Readings in African American Culture

Readings in African American Culture: Resistance, Liberation, and Identity from the 1600s to the 21st Century helps readers understand and appreciate the Black experience through readings that illustrate the lives, history, and intersecting cultures of African Americans and the development of a unique African American identity.

Early units examine the definition of African American culture through the lens of the cultural trauma of slavery and the power of white privilege in the U.S. Additional units discuss Afrocentrism and the formation of critical race theory. Students read about expressions of Black cultural power, Blackness and Black identity in contemporary society, and issues related to the appropriation of Black culture.

The second edition has expanded from four units to seven, with new readings addressing topics such as the appropriation, Black Twitter and resistance, Black athletes, challenging the defense of using racial slurs, and more.

Rooted in an interdisciplinary approach, Readings in African American Culture is appropriate for courses on Black culture and will be of interest in any course centered on the effects of race and culture on minority populations.