Darkening Blackness: Race, Gender, Class, and Pessimism in 21st-Century Black Thought

Afropessimism is a concept that challenges the simplistic and pacifying aspects of current African American thought and offers alternatives to intersectionality, poststructuralism, and radical democracy. It provides a critical analysis of the groundbreaking theories and strategies that radically reimagine the future of Black lives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

The concept of Afropessimism extends beyond the mere portrayal of Black individuals and encompasses the potential for white society to transcend its internalized negrophobia and to develop a profound skepticism towards the narratives of inclusivity propagated by white individuals. What if the ideas and reforms that we perceive as progressive merely serve as the latest iteration of racism, masking its insidious nature beneath a façade of modernity? In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement, the relentless dehumanization and murder of Black individuals have become the cornerstone of our society. However, a pervasive anti-Black collective sentiment also manifests itself in a more covert manner, concealed by the doctrines we consider emancipatory. This book aims to challenge the simplistic and pacifying aspects of contemporary African American thought. It presents alternative frameworks to intersectionality, poststructuralism, and radical democracy, which often dominate the Black analysis of race, gender, and class.

Accessible, historically informed, and politically engaged, this book offers a critical examination of groundbreaking theories and strategies that envision a transformative future for Black lives across the globe. By delving into the complexities of race, gender, and class, it challenges readers to reevaluate their assumptions and engage in meaningful dialogue to create a more equitable and just society.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509555000