Overview

Most literary critics take it for granted that mid-century African-American writers considered the Communist movement to be incapable of comprehending and responding to racial oppression. In this groundbreaking study, Cathy Bergin argues that in Native Son, Lonely Crusade, and Invisible Man, Communist organizations were castigated for their refusal to pursue the liberatory potential contained in their own ideals and strategies for change.

Full Product Details

Author:   Cathy Bergin
Publisher:   Haymarket Books
Imprint:   Haymarket Books
Volume:   95
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.340kg
ISBN:  

9781608466399

ISBN 10:   1608466396
Pages:   222
Publication Date:   26 July 2016
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: RADICAL ALLIANCES Chapter One: ‘Towards Soviet America’ 1.1 Determinations and determinism: Lenin, Stalin and the Comintern 1.2 Swearing allegiances: Garveyism and Communism 1.3 Trials on trial: Yokine2.1n and Scottsboro Chapter Two: The Liberator (1929–1935) 2.1 The Liberator: the black bourgeoisie and revolutionary tradition 2.2 The Liberator: interracial solidarity and internationalism 2.3 The Liberator: black cultural politics Chapter Three: Native Son: Ghetto Nightmares 3.1 ‘Poor Richard Wright’: the black protest novel 3.2 A room of one’s own?: Bigger, rage and consciousness 3.3 ‘Russian folks’: The Communist Party in Native Son PART II: BETRAYALS AND DEFEAT Chapter Four: ‘Communism is the Twentieth Century Americanism’ 4.1 Popular Front: remaking African American culture 4.2 Peace and war: shifting priorities Chapter five: Lonely Crusade: Union Dues 5.1 ‘History as nightmare’: The critical reception of Lonely Crusade 5.2 ‘This illusion of manhood’: Lee Gordon, rage and impotence 5.3 ‘Sure, I ‘longs to the Party. But I is a nigger first’: the Communist Party in Lonely Crusade Chapter six: Invisible Man: Un-American Activities 6.1 ‘Beautiful absurdity’: Ellison, responsibility and identity 6.2 ‘Riding race again’: the Communist Party in Invisible Man Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Cathy Bergin (DPhil (2004) is a Senior Lecturer in the Humanities Programme at the University of Brighton.

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