Black Women's Literature of the Americas: Griots and Goddesses

This book explores how Black women in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, the United States, and Brazil used their spiritual beliefs as a tool of resilience and resistance. It investigates how they negotiated complex issues such as race, gender, identity, maternity, sexuality, and belonging from a liminal position, looking to settle roots in a foreign land while staying connected to ancestors and the Sacred. The book highlights the role of (re)memory and ancestral knowledge in mapping their connection with the Divine and emphasizes the hybrid griots who surpass temporal and geographical boundaries. It will be of interest to advanced students and researchers in comparative literature, religious studies, gender studies, and African diaspora studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Drawing on a rich tapestry of historical and literary sources, this captivating book delves into the profound ways in which Black women, ensnared in the clutches of slavery, navigated their intricate sense of belonging and spirituality from a precarious and transitional position. Situated at the crossroads of a new life in the Americas and their deep-rooted connections to their African ancestral roots and a broader diasporic community, these resilient individuals forged a unique path of resilience and resistance.

The book embarks on an insightful exploration of how Black women in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, the United States, and Brazil resorted to their spiritual beliefs as a powerful means of fortitude and defiance. These remarkable "griots" and "goddesses" found themselves navigating a complex web of issues, including race, gender, identity, maternity, sexuality, and belonging, from a liminal space that sought to establish roots in a foreign land while maintaining a profound connection to their ancestors and the sacred. As these Black female protagonists embarked on a journey of (re)memory and ancestral knowledge, they emerged as intermediaries between worlds, transcending temporal and geographical boundaries.

This book offers valuable insights into the works of renowned authors such as Toni Morrison's Beloved, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa's Daughters of the Stone, and Ana Maria Gonçalves' Um Defeito de Cor, among others. By examining these texts within the broader context of comparative literature, religious studies, gender studies, and African diaspora studies, this book appeals to advanced students and researchers seeking to deepen their understanding of the intricate tapestry of Black women's experiences and their profound contributions to world culture.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032067162