Focusing on the life and contributions of the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, this overview delves into her literary journey, exploring the contexts that shaped her work and the critical reception it received. It highlights her influence on literature and culture, providing insights into her themes and the impact of her writing on future generations.
Focusing on the intersection of African American culture and legal discourse, this collection of essays explores how cultural expressions—through novels, music, and visual art—critique the law. Key themes include rights, sovereignty, and the impact of legal decisions on African American life. The work highlights the tradition of legal criticism within African American culture, emphasizing the need for the law to recognize its effects on marginalized communities. Through this lens, the volume reveals the deep connections between cultural production and legal critique.
Focusing on the intersection of race, property, and ethics, Lovalerie King analyzes the portrayal of African Americans as thieves within the context of American law and culture. By examining over thirty literary works, including key autobiographies and novels, she reveals how stereotypes are shaped by historical and legal frameworks from slavery to Jim Crow. King employs critical race theory to discuss themes of economic inequality and the ethics of passing, ultimately demonstrating how African American literature intricately navigates the complexities of race and property ownership.
A Students’ Guide to African American Literature, 1760 to the Present is designed to assist college students (and others) who are relative novices to the study of African American literature. Focusing on the prose tradition (from early autobiographical narratives to contemporary fiction), the author highlights themes, issues, and motifs peculiar to, and recurring in, African American literature, while providing students with more specific information on a number of key texts. Each chapter comes with suggestions for assignments and a selected bibliography for further research. The book also contains an appendix, which contains six student essays, as well as a useful glossary.