From Emerson to King: Democracy, Race, and the Politics of Protest (W.E.B. Du Bois Institute)

This book traces a provocative line from Emerson's work on race, reform, and identity to work by three influential African- American thinkers--W. E. B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West--each of whom offers subtle engagement with both the tradition of written protest and the critique of liberalism Emerson shaped. Emerson has been cast in recent debate as either an antinomian or an ideologue--as either subversive of institutional controls or indebted to capitalism. Here, Patterson contributes a more nuanced view, probing Emerson's record and its cultural and historical matrix to document a fundamental rhetoric of contradiction --a strategic aligning of opposed political concepts--that enabled him to both affirm and critique elements of the liberal democratic model. Drawing richly on topics in political philosophy, law, religion, and cultural history, Patterson examines the nature and implications of Emerson's contradictory rhetoric in parts I and II. In part III she considers Emerson's legacy from the perspective of African-American intellectual history, identifying fresh continuities and crucial discontinuities between the canonical strain of protest writing Emerson helped establish and African-American literary and philosophical traditions. This Book Traces A Provocative Line From Emerson's Work On Race, Reform, And Identity To Work By Three Influential African-american Thinkers - W.e.b. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., And Cornel West - Each Of Whom Offers Subtle Engagement With Both The Tradition Of Written Protest And The Critique Of Liberalism Emerson Shaped. Emerson Has Been Cast In Recent Debate As Either An Antinomian Or An Ideologue - As Either Subversive Of Institutional Controls Or Indebted To Capitalism. Here, Anita Haya Patterson Contributes A More Nuanced View, Probing Emerson's Record And Its Cultural And Historical Matrix To Document A Fundamental Rhetoric Of Contradiction - A Strategic Aligning Of Opposed Political Concepts - That Enabled Him To Both Affirm And Critique Elements Of The Liberal Democratic Model. A Work Of Striking Originality And Breadth, From Emerson To King: Democracy, Race, And The Politics Of Protest Will Make Invigorating Reading For Scholars And Students Of American Studies, American Political Philosophy, And African-american Studies. Introduction: Reconciling Race And Rights -- 1. Defining The Public: Representative Men -- 2. Property And The Body In Nature -- 3. The Poetics Of Contradiction: Religious And Political Emblems In The American Scholar -- 4. Self-reliance: The Ethical Demand For Reform -- 5. Locating The Limits Of Consent In Friendship -- 6. The Claims Of Double-consciousness: Race, Nationalism, And The Problem Of Political Obligation -- 7. W.e.b. Du Bois And The Critique Of Liberal Nationalism -- 8. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Publicity, Disobedience, And The Revitalization Of American Democratic Culture. By Anita Haya Patterson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-249) And Index. This book traces a provocative line from Emerson's work on race, reform, and identity to work by three influential African-American thinkers - W. E. B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cornel West - each of whom offers subtle engagement with both the tradition of written protest and the critique of liberalism Emerson shaped. Emerson has been cast in recent debate as either an antinomian or an ideologue - as either subversive of institutional controls or indebted to capitalism. Here, Anita Haya Patterson contributes a more nuanced view, probing Emerson's record and its cultural and historical matrix to document a fundamental rhetoric of contradiction - a strategic aligning of opposed political concepts - that enabled him to both affirm and critique elements of the liberal democratic model. A work of striking originality and breadth, From Emerson to King: Democracy, Race, and the Politics of Protest will make invigorating reading for scholars and students of American Studies, American political philosophy, and African-American Studies. This work explores Emerson's contribution to the debate on democracy, race and social reform. Emerson's writings, it argues, reveal a pattern of contradiction between fundamental individual rights and race as a factor impossible to dismiss in a consideration of democratic values.