FROM DOUBLE- CONSCIOUSNESS TO ME-NESS: AN EVERLASTING JOURNEY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY?

Abstract

been brought from their countries to America. They suffered under tremendous circumstances during this great, perilous and long voyage and had been confronted with new multifaceted realities. Before that voyage, the African had his/her own identity, his/her own history, his/her own culture; but once on the American soil, his/her identity had been divided into diverse facets. Subsequently, an African remains a struggle self, caring about the survival of his/her self in the New World. Being an American and a Negro - two souls, two thoughts, two identities - is what is termed by William Edward Burghardt Du Bois ‘Double consciousness’. Used as theoretical tool, this double consciousness referring to an innermost “twoness” putatively experienced by African Americans, will help in getting a better understanding of this complexity which reveals a psycho-social division in a white-dominated society. Our objective is to show that the hardest fight is the inner fight to psychological freedom for identity. It is discovered, however, that there is progress. As a matter of fact, the African had recorded material, financial and intellectual successes in his/her struggle for freedom. Nevertheless, beneath all these struggles and fights of the African American in history, lies the deep and strong will to reconquer his/her missing self, his/her affirmation of Me-ness. So, despite the material, financial and intellectual successes, the African American remains fundamentally non satisfied and still feels on the way of being him/herself. After all, is this quest of Me-ness not everlasting?