Feminismo negro e interseccionalidade: a invalidação de corpos femininos negros em Eu sei porque o pássaro canta na gaiola (1969), de Maya Angelou e o Olho mais azul (1970), de Toni Morrison

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the novels The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, under a feminist bias. The aim of this research was to investigate the representation of black female bodies in the novels, relating these representations of gender hierarchical issues, providing opportunities from both perspectives to explore the intersectionality on the daily experiences of individuals who suffer race, gender and class oppression. Morrison’s narrative has Pecola as the protagonist, a twelve-year-old black girl, who lives a precarious community and familiar life. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has Maya as the protagonist and it is an autobiography of Angelou. Furthermore, it is possible to establish parallels with Morrison’s novel, since the autobiography also approaches the exploitation, inferiority and invisibility of the back-female body, issues that express over the two female characters the desire to possess occidental physical characteristics that would enable them positive social experiences. This research accomplishes a critical and theoretical approach about the historical and social context of the black feminism, using as basis authors such as Davis (2016); hooks (2014; 2019); Ribeiro (2018); Mbembe (2018), besides other theorists who provide a comprehension both historical and social of the experiences of black people in occidental societies, evincing that there was the construction of a negative image over this community, what is more evident about the non-white woman. Moreover, there was a need to investigate beyond race and gender issues, once the discriminations suffered by black women are based on the situation of poverty in which these people are frequently put into. Therefore, the intersectional literacy of Crenshaw (1991; 1989) was used, as well as the contributions of Akotirene (2019) and Bilge and Collis (2020) to corroborate with the studies and discussions about the intersectional theory as a way to encompass the various forms of oppressions that establish a much superior system of demoralization over non-white female figures. From the parallel established between the two objects of study in this research, it is perceived that the narratives involve reflections about relevant social issues, focusing on the historical of demoralization imposed on black people. Ultimately, this dissertation evidenced how much the various types of oppression can influence the trajectory of life of black people, specifically the women, for, although Pecola and Maya had had different fates, it was noticed that their life trajectories have similarities in prejudice, tragedies, abuses, among other oppressions that put black women in a potentialized situation of submission. In this sense, the analysis contributed to reassure the importance of the intersectionality in the process of reflection and comprehension of these social issues that put people in situations of marginalization from hierarchical processes that are perpetuated in society.