In Impermanent Blackness, Korey Garibaldi delves into interracial collaborations in American commercial publishing from the 1910s to the 1960s, highlighting the partnerships between Black authors, agents, and publishers and their white counterparts. This exploration reveals how both aspiring and established Black writers and editors collaborated with white allies to achieve publishing success, often challenging stereotypes and promoting racial pluralism. The book examines key developments of this nearly forgotten era, including the mainstream success of African American authors in the 1930s and 1940s, the rise of multiracial children's literature, and the postwar tensions between advocates of racial cosmopolitanism and those supporting "Negro literature." It also addresses the influence of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements on interracial literary culture. By the late 1960s, some once-celebrated literary figures, such as W. S. Braithwaite and Frank Yerby, faced criticism or obscurity for being perceived as too aligned with white culture. Garibaldi argues that these individuals, both dreamers and pragmatists, offer valuable lessons for fostering an inclusive society. Through a contemporary lens, the author reexamines their contributions, advancing the cultural history of race in the United States.
