Jackson, Ronald L.,
II, and Richardson, Elaine B., eds. 2003. Understanding African American Rhetoric: Classical Origins to
Contemporary Innovations.
Author abstract: Understanding African American Rhetoric is an engaging exploration
of African American language within its cultural and political context.
Eighteen original essays by leading scholars chronicle and celebrate the
influence of classical African oral traditions upon the evolution of
contemporary African American linguistic practices such as signifyin’, playin’ the
dozens, and call-and-response,
from a non-Eurocentric perspective.
Drawing upon a
breadth of historical, legal, and cultural texts, ranging from Johnnie
Cochran’s closing arguments in the OJ Simpson trial to the rap lyrics of Tupac
Shakur and Lauryn Hill, this ambitious and expansive collection is grounded in
the sway of history over language and culture. This volume
offers a comprehensive survey of African-American rhetoric within a broad
historical context, exploring the major cultural and theoretical issues in the
field.
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to Peter L Patrick’s
Bibliography of African American English