' take on the Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther in Coates' Black Panther (2016) , Black Panther: World of Wakanda , and Black Panther and the Crew. Sherman Alexie is arguably the most influential American Indian writer in history. His writing is nearly always grounded in issues of race and identity , specifically as an American Indian in contemporary America. I will first be looking at his fiction writing , including his short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I will be analyzing Alexie's feature length script Smoke Signals , the first all-Indian movie , which is based on his collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I will be looking at the script as a piece of visual literature and comparing it to his fiction as it relates to identity , as well as how his portrayal and discussion of race and identity change to fit the visual medium.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2018

Keywords

Indian, Native American, Culture, African-American, Black

Subjects

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