The Politics of Color in James Baldwin’s Some Selected Novels

Abstract

Colorism was a politically-oriented social trend in America. It has received literary and critical reactions since the1960’s of twentieth century. James Baldwin’s writings are among those reactions. This paper studies the issue of colorism in Baldwin's novels. It is prefaced by three pivotal points: the classical roots of colorism, the politicization of color in the American society, and the distinction between skin and race. Then, it delineates the effects of the politicization of color in Baldwin’s novels. Its main conclusion is that Baldwin’s novels foreshadow racial equality America in future.