Using every context and all available information in their own interest, the tricksters are represented in the African American culture by small animals that make their way through stories by tricking people, getting out of difficult situations by outsmarting their much bigger opponents (Harris, “The Trickster”). In Folktales, tricksters act as fable or legendary figures that tell a story about society, about humans’ characters, personifying people, while portraying a caricatured, but vivid image of social Moravians (Rutledge 64).
The tricksters are central figures of the African American literature, exhibiting various characteristics that can be depicted in human behavior, such as physical or social weakness, amorality, ability to succeed over stronger opponents by using their wit (Harris, “The Trickster”). Because they are the image of the society reflected in literature, African tricksters are representative for the African – American society in which they have been created. Moreover, the tricksters specific to African – American literature have a similar role in the current society as they have in the Folktales.
In the African – American Folktales, the tricksters are represented as small animals, such as rabbits, turtles and alike, who, although are less powerful as compared to their opponents, manage to escape from their capture or to win competitive situations, using their abilities (Harris, “The Trickster”). Therefore, their role is to indicate that the less equipped and less gifted beings must appeal subterfuges, tricks, farces, falsity, mask wearing and other similar strategies for achieving their purposes. This role is sometimes similar to the circumstances faced by African Americans today. As Harris (“The Trickster”) observes, tricksters are usually surprised in competitive, contest or quest contexts, reflecting the situation of many African Americans who are competing with the other Americans for jobs, for salaries, for raises, and in general, for better living conditions. The African American individuals are personified in the corresponding literature through the tricksters, as through their smallness and pettiness talk about the Africans’ history as slaves and currently still disfavored and discriminated because of their skin color. For succeeding in a world that disfavors them, African American individuals sometimes need to appeal to various intrigues, deceiving their stronger opponents through their tactics. Requiring the right of the application of affirmative action is such a strategy. Affirmative action is a political approach to encourage the disadvantage groups, especially designed for the African Americans during Clinton’s mandate, to obtain increased representativeness in employment, academic institutions, etc. (Harris, “Clinton Avows”). However, although this approach is beneficial for the African Americans, it is discriminative for the white Americans.
Harris (“The Trickster”) also notes that the tricksters are often engaged in comic situations, or approach their difficulties, distress or sorrow through humor, although the amusing situations depicted in the Folktales are usually hiding a serious reality. Many African Americans today use black humor to make themselves liked, to integrate in various social groups and by this to achieve their purposes, at the cost of self-irony and self – satire, describing African American traditions and stereotyping them (Nilsen & Nilsen 14).
Through the use of personal stories about poverty, about discrimination, racist experiences, African Americans become liked, sympathized and their causes supported. Although from a social point of view they are the weak individuals, the African Americans, just as the tricksters from the eponymous Folktales manage to find their way towards their objectives using various strategies.
Works Cited
Harris, John, F. Clinton Avows Support for Affirmative Action. Washington Post. Accessed 6 October 2014, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/affirm/stories/aa072095.htm. 1995. Web.
Rutledge, Gregory, E. The Epic Trickster in American Literature. New York: Routledge. 2013. Print.
Harris, Trudier. The Trickster in African American Literature. Accessed 6 October 2014, available at http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1865-1917/essays/trickster.htm. N.d. Web.
Nilsen, Don L.F. & Nilsen, Alleen, Pace. African American Humor, Encyclopedia of Humor and Comedy. Pheonix: Oryx Press. 2000. Print.
