Kevin Quashie analyzes texts by of Lucille Clifton, June Jordan, Toni Morrison, Evie Shockley, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others to argue for a Black aliveness that is disarticulated from antiblackness and which provides the basis for the imagination and creation of a Black world.
Focusing on the concept of quiet expressiveness, this work challenges the prevailing perception of African American culture as solely dramatic and defiant. It delves into the significance of subtle forms of protest, literary readings, and influential texts, suggesting that these quieter expressions can reshape our understanding of black communities. By highlighting this alternative perspective, the book aims to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive view of black culture and its complexities.
Accompanying a major traveling exhibition, this book provides a comprehensive look at this MacArthur Fellows winning artist s ongoing exploration of the African-American experience.