Critique of Black Reason (a John Hope Franklin Center Book)

Laurent Dubois (transl.) In Critique of Black Reason eminent critic Achille Mbembe offers a capacious genealogy of the category of Blackness—from the Atlantic slave trade to the present—to critically reevaluate history, racism, and the future of humanity. Mbembe teases out the intellectual consequences of the reality that Europe is no longer the world's center of gravity while mapping the relations among colonialism, slavery, and contemporary financial and extractive capital. Tracing the conjunction of Blackness with the biological fiction of race, he theorizes Black reason as the collection of discourses and practices that equated Blackness with the nonhuman in order to uphold forms of oppression. Mbembe powerfully argues that this equation of Blackness with the nonhuman will serve as the template for all new forms of exclusion. With Critique of Black Reason, Mbembe offers nothing less than a map of the world as it has been constituted through colonialism and racial thinking while providing the first glimpses of a more just future. Eminent Critic Achille Mbembe Offers A Capacious Genealogy Of The Category Of Blackness-from The Atlantic Slave Trade To The Present-to Critically Reevaluate History, Racism, And The Future Of Humanity. Mbembe Teases Out The Intellectual Consequences Of The Reality That Europe Is No Longer The World's Center Of Gravity While Mapping The Relations Among Colonialism, Slavery, And Contemporary Financial And Extractive Capital. Tracing The Conjunction Of Blackness With The Biological Fiction Of Race, He Theorizes Black Reason As The Collection Of Discourses And Practices That Equated Blackness With The Nonhuman In Order To Uphold Forms Of Oppression. Mbembe Powerfully Argues That This Equation Of Blackness With The Nonhuman Will Serve As The Template For All New Forms Of Exclusion. Mbembe Offers Nothing Less Than A Map Of The World As It Has Been Constituted Through Colonialism And Racial Thinking While Providing The First Glimpses Of A More Just Future.--publisher Description. The Subject Of Race -- The Well Of Fantasies -- Difference And Self-determination -- The Little Secret -- Requiem For The Slave -- The Clinic Of The Subject. Achille Mbembe ; Translated By Laurent Dubois. A John Hope Franklin Center Book. Originally Published As Critique De La Raison Nègre: Paris : La Découverte, [2013] Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Eminent critic Achille Mbembe reevaluates history and racism, offering a capacious genealogy of the category of Blackness—from the Atlantic slave trade to the present—to show how the conjoining of the biological fiction of race with definitions of Blackness have been and continue to be used to uphold oppression. Eminent Critic Achille Mbembe Reevaluates History And Racism, Offering A Capacious Genealogy Of The Category Of Blackness From The Atlantic Slave Trade To The Present To Show How The Conjoining Of The Biological Fiction Of Race With Definitions Of Blackness Have Been And Continue To Be Used To Uphold Oppression.