Phenomenal Blackness: Black Power, Philosophy, and Theory

Phenomenal Blackness explores the interdisciplinary investments of key mid-century Black writers and thinkers, such as the growing interest in German philosophy and critical theory, which led to a phenomenological understanding of Blackness and a "Black aesthetic dimension" for Black liberation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Phenomenal Blackness delves into the intricate connections between 1960s Black thought and German critical theory, shedding light on a neglected tradition of Black singularity. This unconventional narrative meticulously outlines the profound debts that Black thought owes to German intellectual traditions, while also exploring the evolving interdisciplinary interests of key mid-century Black writers and thinkers. Mark Christian Thompson takes us on a journey through the post-war decades, examining the shift in intellectual focus that shaped Black Power thought within a philosophical framework.

In the pre-1960s era, sociologically oriented thinkers like W. E. B. Du Bois viewed Blackness as a distinct amalgamation of socio-historical traits. On the other hand, writers such as Amiri Baraka, James Baldwin, Angela Y. Davis, Eldridge Cleaver, and Malcolm X were captivated by notions of an African essence, an ontology of Black being. Consequently, literary language emerged as the primary vehicle for expressing Blackness. This novel way of thinking necessitated the utilization of the works of philosophers like Adorno, Habermas, and Marcuse, enabling a continued cultural-materialist analysis while accommodating the hermeneutical dimensions of Black religious thought. Thompson contends that these endeavors to reimagine Black singularity ultimately resulted in a phenomenological understanding of Blackness—a "Black aesthetic dimension" where aspirational models for Black liberation could flourish.

Weight: 302g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226816425