The African Diaspora and Autobiographics: Skeins of Self and Skin (San Francisco State University Series in Philosophy)

Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural in approach__, African Diaspora and Autobiographics__ locates the dialogic and symbiotic connection between diverse autobiographical accounts of writers in the African diaspora. Beginning with an analysis of the abolitionist narratives of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century ex-slaves, Olaudah Equiano and Harriet Jacobs, Chinosole traces the political and aesthetic linkages between these early writings and autobiographical literature produced by writers in the twentieth century, namely Richard Wright, Peter Abrahams, George Lamming, Agostinho Neto, Audre Lorde, Assata Shakur, and Evelyn Williams. __African Diaspora and Autobiographics__ focuses on the affirmative function of African autobiography as a counter-hegemonic response to the history of racist representation and, more important, as a powerful enactment of Black iconography in the struggle for liberation. Interdisciplinary And Cross-cultural In Approach, African Diaspora And Autobiographics Locates The Dialogic And Symbiotic Connection Between Diverse Autobiographical Accounts Of Writers In The African Diaspora. Beginning With An Analysis Of The Abolitionist Narratives Of Eighteenth- And Nineteenth-century Ex-slaves, Olaudah Equiano And Harriet Jacobs, Chinosole Traces The Political And Aesthetic Linkages Between These Early Writings And Autobiographical Literature Produced By Writers In The Twentieth Century, Namely Richard Wright, Peter Abrahams, George Lamming, Agostinho Neto, Audre Lorde, Assata Shakur, And Evelyn Williams. African Diaspora And Autobiographics Focuses On The Affirmative Function Of Afrikan Autobiography As A Counter-hegemonic Response To The History Of Racist Representation And, More Important, As A Powerful Enactment Of Black Iconography In The Struggle For Liberation.--jacket. 1. Tryin' To Get Over: Narrative Strategy In Equiano's Autobiography -- 2. Individual And Collective Selves Portrayed In Wright's Black Boy -- 3. Tell Freedom As Analogue To Black Boy -- 4. Agostinho Neto's Sagrada Esperanca -- 5. The Act Of Speaking In Tongues: Communal Presence And Lamming's In The Castle Of My Skin -- 6. A Radical Iconography: From Harriet Jacobs To Assata Shakur -- 7. Doubling Exposure With Inadmissible Evidence -- 8. Audre Lorde And Matrilineal Diaspora: Moving History Beyond Nightmare Into Structures For The Future ... -- 9. Conclusion: Skeins Of Self And Skin. Chinosole. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [163]-175) And Index.