Radical Aesthetics and Modern Black Nationalism

233 Pages·2016·3.48 MB·English

by  GerShun Avilez

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Radical Aesthetics and
Modern Black Nationalism
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the new black studies series
Edited by Darlene Clark Hine
and Dwight A. McBride
A list of books in the series appears
at the end of this book.
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Radical Aesthetics
and Modern
Black Nationalism
GerShun Avilez
UNiveRsity of illiNois PRess
Urbana, Chicago, and springfield
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© 2016 by the Board of Trustees
of the University of Illinois
All rights reserved
1 2 3 4 5 c p 5 4 3 2 1
∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Avilez, GerShun, 1980– author.
Title: Radical aesthetics and modern Black nationalism /
GerShun Avilez.
Description: Urbana, IL : University of Illinois Press, [2016] |
Series: The new Black studies series | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015041928| ISBN 9780252040122 (cloth :
alk. paper) | ISBN 9780252081613 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN
9780252098321 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: African Americans—Intellectual life—20th
century. | Black nationalism—United States—History—20th
century. | American literature—African American authors—
History and criticism. | Black Arts movement. | African
American arts—20th century.
Classification: LCC E185.89.I56 A85 2016 | DDC 320.54/60973—
dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015041928
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To Corey
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: The Art of Revolution 1
part i. the question of “closing ranks”
1 The Claim of Innocence:
Deconstructing the Machinery of Whiteness 29
2 The Suspicion of Kinship:
Critiquing the Construct of Black Unity 61
part ii. the bodily logic of “revolutionizing the mind”
3 The Demands on Reproduction:
Worrying the Limits of Gender Identity 95
4 The Space of Sex:
Reconfiguring the Coordinates of Subjectivity 133
Conclusion: Queering Representation 167
Notes 181
Index 207
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Acknowledgments
I had no real understanding about all the labor and time it took
to write a book, and I would never have been able to accomplish the task
without the unwavering support and kind words of friends and family. Each
member of my dissertation committee provided a model for the kind of
teacher-scholar I work toward being. Thadious M. Davis has been a genuine
inspiration. Her patience, generosity, thoughtfulness, and sweeping intel-
ligence have made her an ideal mentor. She always believed in this project
even at moments when my own belief was shaken. Herman Beavers pushed
me to think about how to write about the contemporary period, and this
consideration has come to define almost all of my scholarly endeavors. Nancy
Bentley demonstrated to me that it is possible to be both critical and kind.
Her advice also made me a better writer.
I have had friends along the way who have seen this book at every possible
stage. I met Salamishah Tillet as I was beginning a doctoral program at Penn
and she was finishing one at Harvard, and she has been a draft reader, advice
giver, consoler, congratulator, and general brainstorming buddy about all of
life’s questions. I think of her as mentor, confidante, and sister. Tshepo M.
Chéry has been my constant source of sanity and laughter. She made me feel
like we were “in this together” no matter how far apart we were. Michael L.
Wright and Jennifer Patterson are two of my oldest friends who have kept
me eating well for years. I treasure their friendship. Marcus Hunter got me
through tough times and offered me enduring friendship even when many
miles separated us. Wendy Lee is my favorite conspirator. We helped each
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