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Wrestling with identity: some black Afrikaans writers Notions of identity are major themes in black Afrikaans writing. This phenomenon is caused by the imperative for these writers to articulate a particular community's struggles, but is also caused by the critics' inclination to read the coloured community in these texts. This article looks at the constructs of identity in the work of three leading figures: S.V. Petersen, Adam Small and Patrick Petersen. The following trends are identified: adherence to the Afrikaner, Black Consciousness, communality with Afrikaans speakers, identifying with the rainbow nation. The article draws on post-colonial theory and current debates in South African society to evaluate these constructs.