Black Metaphors: How Modern Racism Emerged from Medieval Race-Thinking

In the late Middle Ages, the English romance "King of Tars" portrays a black sultan converting to Christianity, leading to the metaphorical association of blackness and whiteness with sin and purity. Cord J. Whitaker's book "Black Metaphors" explores how these metaphors shaped the development of race notions in the centuries that followed, highlighting the tension between blackness and whiteness and their mutual construction. Whitaker questions how the Middle Ages inform our understanding of race in contemporary times and demonstrates how modern movements are influenced by medieval origins of the black-white divide.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 256 pages
\n Publication date: 03 September 2021
\n Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
\n

In the late Middle Ages, a fascinating phenomenon emerged: Christian conversion could potentially transform a black person's skin white. This intriguing narrative unfolded in the English romance "King of Tars," where a black sultan embraced Christianity and underwent a remarkable transformation.

In his insightful book "Black Metaphors," Cord J. Whitaker delves into the profound rhetorical and theological shifts that occurred during the English and European Middle Ages. He explores how blackness and whiteness became intertwined as metaphors for sin and purity, shaping the development of notions of race that would endure for centuries.

From a contemporary standpoint, these moments appear as polar opposites, with each condition forever labeled as either negative or positive. However, medieval readers were encouraged to perceive blackness and whiteness as interconnected rather than distinct. Whitaker points out that medieval scholars and writers recognized the nuanced relationship between these two colors, viewing them as part of a unified whole.

Whitaker's central question goes beyond whether race mattered in the Middle Ages. Instead, he asks how the Middle Ages shape our understanding of race in our complex and fraught times. By examining the treatment of color and difference in works of rhetoric such as John of Garland's "Synonyma" and vernacular theological and imaginative texts like Robert Manning's "Handlyng Synne" and lesser-known romances like "The Turke and Sir Gawain," Whitaker sheds light on the process by which one interpretation became established as the truth. He demonstrates how modern movements, ranging from Black Lives Matter to the alt-right, draw inspiration from the medieval origins of the black-white divide.

Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Whitaker offers a fresh perspective on the historical and cultural significance of blackness and whiteness. He challenges us to reevaluate our assumptions and understandings of race, recognizing the enduring legacies of the Middle Ages in shaping our contemporary world. "Black Metaphors" is a valuable contribution to the study of race and identity, providing a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between religion, rhetoric, and societal perceptions.

\n Weight: 396g\n
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780812225068\n \n