Berry, Faith

Sterling A. Brown portrays Negroes struggling against injustice, racism, doubt, alienation, and nature's indifference. While some give up in despair or disillusionment, the majority endure hardships and dehumanization by faith, stoicism, humor, and song. Their strong example enables some to envision freedom from injustice in the future while others decide not to wait to confront their oppressors courageously. On the whole, Brown portrays a people of hope who continue to grow in strength, pride, and wisdom as they travel down the long and weary road to liberation.

Dorothy Parker made her "I'm a feminist" claim in a 1956 Paris Review interview with Marion Capron. This thesis proposes that Parker showed an acute awareness of women's issues. As a working woman who demanded equal pay for equal work, she was aware of gender influenced inequalities. Parker examined the cultural institutions that subordinated women by gender, class and race through her realist fiction. She anticipated the political feminist critique as we know it today. This thesis will examine three of her works of short fiction which reveal her political feminist consciousness: "Big Blonde," "Clothe the Naked," and "Mr. Durant."