Black Aliveness, or A Poetics of Being

In Black Aliveness, Kevin Quashie explores Black being as it is, rather than just as it exists in the shadow of anti-Black violence. He theorizes aliveness through the aesthetics of poetry, reading Black feminist literary texts to show how their philosophical and creative thinking constitutes worldmaking. This worldmaking conceptualizes Blackness as capacious, relational, and a condition of oneness. Reading for poetic aliveness becomes a means of exploring Black being and animates the ethical question of "how to be." Quashie offers a Black feminist philosophy of being that is a philosophy of the becoming of the Black world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his groundbreaking work, Black Aliveness, or A Poetics of Being, Kevin Quashie presents a visionary portrayal of a Black world where one experiences Black being as it truly is, free from the constant shadow of anti-Black violence. Through this profound exploration, Quashie makes a compelling argument for the celebration of Black aliveness, even in the face of the persistent presence of death in Black life and Black studies. At the core of Quashie's theoretical framework lies the aesthetics of poetry, which he uses to interpret the poetic inhabitation found in the works of influential Black feminist writers such as Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, June Jordan, Toni Morrison, and Evie Shockley. By delving into their philosophical and creative thinking, Quashie demonstrates how these writers constitute a world-making process that conceptualizes Blackness as expansive, relational, and transcending the confines of normative recognition. This world-making perspective posits Blackness as a condition of oneness, offering a profound understanding of the multifaceted nature of Black existence.

By engaging in the practice of reading for poetic aliveness, Quashie invites us to embark on a journey of exploration rather than mere nonbeing. This approach animates the ethical question, "how to be," prompting us to reflect on the essence of Black being and its potential for transformation. In essence, Quashie presents a Black feminist philosophy of being, which goes beyond mere existence and encompasses the ongoing process of the Black world's becoming. Through his visionary work, Quashie offers us a profound insight into the richness and complexity of Black existence, challenging us to embrace the fullness of our humanity and contribute to the collective flourishing of a more inclusive and equitable world.

Weight: 368g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478014010