Depictions of Home in African American Literature

Trudier Harris examines how African American authors depict dysfunctional and violent homespaces in their literature, exploring the roles of race, religion, geography, and character. While many characters desire safe and happy homes, few achieve them by the end of their journeys.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

In her groundbreaking work, Depictions of Home in African American Literature,Trudier Harris delves into the intricate portrayal of fictional homespaces across different eras in African American literature. Spanning from the time of slavery to modern urban configurations, Harris examines the ways in which African American writers inadvertently establish and perpetuate a tradition of depicting dysfunctional and physically or emotionally violent homespaces. Through her comprehensive analysis, she explores the profound roles that race and religion play in shaping the creation of homespaces, as well as how geography, space, and character intertwine to influence these spaces.

Despite the yearning of many characters in African American literature for safe and happy homespaces, few ultimately achieve the formation of healthy homespaces by the end of their journeys. Harris conducts a thorough study of historical, cultural, and literary representations of the home in works by renowned authors such as Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and August Wilson, as well as lesser-studied authors like Daniel Black, A.J. Verdelle, Margaret Walker, and Dorothy West.

Through her meticulous examination, Harris sheds light on the complexities and nuances of home in African American literature, highlighting the ways in which these spaces reflect the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they are created. She challenges readers to consider the impact of these representations on the lives of characters and society as a whole, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing the ongoing challenges associated with creating and maintaining healthy homespaces.

Weight: 367g
Dimension: 230 x 154 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793649652