移民潮和城市化——莫里森《爵士乐》的文化诠释

美国历史上著名的＂黑人移民潮＂是美国城市化导致的社会现象,同时也推动了城市化的进一步发展。莫里森的长篇小说《爵士乐》将这一文化事件作为历史背景,描写了城市＂新黑人＂的生存境遇。在该文本前人研究的基础上,本文首先对＂黑人移民潮＂追根溯源,揭示美国黑人城市化的深层原因;其次,将北方城市空间纳入研究视野,以此审视＂新黑人＂的认同危机;再次,指出南方乡村具有疗伤功能,但这种救赎作用是动态的,并不具备永恒性。通过这样的文化书写,莫里森让文学走进现实并指导现实,为少数族裔的身份建构提供有效途径。

The Great Migration refers to the historical fact that a large number of African Americans migrated from the South to the North at the turn of the 20th century. The movement, resulting from American urbanization, is employed as the historical background in Jazz by Toni Morrison. Based on the existing studies on Jazz, this paper firstly intends to trace back to the deep- rooted reasons for American Blacks＇ migration and urbanization. Secondly, the northern cities are absorbed into academic view to see how New Negroes suffer psychological crisis. Thirdly, the paper points out that the southern countryside functions as spiritual redemption, which is dynamic over time and space. By such cultural writing, Morrison attempts to demonstrate what marginalized groups call for and how they construct their cultural identity.