On Identity Crisis And Reconstruction Of Afro-Americans In Fences

August Wilson,known as one of the greatest black American playwrights,is a shining star rising over American theater in the 1980 s.Fences,as one of his representative works,addresses the identity problem of the African Americans and the possible ways for them to reconstruct their identity.Numerous scholars have devoted themselves to the study of Fences from perspectives of feminism,space theory,metaphorical meanings of fences and so on.In light of the identity crisis theory proposed by Erik H.Erikson,a well-known American psychiatrist,this paper aims to make a detailed analysis of the identity crises encountered by African Americans in Fences in terms of cultural conflict,social life as well as family life.Through the analysis,we can better understand the complexity and particularity of the various identity crises Afro-Americans have suffered in a white-dominated society as a result of social,cultural as well as historical factors.In a frustrating situation where African Americans learn to accept and adapt to the mainstream culture,they can get spiritual nourishment and inspirations from their traditional cultures,which might help them to rebuild their identity with ethnic identification and affirmation of some positive virtues as cultural confidence and dignity.This paper aims to reveal that the construction of black immigrants’ healthy identity deserves serious attention in a society where many ethnic groups live together with a good promise for harmony and equality.Hopefully this study will also provide enlightenment to the rethinking of the racial issues in current American society.