마리 리의 『작별인사』에 나타난 인종 간 갈등과 다문화주의

초록

This paper focuses on interracial conflicts between African Americans and Korean Americans and the multicultural issues represented in Marie G Lee’s Saying Goodbye. First, this paper examines why the multiculturalism, which acknowledges and respects the difference among people in terms of race, ethnicity and culture, developed during the 1980s and the early 1990s and has retreated since 9/11 in the United States. Secondly, this paper examines how Ellen, a Korean American and her African American college roommate, Leecia, mutually recognize and understand their different cultures through their friendship. This paper also discusses the political evolution and self-awareness of Ellen Sung, a Korean American in her college environment and explores how Ellen’s racial identity and cultural nationalism are heightened by her interaction with other Korean students and meeting her Asian American boyfriend, Jaechun whose father’s store was destroyed during the LA riots. Lastly, this paper also examines the weaknesses of the multicultural society by focusing on the controversy surrounding rapper Ice Cube, an anti-Asian rapper that is named ‘Professor T’ in Lee’s Saying Goodbye. Cube’s ‘Black Korea’ portrays the antagonistic relationship between African Americans and Korean American merchants that open their stores in the black community. This paper suggests that Korean Americans reject their intermediate position relative to other racial groups within the American racial order and work toward creating a society characterized by greater racial justice for all.

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