"Black Betty" Analytical Essay by Research Group
"Black Betty"
Examines the importance of the character, Rawlins, in Walter Mosley's novel on racial issues in 1960s America.
# 27032
| 1,839 words
| 1 source
| MLA
| 2002
| 
Published
on May 23, 2003
in
African-American Studies
(1950-Present)
, Literature
(American)
, English
(Analysis)
, African-American Studies
(Civil Rights)
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Description:
In Walter Mosley's novel "Black Betty", the protagonist, Ezekiel 'Easy' Rawlins, acts as a filter through which the story is told. The paper shows that, utilizing the detective story genre to tell the story and construct the plot, Mosley uses Rawlins to examine moral, social and racial issues. Rawlins is not only the narrator; he offers commentary on a myriad of subjects ranging from poverty, to racism to personal freedom. The paper shows that Rawlins is the central element in every chapter, indeed on every page, and the reader learns only what he does.
From the Paper:
"Black Betty also deals with the concept of community. The racial divide in the book is also a clash of different communities, with the black characters trying to maintain their own community and integrity as a subgroup in the larger white society. The white society is depicted as hostile and arrogant in contrast to the black community, people like Rawlins, who try to assert their personal freedom, protect their own, and take a stronger moral stance than the white community believes possible."Cite this Analytical Essay:
APA Format
"Black Betty" (2003, May 23)
Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/black-betty-27032/
MLA Format
""Black Betty"" 23 May 2003.
Web. 23 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/black-betty-27032/>