Introduction
Identity and otherness are two recurring themes in African literature. Identity relates to how people and groups identify themselves and others, whereas otherness refers to how individuals and groups distinguish themselves from others (Kanu, 2019). The protagonists in Mariama Bâ’s “So Long a Letter” and Maryse Condé’s “I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem” wrestle with their identities and the otherness imposed by society. These ideas are intertwined and play an essential role in establishing individual and community identity.
Identity
Identity is a multidimensional notion that includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, nationality, and religion. Identity is a dynamic and developing process that is influenced by social and cultural influences. Individuals form their identities via the application of cultural and societal norms, values, and beliefs (James et al., 2021). Personal experiences, relationships, and interactions with people all have an impact on identity.
Through the figure of Ramatoulaye in “So Long a Letter,” Bâ (2012) tackles the subject of identity. These motives are fundamental for this work and me, which is why I felt a certain connection when studying this source. Modern ideas of freedom, self-determination, and cultural identity give all people the freedom to live and think as they want.
However, despite the free society, there are still atavisms in it, which can cause many people to be undeservedly stigmatized or marginalized, such as the main character Ramatoulaye from the story in question. That this is happening in today’s world is abnormal and proves that there are still problems that society needs to deal with.
Meanwhile, in I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, Tituba is portrayed by Condé as a complicated, multi-faceted figure. She also faces many challenges in terms of her cultural identity. This still does not allow many people to detail what they want and how they look.
Racism and intolerance have been eradicated from society for many years in a row. However, I feel that there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of people’s full acceptance of cultures different from their own. Aspects of identity and willpower can be revealed in a person when the environment facilitates it and there is no inequality.
Identity creation is a vital process that influences both individual and collective development. How individuals define themselves and others influences their social interactions, relationships, and sense of belonging (James et al., 2021). Individuals might have several identities that cross and interact with one another, making the idea of identity complicated. For example, a person can identify as a woman, a person of color, and a Muslim all at the same time, resulting in a distinct intersecting identity.
Otherness
Otherness is the polar opposite of identification and relates to how individuals and groups distinguish themselves from others. Otherness is a differentiation process that happens when people or groups are seen to deviate from social and cultural standards (DeWilde et al., 2019). Otherness is a social and cultural concept that can be used to legitimize discrimination, prejudice, and exclusion. Otherness is a complicated term since it is generated by social and cultural elements rather than being inherent in people or groups. When people or groups are thought to be distinct from the norm, this difference is used to justify their exclusion or discrimination.
In I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, Tituba is shown from the very beginning to be different from other people. All the people who surround her consider Tituba alien and wrong (Condé, 1992). This phenomenon is also reflected in society throughout history when people who are different from the majority were perceived as wrong. Great progress has been made in combating such discrimination and oppression through globalization and people’s exposure to different cultures. If the white colonists had known how many diverse cultures and peoples there were at that time, they probably could have changed their views somewhat.
Diversity Through Uniqueness
Identity and difference, echoing diversity, are concepts that signify interrelated designations. Individuals and groups identify themselves via identity, whereas individuals and groups define themselves through otherness. Identity and otherness are not mutually exclusive but rather inextricably linked, and how people and communities identify themselves influences how they view others.
Identity may be used to foster belonging and community, but it can also be used to exclude or discriminate against others. Identity building is frequently built on binary oppositions such as black and white, male and female, and us and them, reinforcing social hierarchies and power relations. Otherness is utilized to explain these hierarchies by portraying people or groups as inferior or different.
Despite their disparities, Ramatoulaye and Tituba face the same issue of reconciling their identities with the otherness imposed by society. Ramatoulaye achieves some serenity by accepting her identity as a Muslim lady and rejecting the otherness imposed by society. Tituba, on the other hand, finds it difficult to reconcile her individuality with the otherness that has been imposed on her. She is eventually hanged as a witch, a victim of the otherness forced on her.
Conclusion
Identity and otherness are two major topics in African literature. Mariama Bâ and Maryse Condé address these ideas through the characters of Ramatoulaye and Tituba in “So Long a Letter” and “I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem,” respectively. Both individuals struggle to reconcile their identities with the otherness imposed by society. While Ramatoulaye is able to find some calm, Tituba eventually succumbs to the otherness that has been forced on her. These two works serve as compelling reminders of the significance of embracing our identities and rejecting society’s forced otherness.
References
Bâ, M. (2012). So long a letter. Waveland Press
Condé, M. (1992). I, Tituba, Black witch of Salem. University Press of Virginia.
DeWilde, C., Carrington, J., Abbate, A., Burton, C. W., Bearman, G., & Salyer, J. (2019). Structural stress and otherness: How do they influence psychological stress? Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(5). Web.
James, I., Xiong, L., & Anderson, A. R. (2021). Mobilising identity: Entrepreneurial practice of a ‘disadvantaged’ identity. European Management Review, 19(3), 436-449. Web.
Kanu, I. A. (2019). African philosophy, globalization, and the priority of ‘otherness’. Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development, 1(1). Web.