Representing the Race : A New Political History of African American Literature

The political value of African American literature has long been a topic of great debate among American writers, both black and white, from Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama. In his compelling new book, __Representing the Race__, Gene Andrew Jarrett traces the genealogy of this topic in order to develop an innovative political history of African American literature. Jarrett examines texts of every sort—pamphlets, autobiographies, cultural criticism, poems, short stories, and novels—to parse the myths of authenticity, popular culture, nationalism, and militancy that have come to define African American political activism in recent decades. He argues that unless we show the diverse and complex ways that African American literature has transformed society, political myths will continue to limit our understanding of this intellectual tradition. Cultural forums ranging from the printing press, schools, and conventions, to parlors, railroad cars, and courtrooms provide the backdrop to this African American literary history, while the foreground is replete with compelling stories, from the debate over racial genius in early American history and the intellectual culture of racial politics after slavery, to the tension between copyright law and free speech in contemporary African American culture, to the political audacity of Barack Obama’s creative writing. Erudite yet accessible, Representing the Race is a bold explanation of what’s at stake in continuing to politicize African American literature in the new millennium. #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Barack Obama's lucid vision of America's place in the world and call for a new kind of politics that builds upon our shared understandings as Americans, based on his years in the Senate “In our lowdown, dispiriting era, Obama's talent for proposing humane, sensible solutions with uplifting, elegant prose does fill one with hope.”—Michael Kazin, The Washington Post In July 2004, four years before his presidency, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners'minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Obama called “the audacity of hope.”The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a different brand of politics—a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces—from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media—that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.At the heart of this book is Barack Obama's vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats—from terrorism to pandemic—that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy—where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, Obama says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes—“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.” The Political Value Of African American Literature Has Long Been A Topic Of Great Debate Among American Writers, Both Black And White, From Thomas Jefferson To Barack Obama. In His Compelling New Book, Representing The Race, Gene Andrew Jarrett Traces The Genealogy Of This Topic In Order To Develop An Innovative Political History Of African American Literature. Jarrett Examines Texts Of Every Sort{u2014}pamphlets, Autobiographies, Cultural Criticism, Poems, Short Stories, And Novels{u2014}to Parse The Myths Of Authenticity, Popular Culture, Nationalism, And Militancy That Have Come To Define African American Political Activism In Recent Decades. He Argues That Unless We Show The Diverse And Complex Ways That African American Literature Has Transformed Society, Political Myths Will Continue To Limit Our Understanding Of This Intellectual Tradition. Cultural Forums Ranging From The Printing Press, Schools, And Conventions, To Parlors, Railroad Cars, And Courtrooms Provide The Backdrop To This African American Literary History, While The Foreground Is Replete With Compelling Stories, From The Debate Over Racial Genius In Early American History And The Intellectual Culture Of Racial Politics After Slavery, To The Tension Between Copyright Law And Free Speech In Contemporary African American Culture, To The Political Audacity Of Barack Obama's Creative Writing. Erudite Yet Accessible, Representing The Race Is A Bold Explanation Of What's At Stake In Continuing To Politicize African American Literature In The New Millennium. Introduction: Toward A Political History Of African American Literature -- The Politics Of Early African American Literature -- The Culture Of Racial Politics After Slavery -- New Negro Politics From Reconstruction To The Harlem Renaissance -- The Geopolitics Of African American Autobiography Between The World Wars -- Copyright Law, Free Speech, And The Transformative Value Of African American Literature -- The Political Audacity Of Barack Obama's Literature -- Epilogue: The Politics Of African American Literature After Obama. Gene Andrew Jarrett. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Senator Obama Calls For A Different Brand Of Politics--a Politics For Those Weary Of Bitter Partisanship And Alienated By The Endless Clash Of Armies We See In Congress And On The Campaign Trail; A Politics Rooted In The Faith, Inclusiveness, And Nobility Of Spirit At The Heart Of Our Democracy. He Explores Those Forces--from The Fear Of Losing, To The Perpetual Need To Raise Money, To The Power Of The Media--that Can Stifle Even The Best-intentioned Politician. He Examines The Growing Economic Insecurity Of American Families, The Racial And Religious Tensions Within The Body Politic, And The Transnational Threats--from Terrorism To Pandemic--that Gather Beyond Our Shores. And He Grapples With The Role That Faith Plays In A Democracy. Only By Returning To The Principles That Gave Birth To Our Constitution, He Says, Can Americans Repair A Broken Political Process, And Restore To Working Order A Government Dangerously Out Of Touch With Millions Of Ordinary Americans.--from Publisher Description. Republicans And Democrats -- Values -- Our Constitution -- Politics -- Opportunity -- Faith -- Race -- The World Beyond Our Borders -- Family. Barack Obama. Includes Index. Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics--a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the "endless clash of armies" we see in Congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of our democracy. He explores those forces--from the fear of losing, to the perpetual need to raise money, to the power of the media--that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats--from terrorism to pandemic--that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a broken political process, and restore to working order a government dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. --From publisher description. The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a new kind of politicsa politics that builds upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America's place in the world, refreshingly candid about his family life and his time in the Senate, Obama here sets out his political convictions and inspires us to trust in the dogged optimism that has long defined us and that is our best hope going forward.