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How Does W. E. B. Dubois Use Of Double Consciousness

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In W.E.B Dubois book The Souls of Black Folks, he uses double consciousness to “describe an individual whose identity is divided into several characters.” Dubois uses this term to connect to how African Americans view themselves, through the eyes of society. He gives insightful information on how people of color were not able to have a “common or unified identity” because of the “sensations of two-warring ideals in one body.” In the state of double consciousness, the person often compares himself to others who he feels look down upon him. Double consciousness is what causes us to beware of our differences from one another. The novel White Teeth has a relation to double consciousness, for it is a story of immigrants and is never dismissive of their past. England plays an …show more content…

They attempt to reconcile the tensions between immigrants and assimilation being both British and the other, Western and Easter by trying to adapt in a first world country while and dealing with the past and present and how it affects their future. Irie Jones is the daughter of Archie and his wife Clara who are of different races; therefore Irie is frustrated with the responsibility of dealing with a mixed heritage. Irie struggles with her identity and strives to find a balance between her diverse cultures. Archie who is Irie’s father seems to not care for his identity as seen when Samad asks him “You don’t stand for anything, Jones […] What are you going to tell your children when they ask who you are, what you are? Will you know? Will you ever know?”(Smith 121). Samad a person who takes immense pride in his culture finds some offense to Archie’s lack of interest in himself. It is most likely that Irie feels the same frustration that Samad feels, hence the reason why she chooses to find answers on her identity. At times it can be difficult to discuss identity crisis with someone who is not

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