Man-Woman Relationships in Gloria Naylor's The Men of Brewster Place

Due to the legacy of slavery, the structure of black families has been disturbed to such an extent that black people find it rather challenging to maintain a lasting and loving relationship among the family members, especially between husband and wife. Many black women are forced to bear the dual responsibility of both parents for their children and sometimes even for their grandchildren. The employment vulnerability and the limited opportunities available to black people even after so many years of emancipation profoundly affect African-American family life. The frustration they face due to the deferral of their dreams and ambitions in a white racist society results in an unending discord and violence in domestic life. Though some couple are wise enough to cope up with the adverse circumstances, there are many who become victim of their own expectations to fit into the accepted moulds of man and woman in the dominant culture. This paper focuses on the dynamics of man-woman relationships in the black community in Gloria Naylor’s The Men of Brewster Place.