Negritude is still relevant

Today, Césaire is highly criticized for his call for negritude. Those who attack Césaire believe negritude is too limiting and too Africa-oriented. Therefore, they propose “Creolity” as an alternative to Negritude. Creolity is a movement that is dedicated to studying, writing, publishing, and teaching Creole as the medium of expression of the Antillean soul, as opposed to the exclusivity of French, which is spoken by adherents of Negritude. Thus for many, the quest of negritude is no longer relevant. However, I believe the quest of negritude is still today the soul of black Diasporas’ search of an identity.

The New Novel in Latin America

I was surprised to see how the new novel in Latin America is similar to the New Novel in France. I was wondering about the relationship that existed between the Boom writers and the French writers. Does the influence come directly from USA, or does it come directly from France? When I was reading the Cubs, I could not stop myself from thinking that a French new novel writer wrote it. As in the French new novel, the author plays with the persons, the story is fragmented, and the story is not reader-friendly. Moreover, the reader must participate a little bit in the story in order to interpret it. I do not know enough about the writers of the Boom to trace their relationship with the French new novel writers, but I have strong feeling that one influenced the other. What do you think?

A Quest for Negritude

The Notebook of a Return to the Native Land is a work of immense cultural significance. However, the difficulty to understand the language uses by Césaire in this great masterpiece causes many to question the true recipient of this work. I agree that Césaire makes usage of a knotty language in the Notebook, but I will also argue that he addresses it to everyone in the black community. I argue for this view point because I believe the difficult language symbolizes the challenge of the quest for negritude. The quest for negritude is not a simple adventure. It is difficult in all aspects of life. One word is not enough to explain it. It takes a whole set of structure, of style, and of vocabularies to express the deepest level of this challenge. I do not think that Césaire uses this kind of style and vocabulary accidentally. The difficult language is used purposefully. It is Cesaire’s way to say, “Be ready for a challenge.” One who is after his negritude has to travel deep into the African continent. He must be in the relearning mode. He has to relearn the African’s true history. He has to relearn to take proud in the civilization of his African ancestors. And most importantly, he has to relearn the custom of the people that he has been separated from for centuries. The whole process requires patience. Therefore, Césaire manipulates language in order to symbolize the level of patience that one will need to make the quest.

The Spirit of the Modernists

I do not know a lot about the modernist movement, but I do have a feeling that it enriches the Spanish language. Jean Franco tells us the Modernists felt that the Spanish language and poetic form were inadequate for the expression of their new sensibility. Therefore, they introduce non-Spanish vocabulary to up to date the Spanish language. For example, words from the French language have been introduced in the writings of the Modernists. I imagine after a few years, those words are considered as Spanish words which have their roots in the French language. I am not surprise about the decision of those writers. Languages are not self-sufficient. They have to trade with each other in other to survive. Many words in the French language come from Latin and Greek. Languages are neighbors. Thus, they borrow from each other. I believe many Spanish words using by today’s Latinos might be French words of the modernist movement. I do not know the movement and Spanish enough to give an example. However, I have a feeling that we have many Europeans words used by the Modernists that are still alive in Spanish.