From Innocence to Monstrosity: Literary Depictions of Black Childhood Sexualization and Its Effects Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

From overpoliced dress to early sexual encounters, childhood sexualization is an unfortunately widespread occurrence within Black childhood. The sexualization that Black children face makes them more vulnerable to experiencing sexualized violence than their white counterparts. As a result, many Black kids end up having their childish innocence disrupted by the real-world effects of racial bias. This is exacerbated by the sexual deviancy written into the black body by a society that associates blackness with lasciviousness. In the wake of this, Black children begin to be treated more like monsters prowling in the dark than vulnerable dependents. The experiences of Big Boy in Richard Wright’s “Big Boy Leaves Home,” Joe Christmas in William Faulkner’s Light in August, and Shori Matthews in Octavia Butler’s Fledgling give insight into how being sexualized inwardly traumatizes Black children and outwardly labels them as monstrous. 

Table of Contents

Introduction............................................................................................................1

Chapter One: Viewing Children as Predators............................................................. 4

Chapter Two: The Black Childhood Moment.............................................................21

Chapter Three: We Make Our Monsters.................................................................... 37

Conclusion............................................................................................................ 53

Works Cited...........................................................................................................56

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Literature, English
Mot-clé	monstrosity childhood sexualization black sexualization childhood black childhood
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Adriane Ivey, Emory University
Committee Members	Patrick Allitt, Emory University Patricia Cahill, Emory University

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