Updating the Legacy of the Black Arts Movement and Staying Relevant: Reconnecting with Africa in Ishmael Reed's Japanese by Spring

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří. Updating the Legacy of the Black Arts Movement and Staying Relevant: Reconnecting with Africa in Ishmael Reed's Japanese by Spring. In Tru Leverette. With Fists Raised : Radical Art, Contemporary Activism, and the Iconoclasm of the Black Arts Movement. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2021, p. 249-268. ISBN 978-1-80085-977-7.

Basic information

Original name

Updating the Legacy of the Black Arts Movement and Staying Relevant: Reconnecting with Africa in Ishmael Reed's Japanese by Spring

Authors

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Liverpool, With Fists Raised : Radical Art, Contemporary Activism, and the Iconoclasm of the Black Arts Movement, p. 249-268, 20 pp. 2021

Publisher

Liverpool University Press

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Kapitola resp. kapitoly v odborné knize

Field of Study

60206 Specific literatures

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Publication form

printed version "print"

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14410/21:00121408

Organization unit

Faculty of Education

ISBN

978-1-80085-977-7

Keywords in English

Ishmael Reed; Black Arts movement; Africa; Yoruba religion; African American literature

Tags

rivok

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

This chapter argues for reconsideration of Ishmael Reed’s position to Black Arts Movement. It shows that in his Japanese by Spring, Reed nurtures a key theme of the movement (reconnection to Africa) even at times when the movement itself could not do so and when such a literary goal was perceived as outdated. The chapter does so in the context of contemporary research on the BAM, namely via the presence of anticipation and discussion and disagreement in the novel. The chapter ultimately argues for a closer connection between Reed and the BAM by showing how prominent his vision of African reconnection is in Japanese by Spring. By doing so, it updates the common misconception regarding Reed’s relationship with the BAM and, secondly, it claims that his works should be included in the recently increased research attention paid to BAM.