On The Theme Of Healing In The Salt Eaters

Toni Cade Bambara is an eminent African-American author in the late twentieth century.She has produced lots of fictions and screenplays,which uncovers some political issues about the injustice and oppression of African-American communities.As one of her representative works,The Salt Eaters shows readers a panorama of the African American society.Its humorous language and unique cultural background attract many scholars' eyes.Taking the healing as the principle line,this thesis interprets The Salt Eaters by exploring the process of healing and how victims recover from illness in this novel.Through analyzing the theme of healing in The Salt Eaters,readers can find that Toni Cade Bambara uncovers African Americans' sufferings by portraying the healing process.This is why Bambara's work is different from other black women writers'.The first part of this thesis explores victims'(such as Velma Henry's and Fred Holt's)traumatic memories of the past.Then the second chapter discusses how the healers apply their approaches to heal the victims: firstly,Doc Serge establishes a safe environment for victims;secondly,Minnie Ransom begins to heal the victim by respecting victim's autonomy,then,other healers help victims rebuild the connection and commonality to others.In the process of healing,victims gradually stay in a state of wellness,but they don't totally recover from illness.The third chapter explores the healing power of the community: through the political struggle and the African American folk healing,the black community makes all black people get together.By returning to the community,black folks get the chance to renew themselves and they receive a hopeful prospect toward future.By exploring the healing theme in the novel,this thesis concludes that Bambara wants to tell readers: the traumatized African Americans can reclaim their present and future only by returning to their own community.