Category Archives: African American Lit

Some Thoughts About Intersectionality

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Sharyn

Intersectionality has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s an important concept in my scholarly work, but it is having a larger cultural impact right now, I think, and it might be instructive to consider this impact more closely. … Continue reading →

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Election 2016 in Black & White

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Sharyn

A funny thing has happened during this tumultuous dumpster fire of a United States election season: Black poets are getting play from the Republicans. That’s right, the Tump side of the Presidential race has been highlighting the work of a … Continue reading →

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Making Black Lives Matter

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Sharyn

I don’t have a lot to say in this post this week–last week was a very difficult week for the US, and for our nation’s Black citizens in particular. At this point, it seems incomprehensible that concepts like white privilege, … Continue reading →

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The Blog is Off This Week

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Sharyn

No blog post this week, as I am off in Kansas City, MO, grading Advanced Placement exams. It’s hard work, but I am excited to spend time in KC, which I have found surprisingly vegan friendly the past few times … Continue reading →

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Reassess the Diss

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Sharyn

I’m in the midst of a four-day faculty writing retreat. Seven hours each day of camping out in a conference room on campus, with 19 colleagues from various disciplines, and a middling catered lunch every day. Sounds glamorous, right? We’re … Continue reading →

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Thinking About a Global Blackness

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Sharyn

Now, before you read further, I need to make it clear that I am not thinking about Blackness in terms of myself. I am a white woman who happens to be a scholar of African American literature and theater, with … Continue reading →

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Langston Hughes and the Literary Canon

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Sharyn

In a piece for The Smart Set magazine, Richard Abowitz reminds readers that this past February marked the birthday of one Langston Hughes, popularly known as “the Bard of Harlem.” Over the course of the article, Abowitz parses out Hughes’ … Continue reading →

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OK, Scholars, Let’s Discuss “Formation” (Part II)

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Sharyn

In part two of this blog post, I’d like to talk about the Superbowl halftime show featuring Beyoncé and her coterie of backup dancers. (Part I is here) Much has been made of their outfits, which echo components of the … Continue reading →

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OK, Scholars, Let’s Discuss “Formation” (Part I)

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Sharyn

After a hiatus, the blog is back. And I, like everyone else, want to talk about Beyoncé’s new song and video, “Formation.” But before I do, I’d ask readers to first read/listen to the following: Yaba Blay’s article about the … Continue reading →

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A Spin on Vernacular, Part Three

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Sharyn

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is quickly becoming a favorite athlete of mine. It’s true that I’m not the biggest football fan, but I do enjoying watching football games and cheering for the Indianapolis Colts and our grammar minded, bookworm … Continue reading →

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