Racial Identity In Light In August

The most important theme in Light in August is race. The question of racial identity and what it actually means to be biracial; we find Joe Christmas at the center of it all. While Joe seems to look like a white man he may or may not have black blood in him. This proved to be a huge problem for Joe throughout the novel, in which we see Joe become both sickened and proud of his blackness. His racial identity shaped his entire life. Joe ultimately feels isolated in both the black and white communities. Joe is consistently haunted by his blackness; while Faulkner never actually confirms or denies the status of Joe’s race his surroundings were constantly speaking for him. Whenever Joe interacted with those who assumed he was black he was treated

Joe perceived not being accepted as his normal from a very early age. When Joe was finally adopted he never received real love or acceptance from his adopted father. Joe never felt as if he belonged in this family even though his adopted mother did try to show she cared. His emotions and acceptance of being alone were not fixed by joining this new family; if anything it reinforced what he had already thought. Joe had no self-worth or pride he accepted all things that came his way both good and bad but particularly the

From hearing the word’s “nigger” and “nigger bastard” from such an early age he became accustomed to hearing them and used them as a label for himself. Joe is mean and violent and never tries to put and end to his violent outbursts, most likely due to how uncomfortable he is in his own skin. How can one accept them when society won’t even accept you? His alienation from society leaves him fully disgusted with himself and always