What is a concept of black aesthetics?
For Elizabeth Alexander, this is a pressing question in the identification of a Negro in America. In this anthology, the author sought the aesthetical concept of African Americans.
1. Toward the Black Interior
The book borrowed its title from the first essay of the anthology. In this essay, an analysis of the interior designs of African Americans in their homes was made. In this interior design, the social identity of a person is revealed - including gender, race, class and sexuality. With this identification, people outside of the interior self can misrepresent the nature of such interior. For example, the struggle of black Americans in their presentation in the arts is a product of the gaze of the white people thinking them as savages.
With the misrepresentation of the black people in the media and arts, the resort is to present themselves in space. Space, after all, is a presentation of one's being. A good example is the living room of the black Americans. For the Black Americans, the living room is both a social yet private presentation of themselves which is an honest assessment for themselves and not what the people see them to be.
2.The Black Poet as a Canon Maker
Poetry has been an instrument of presenting a genre of people. With this description of poetry, poetry becomes as power in people's mind and hearts. This is the story of Langston Hughes in his publication of the poetry of Black Americans. However, with the publication and the problems that went along the way, the work of American Negroes were dismissed as farcical or immature works. On the other hand, the development of Negro poetry from protest literature to the traditional formation of poetry is a magnificent feat that the American Negroes can join the ranks of poets from the beginning.
3. Meditations on "Mecca"
This is the story of Gwendolyn Brooks and the responsibility of the black poet. Against the attack of racism in America, the Black poet is now a force for his/her brethren. This is the part where Gwendolyn Brooks enter with the work "In the Mecca". This work offers the role of the artist and art during turbulent times. Exploring the work of Gwendolyn Brooks, the importance of uniting the communities of African Americans should be underscored. After all, the role of the artist is to free the subject and this applies to black people whose aspirations and dreams should be realized.
4. I am; I'm a black man; / I am
With the publication of poetry concerning Black Americans, the identity and identities in the African American communities began emerging. It was a continuous boom not just in the identity of a black man but a black woman and black queer. The movement reached a golden period during the sixties with the idea of “Black Power”. 5. World According to Jet Jet is Black American magazine focusing on the good and the bad moments in the life of Black people. Jet became an organ of race pride for many African Americans. It is the magazine that recorded the abuses occurring in black communities so that appropriate help can get to the victims. Jet became a uniting work among black communities.
6. Turn of the Century “Aframerican Intellectual”
In this essay, the importance of Anna Julia Cooper in the African American society was established. Anna Julia Cooper was a well known black feminist in the American society. She established herself as an African American female intellectual in 19th century. She expounded on the need not on the binary relationship between a man and a woman or relationship between the white and black but on the need of a voice to be heard in the society.
7. A Black man says “sorbet”
In this essay, the position of the black man in different advertisements was explored. The chance of giving the black person a voice and freedom in the society was slowly advocated by companies. Besides the advertisements, the rise of movies exposing black people was explored.
Conclusion:
There are still chapters that covered the life of the Black American in different media. But one idea that dominates the whole work is Cartesian rendition of "I think; therefore I am". For the Black person, : "I write, therefore, I am". This only shows the importance of literature in the expression of being an African American today. This is the arching concept of an African American aesthetics. Over all, the book was excellent in the exploration of the different literary and visual pieces showing the life of black person in a society he/she is adapting with.
