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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelIn his novel, The Black Album, Hanif Kureishi raises a problem of
cultural identity. He uses Shahid Hasan, the main male character, to describe a
cultural ambivalence that always happens to the second generation of immigrant
since they experienc e cultural `hybridization? and cultural `ambivalent?. Shahid
lives and grows up in Britain; therefore he adopts the British culture. Shahid then
becomes aware of the other half of the culture that he inherits, the Pakistani
cultures. He becomes confused over his cultural identity that he decides to search
for his cultural identity. The search for cultural identity becomes the topic of this
thesis. I analyze the reasonss that influence Shahid to search for his cultural
identity and Shahid?s efforts to find it and the results of his finding. I use cultural
approach and my analysis using the post-colonial concepts. The reasons that affect
Shahid mostly are his family and the society. Since he was young, Shahid was
educated in British cultures; therefore he is never aware of his cultural heritage as
a Pakistani. However, after he lives on his own, he becomes aware of his cultural
heritage. This awareness causes him to be confused over his cultural heritage that
Shahid decides to search for it. His search leads him to the understanding that he
must embrace something that is very important for him; and the most important
thing is individual freedom to express himself.