Postmodern-American Blackness Analysis

In particular, connecting critical race theory with the material from The Intuitionist draws attention to how identity is overshadowed by race and how people in that category are making the effort to define themselves outside of their race. Critical race theory seeks to examine the principle of race and how that influences how one recognizes other people 's experiences. Hooks in the “Postmodern Blackness” highlights the value of critical race theory by expressing how it is important for the identity of African-Americans need to be represented more to the public to understand their experiences. In addition, one does not have to perform their labeled identity to be recognized. In The Intuitionist, the protagonist character Lila Mae has to constantly …show more content…
As a result, since the African-American experience was being recognized that way, critical race theory enhances the understanding of this piece of work because one can understand why Lila Mae wants to be recognized for her accomplishments first than being defined by the stigma of her skin. Therefore, whenever she meets new people and addresses herself by saying, "My name is Lila Mae Watson… I 'm an Intuitionist. Now I work with the Department of Elevator Inspectors." (Whitehead, 90) throughout the book, this was her way of establishing herself. Informing people that she has embarked upon that type of career suggests that she is highly qualified as a person. This method is creating a representation of her experience as an educated African-American person and hopes to change the perceive on how people view her race as a …show more content…
This theory to a certain degree is problematic in understanding this piece of work because critical race theory primarily focuses on race instead collaborating race and sex together as one. It has been acknowledged that Lila Mae has to reinforce her position to people for them to recognize her worth as an American-American person in society. However, judging from the content of the text, Lila Mae is surrounded by a male dominant society. Therefore, Lila Mae being a female has a different representation of the African-American race instead of what an African-American male main character could have brought to the book. Thus, hinting the idea that the reason she has to repeatedly prove herself throughout the book is because of her sex. Possibly if the book was revolved around a male elevator inspector representing the African American race, maybe he wouldn 't have the constant reminder people his position in order for people to understand and/or acknowledge his experience. An example of this drawback is when Lila Mae expresses her frustration about her co-worker Pompey not representing the African-American experience the way she has to constant represent herself. The text states, "Pompey gave them a blueprint for colored folk. How they acted. How they pleased white folks. How