About the book
2010 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Why would someone choose bondage over individual freedom? What type of freedom can be found in choosing conditions of enslavement? In Something Akin to Freedom, winner of the 2008 SUNY Press Dissertation/First Book Prize in African American Studies, Stephanie Li explores literary texts where African American women decide to remain in or enter into conditions of bondage, sacrificing individual autonomy to achieve other goals. In fresh readings of stories by Harriet Jacobs, Hannah Crafts, Gayl Jones, Louisa Picquet, and Toni Morrison, Li argues that amid shifting positions of power and through acts of creative agency, the women in these narratives make seemingly anti-intuitive choices that are simultaneously limiting and liberating. She explores how the appeal of the freedom of the North is constrained by the potential for isolation and destabilization for women rooted in strong social networks in the South. By introducing reproduction, mother-child relationships, and community into discourses concerning resistance, Li expands our understanding of individual liberation to include the courage to express personal desire and the freedom to love.
Editions of Something Akin to Freedom
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781438429717
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781438429700
- PDF
- ISBN 9781438429724
Read an Excerpt
2010 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Why would someone choose bondage over individual freedom? What type of freedom can be found in choosing conditions of enslavement? In Something Akin to Freedom, winner of the 2008 SUNY Press Dissertation/First Book Prize in African American Studies, Stephanie Li explores literary texts where African American women decide to remain in or enter into conditions of bondage, sacrificing individual autonomy to achieve other goals. In fresh readings of stories by Harriet Jacobs, Hannah Crafts, Gayl Jones, Louisa Picquet, and Toni Morrison, Li argues that amid shifting positions of power and through acts of creative agency, the women in these narratives make seemingly anti-intuitive choices that are simultaneously limiting and liberating. She explores how the appeal of the freedom of the North is constrained by the potential for isolation and destabilization for women rooted in strong social networks in the South. By introducing reproduction, mother-child relationships, and community into discourses concerning resistance, Li expands our understanding of individual liberation to include the courage to express personal desire and the freedom to love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Something Akin to Freedom about?
2010 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
Why would someone choose bondage over individual freedom? What type of freedom can be found in choosing conditions of enslavement? In Something Akin to Freedom, winner of the 2008 SUNY Press Dissertation/First Book Prize in African American Studies, Stephanie Li explores literary texts where African American women decide to remain in or enter into conditions of bondage, sacrificing individual autonomy to achieve other goals. In fresh readings of stories by Harriet Jacobs, Hannah Crafts, Gayl Jones, Louisa Picquet, and Toni Morrison, Li argues that amid shifting positions of power and through acts of creative agency, the women in these narratives make seemingly anti-intuitive choices that are simultaneously limiting and liberating. She explores how the appeal of the freedom of the North is constrained by the potential for isolation and destabilization for women rooted in strong social networks in the South. By introducing reproduction, mother-child relationships, and community into discourses concerning resistance, Li expands our understanding of individual liberation to include the courage to express personal desire and the freedom to love.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Something Akin to Freedom?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of Something Akin to Freedom?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438429717
How long is Something Akin to Freedom and how many pages does it have?
Something Akin to Freedom has 172 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Something Akin to Freedom?
Stephanie Li
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Something Akin to Freedom is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438429717) and paperback(ISBN 9781438429700) and pdf(ISBN 9781438429724)
Where can I buy Something Akin to Freedom online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Something Akin to Freedom from below
Where can I buy Something Akin to Freedom?