Race and Racism in Literature

Issues of race and racism permeate American society and are of central concern to students and teachers. The chapters in this reference explore how these issues have been addressed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Native Son, The House on Mango Street, Ceremony, and other major novels widely read by high school students. The works discussed reflect racial issues from a range of cultural perspectives. Each chapter is devoted to a particular novel and provides a plot summary, an overview of the work's historical background, a literary analysis, and suggestions for further reading.

Issues of race and racism have long permeated American society and continue to be among the most important social concerns today. This volume explores how racial issues have been treated in a dozen major novels widely read by high school students and undergraduates. The works discussed are from different historical periods and reflect a range of cultural perspectives, including African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, Italian American, Jewish American, and Jewish-Arab experiences.

The volume begins with an introductory essay on race and racism in literature. Each of the chapters that follow examines a particular novel, including:
; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
; Native Son
; The House on Mango Street
; Ceremony
; The Chosen
; And others.
Each chapter includes a plot summary, an overview of the work's historical background, a discussion of overt and subtle racism in the novel, and suggestions for further reading.

Author: Charles E. Wilson Jr.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 05/01/2005
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.91lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.52w x 0.73d
ISBN: 9780313328206

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 08/01/2005 pg. 156
Rec Ref Bks for Small/Med Libr 01/01/2006 pg. 223

About the Author

Charles E. Wilson, Jr. is University Professor and Professor of English at Old Dominion University. His previous publications include Walter Mosley: A Critical Companion (2003) and Gloria Naylor: A Critical Companion (2001), both available from Greenwood Press.