About the book
In this study of racial passing literature, Julia S. Charles highlights how mixed-race subjects invent cultural spaces for themselves—a place she terms that middle world—and how they, through various performance strategies, make meaning in the interstices between the Black and white worlds. Focusing on the construction and performance of racial identity in works by writers from the antebellum period through Reconstruction, Charles creates a new discourse around racial passing to analyze mixed-race characters’ social objectives when crossing into other racialized spaces. To illustrate how this middle world and its attendant performativity still resonates in the present day, Charles connects contemporary figures, television, and film—including Rachel Dolezal and her Black-passing controversy, the FX show Atlanta, and the musical Show Boat—to a range of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literary texts. Charles’s work offers a nuanced approach to African American passing literature and examines how mixed-race performers articulated their sense of selfhood and communal belonging.
Editions of That Middle World
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469659565
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469659572
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469659596
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890859259
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469659589
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890859242
Read an Excerpt
In this study of racial passing literature, Julia S. Charles highlights how mixed-race subjects invent cultural spaces for themselves—a place she terms that middle world—and how they, through various performance strategies, make meaning in the interstices between the Black and white worlds. Focusing on the construction and performance of racial identity in works by writers from the antebellum period through Reconstruction, Charles creates a new discourse around racial passing to analyze mixed-race characters’ social objectives when crossing into other racialized spaces. To illustrate how this middle world and its attendant performativity still resonates in the present day, Charles connects contemporary figures, television, and film—including Rachel Dolezal and her Black-passing controversy, the FX show Atlanta, and the musical Show Boat—to a range of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literary texts. Charles’s work offers a nuanced approach to African American passing literature and examines how mixed-race performers articulated their sense of selfhood and communal belonging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is That Middle World about?
In this study of racial passing literature, Julia S. Charles highlights how mixed-race subjects invent cultural spaces for themselves—a place she terms that middle world—and how they, through various performance strategies, make meaning in the interstices between the Black and white worlds. Focusing on the construction and performance of racial identity in works by writers from the antebellum period through Reconstruction, Charles creates a new discourse around racial passing to analyze mixed-race characters’ social objectives when crossing into other racialized spaces. To illustrate how this middle world and its attendant performativity still resonates in the present day, Charles connects contemporary figures, television, and film—including Rachel Dolezal and her Black-passing controversy, the FX show Atlanta, and the musical Show Boat—to a range of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literary texts. Charles’s work offers a nuanced approach to African American passing literature and examines how mixed-race performers articulated their sense of selfhood and communal belonging.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in That Middle World?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of That Middle World?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469659565
How long is That Middle World and how many pages does it have?
That Middle World has 242 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book That Middle World?
Julia S. Charles
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
That Middle World is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469659565) and paperback(ISBN 9781469659572) and ebook(ISBN 9781469659596) and ebook(ISBN 9798890859259) and ebook(ISBN 9781469659589) and pdf(ISBN 9798890859242)
Where can I buy That Middle World online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy That Middle World?