Shamanism and African Identity: An Exploration into August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Soumya Jose, Sony J. Raj
- Pages
- pp. 91-102
- Published
- January 1, 2013
Soumya Jose & Sony J. Raj (2013). Shamanism and African Identity: An Exploration into August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Labyrinth, 4(1), 91-102.
Abstract
Amiri Baraka has said that when you look in the mirror you should see your God. If you don't, you have somebody else's God. So, in fact, what you do worship is an image of God which is white, which is the image of the very same people who have oppressed you, who have put you on slave ships, who have beaten you, and who have forced you to work. The image was a white man. And the image that you were given to worship as a God is the image of a white man (quoted in Conversations with August Wilson, 77) Having faith, believing in a set of values and traditions, and applying the principles to a way of life describe the millions of religious people around the world. Cultural beliefs are typically related to religious beliefs. For example, the identity of a person or group is shaped by religious values, beliefs, and affiliation. These values are often passed on to future generations. This present paper delves deep into the ancient form of spirituality called shamanism employed by the African American playwright, August Wilson, in his play namely Joe Turners Come and Gone
Keywords:Amiri BarakaAfrican identitycultural beliefs


