Creating a Black Vernacular Philosophy

Black Vernacular Philosophy explores how everyday practices of African diasporic communities can be understood as philosophy, focusing on creative practices in narratives, blues, jazz, work songs, and other expressive forms. It disrupts traditional Western philosophical ontologies and should be acknowledged for its rigorous theoretical formation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

Creating a Black Vernacular Philosophy explores how everyday Black vernacular practices, developed to negotiate survival and joy, can be understood as philosophy in their own right. Devonya N. Havis argues that many unique cultural and intellectual practices of African diasporic communities have done the work of traditional philosophies. Focusing on creative practices that take place within Black American diasporic cultures via narratives, the blues, jazz, work songs, and other expressive forms, this book articulates a form of Black vernacular Philosophy that is centered within and emerges from meaning structures cultivated by Black communities. These distinct philosophical practices, running parallel with and often improvising on European philosophy, should be acknowledged for their rigorous theoretical formation and for their disruption of traditional Western philosophical ontologies.

Black vernacular practices have been developed to negotiate survival and joy, and they can be understood as philosophy in their own right. Devonya N. Havis argues that many unique cultural and intellectual practices of African diasporic communities have done the work of traditional philosophies. This book focuses on creative practices that take place within Black American diasporic cultures via narratives, the blues, jazz, work songs, and other expressive forms, articulating a form of Black vernacular Philosophy that is centered within and emerges from meaning structures cultivated by Black communities. These distinct philosophical practices, running parallel with and often improvising on European philosophy, should be acknowledged for their rigorous theoretical formation and for their disruption of traditional Western philosophical ontologies.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498530149