A Companion to African-American Philosophy
Blackwell Companions to Philosophy (Series Nr. 25)
1. Edition December 2005
482 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-4568-8
John Wiley & Sons
This wide-ranging, multidisciplinary collection of newly commissioned articles brings together distinguished voices in the field of Africana philosophy and African-American social and political thought.
* Provides a comprehensive critical survey of African-American philosophical thought.
* Collects wide-ranging, multidisciplinary, newly commissioned articles in one authoritative volume.
* Serves as a benchmark work of reference for courses in philosophy, social and political thought, cultural studies, and African-American studies.
Notes on Contributors viii
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Part I Philosophic Traditions
Introduction to Part I 3
1 Philosophy and the Afro-American Experience 7
CORNEL WEST
2 African-American Existential Philosophy 33
LEWIS R. GORDON
3 African-American Philosophy: A Caribbean Perspective 48
PAGET HENRY
4 Modernisms in Black 67
FRANK M. KIRKLAND
5 The Crisis of the Black Intellectual 87
HORTENSE J. SPILLERS
Part II The Moral and Political Legacy of Slavery
Introduction to Part II 107
6 Kant and Knowledge of Disappearing Expression 110
RONALD A. T. JUDY
7 Social Contract Theory, Slavery, and the Antebellum Courts
125
ANITA L. ALLEN AND THADDEUS POPE
8 The Morality of Reparations II 134
BERNARD R. BOXILL
Part III Africa and Diaspora Thought
Introduction to Part III 151
9 "Afrocentricity": Critical Considerations
155
LUCIUS T. OUTLAW, JR.
10 African Retentions 168
TOMMY L. LOTT
11 African Philosophy at the Turn of the Century 190
ALBERT G. MOSLEY
Part IV Gender, Race, and Racism
Introduction to Part IV 199
12 Some Group Matters: Intersectionality, Situated Standpoints,
and Black Feminist Thought 205
PATRICIA HILL COLLINS
13 Radicalizing Feminisms from "The Movement Era"
230
JOY A. JAMES
14 Philosophy and Racial Paradigms 239
NAOMI ZACK
15 Racial Classification and Public Policy 255
DAVID THEO GOLDBERG
16 White Supremacy 269
CHARLES W. MILLS
Part V Legal and Social Philosophy
Introduction to Part V 285
17 Self-Respect, Fairness, and Living Morally 293
LAURENCE M. THOMAS
18 The Legacy of Plessy v. Ferguson 306
MICHELE MOODY-ADAMS
19 Some Reflections on the Brown Decision and Its Aftermath
313
HOWARD McGARY
20 Contesting the Ambivalence and Hostility to Affirmative
Action within the Black Community 324
LUKE C. HARRIS
21 Subsistence Welfare Benefits as Property Interests: Legal
Theories and Moral Considerations 333
RUDOLPH V. VANTERPOOL
22 Racism and Health Care: A Medical Ethics Issue 349
ANNETTE DULA
23 Racialized Punishment and Prison Abolition 360
ANGELA Y. DAVIS
Part VI Aesthetic and Cultural Values
Introduction to Part VI 373
24 The Harlem Renaissance and Philosophy 381
LEONARD HARRIS
25 Critical Theory, Aesthetics, and Black Modernity 386
LORENZO C. SIMPSON
26 Black Cinema and Aesthetics 399
CLYDE R. TAYLOR
27 Thanatic Pornography, Interracial Rape, and the Ku Klux Klan
407
T. DENEAN SHARPLEY-WHITING
28 Lynching and Burning Rituals in African-American Literature
413
TRUDIER HARRIS-LOPEZ
29 Rap as Art and Philosophy 419
RICHARD SHUSTERMAN
30 Microphone Commandos: Rap Music and Political Ideology
429
BILL E. LAWSON
31 Sports, Political Philosophy, and the African American
436
GERALD EARLY
Index 450
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Part I Philosophic Traditions
Introduction to Part I 3
1 Philosophy and the Afro-American Experience 7
CORNEL WEST
2 African-American Existential Philosophy 33
LEWIS R. GORDON
3 African-American Philosophy: A Caribbean Perspective 48
PAGET HENRY
4 Modernisms in Black 67
FRANK M. KIRKLAND
5 The Crisis of the Black Intellectual 87
HORTENSE J. SPILLERS
Part II The Moral and Political Legacy of Slavery
Introduction to Part II 107
6 Kant and Knowledge of Disappearing Expression 110
RONALD A. T. JUDY
7 Social Contract Theory, Slavery, and the Antebellum Courts
125
ANITA L. ALLEN AND THADDEUS POPE
8 The Morality of Reparations II 134
BERNARD R. BOXILL
Part III Africa and Diaspora Thought
Introduction to Part III 151
9 "Afrocentricity": Critical Considerations
155
LUCIUS T. OUTLAW, JR.
10 African Retentions 168
TOMMY L. LOTT
11 African Philosophy at the Turn of the Century 190
ALBERT G. MOSLEY
Part IV Gender, Race, and Racism
Introduction to Part IV 199
12 Some Group Matters: Intersectionality, Situated Standpoints,
and Black Feminist Thought 205
PATRICIA HILL COLLINS
13 Radicalizing Feminisms from "The Movement Era"
230
JOY A. JAMES
14 Philosophy and Racial Paradigms 239
NAOMI ZACK
15 Racial Classification and Public Policy 255
DAVID THEO GOLDBERG
16 White Supremacy 269
CHARLES W. MILLS
Part V Legal and Social Philosophy
Introduction to Part V 285
17 Self-Respect, Fairness, and Living Morally 293
LAURENCE M. THOMAS
18 The Legacy of Plessy v. Ferguson 306
MICHELE MOODY-ADAMS
19 Some Reflections on the Brown Decision and Its Aftermath
313
HOWARD McGARY
20 Contesting the Ambivalence and Hostility to Affirmative
Action within the Black Community 324
LUKE C. HARRIS
21 Subsistence Welfare Benefits as Property Interests: Legal
Theories and Moral Considerations 333
RUDOLPH V. VANTERPOOL
22 Racism and Health Care: A Medical Ethics Issue 349
ANNETTE DULA
23 Racialized Punishment and Prison Abolition 360
ANGELA Y. DAVIS
Part VI Aesthetic and Cultural Values
Introduction to Part VI 373
24 The Harlem Renaissance and Philosophy 381
LEONARD HARRIS
25 Critical Theory, Aesthetics, and Black Modernity 386
LORENZO C. SIMPSON
26 Black Cinema and Aesthetics 399
CLYDE R. TAYLOR
27 Thanatic Pornography, Interracial Rape, and the Ku Klux Klan
407
T. DENEAN SHARPLEY-WHITING
28 Lynching and Burning Rituals in African-American Literature
413
TRUDIER HARRIS-LOPEZ
29 Rap as Art and Philosophy 419
RICHARD SHUSTERMAN
30 Microphone Commandos: Rap Music and Political Ideology
429
BILL E. LAWSON
31 Sports, Political Philosophy, and the African American
436
GERALD EARLY
Index 450
"A Companion to African-American Philosophy is an
indispensable and elegant guide to a constellation of inquiries
into and about African-American thought and the production of that
thought." Wahneema Lubiano, Duke University
"Authoritative, compendious, and detailed, this landmark
publication sets a standard against which every other reference
work in the field must be judged." Wilson J. Moses, The
Pennsylvania State University
"A new convergence of reflections on the African-American
experience by some of the most active philosophers in the United
States. An important reference work for scholars and a useful tool
in the classroom." Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze, DePaul
University
"This is the most thorough compilation of contemporary
African-American philosophy I have yet seen. The inclusion of a
selection of essays on cultural issues is a great addition. From
racism to reparations to rap, these essays show how philosophers
can illuminate current debates and eliminate persistent confusions
in the mainstream discussions of these topics." Linda
Martín Alcoff, Syracuse University
"A Companion to African-American Philosophy is a valuable
reference source. The editors have done an excellent job of
representing the essential themes of African-American philosophical
thought as well as notable individuals from the field. Libraries
that support black history/studies, philosophy, American studies,
and contemporary American thought should definitely purchase the
Companion: it is well worth the cost. The novice will
especially gain a wealth of information." Reference
Reviews
indispensable and elegant guide to a constellation of inquiries
into and about African-American thought and the production of that
thought." Wahneema Lubiano, Duke University
"Authoritative, compendious, and detailed, this landmark
publication sets a standard against which every other reference
work in the field must be judged." Wilson J. Moses, The
Pennsylvania State University
"A new convergence of reflections on the African-American
experience by some of the most active philosophers in the United
States. An important reference work for scholars and a useful tool
in the classroom." Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze, DePaul
University
"This is the most thorough compilation of contemporary
African-American philosophy I have yet seen. The inclusion of a
selection of essays on cultural issues is a great addition. From
racism to reparations to rap, these essays show how philosophers
can illuminate current debates and eliminate persistent confusions
in the mainstream discussions of these topics." Linda
Martín Alcoff, Syracuse University
"A Companion to African-American Philosophy is a valuable
reference source. The editors have done an excellent job of
representing the essential themes of African-American philosophical
thought as well as notable individuals from the field. Libraries
that support black history/studies, philosophy, American studies,
and contemporary American thought should definitely purchase the
Companion: it is well worth the cost. The novice will
especially gain a wealth of information." Reference
Reviews
Tommy L. Lott is Professor of Philosophy at San José
State University. He is author of The Invention of Race
(Blackwell, 1999), editor of Subjugation and Bondage: Critical
Essays on Slavery and Social Philosophy (1998),
African-American Philosophy (2001), and co-editor of The
Idea of Race (2000), and Philosophers on Race
(Blackwell, 2002).
John P. Pittman is Chair of the Department of Art, Music,
and Philosophy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City
University of New York. He is editor of African-American
Perspectives and Philosophical Traditions (1996) and Associate
Editor of the journal Philosophia Africana.
State University. He is author of The Invention of Race
(Blackwell, 1999), editor of Subjugation and Bondage: Critical
Essays on Slavery and Social Philosophy (1998),
African-American Philosophy (2001), and co-editor of The
Idea of Race (2000), and Philosophers on Race
(Blackwell, 2002).
John P. Pittman is Chair of the Department of Art, Music,
and Philosophy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City
University of New York. He is editor of African-American
Perspectives and Philosophical Traditions (1996) and Associate
Editor of the journal Philosophia Africana.
