White Queen: May French-sheldon And The Imperial Origins Of American Feminist Identity Project Muse Upcc Books

"... Boisseau recontextualizes U.S. feminism in the cinematic 20th century. White Queen challenges the narratives we have told about ourselves and illuminates the imperialism and celebrity worship that lurks within American feminism yet today." -- Lee Quinby, Harter Chair, Hobart and William Smith CollegesMay French-Sheldon's improbable public career began with an expedition throughout East Africa in 1891. She led a large entourage dressed in a long, flowing white dress and blonde wig, with a sword and pistol strapped to her side. As the "first woman explorer of Africa," she claimed to have inspired both awe and trust in the Africans she encountered, and as her celebrity grew, she reinvented herself as a messenger of civilization and "racial uplift." Tracey Jean Boisseau's insightful reading of the "White Queen" exposes the intertwined connections between popular notions of American feminism, American national identity, and the reorientation of Euro-American imperialism at the turn of the century ... Boisseau Recontextualizes U.s. Feminism In The Cinematic 20th Century. White Queen Challenges The Narratives We Have Told About Ourselves And Illuminates The Imperialism And Celebrity Worship That Lurks Within American Feminism Yet Today. -- Lee Quinby, Harter Chair, Hobart And William Smith Colleges May French-sheldon's Improbable Public Career Began With An Expedition Throughout East Africa In 1891. She Led A Large Entourage Dressed In A Long, Flowing White Dress And Blonde Wig, With A Sword And Pistol Strapped To Her Side. As The First Woman Explorer Of Africa, She Claimed To Have Inspired Both Awe And Trust In The Africans She Encountered, And As Her Celebrity Grew, She Reinvented Herself As A Messenger Of Civilization And Racial Uplift. Tracey Jean Boisseau's Insightful Reading Of The White Queen Exposes The Intertwined Connections Between Popular Notions Of American Feminism, American National Identity, And The Reorientation Of Euro-american Imperialism At The Turn Of The Century. Introduction: A Tale Of Imperial Feminism -- First Woman Explorer Of Africa: The 1891 Expedition -- The Caravan Trek To Kilimanjaro -- Self-discovery -- Forging A Feminine Colonial Method -- Sex And The Sultans -- Confessions Of A White Queen -- Agent For Empire: Interventions In Central And West Africa, 1903-1908 -- An Imperial Spy In The Congo -- A Plantation Mistress In Liberia -- Feminist For A New Generation: Mastering Femininity In 1920s America -- Taking Feminism On The Road -- Masquerading As The Subject Of Feminism -- The Queen, The Sheik, The Sultana, And The Female Spectator -- Conclusion: The White Queen In The Mirror, Or Reflections On The Construction Of White Feminist Identity. Tracey Jean Boisseau. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [241]-249) And Index. "How I wish I could go with you!" whispered the "lovely girl friends, sentimental hero-worshippers," pressed around May French-Sheldon, "who set the seal of admiration upon [her] lips by their farewell kisses" as she prepared to depart from London's Charing Cross Station for Dover and, from there, on to East Africa. Tracey Jean Boisseau's reading of the "White Queen" (which refers to May French-Sheldon's 1891 expedition to East Africa) connects popular notions of American feminism, American national identity, and the reorientation of Euro-American imperialism at the turn of the century