The Black Atlantic
Modernity and Double Consciousness
—_¢—
PAUL GILROYContents
Preface &
1 The Black Atlantic asa Counterculture of Modernity 1
V2. Masters, Mistresses, Slaves, andthe Antinomies of
Modernity a
| “Jewels Brought from Bondage”: Black Music and the
| Politics of Authenticity n
|B) “Cheer the Weary Traveller": W. BB. Du Bois,
| Germany, and the Politics of (Dis)placement m2
| 5 “Without the Consolation of Tears”: Richard Wright,
| Brance and the Ambivalence of Community 146
"Nota Story to Past On": Living Memory andthe
‘Slave Sublime 1
| Notes | 2s
| Acknowledgements a
Tndex 255Preface
‘Tras 300K was FIRST CONCEIVED while Iwas working st
South Bunk Ply in Londo lpn and Case, row 4
pled themsches tothe ak of examining these ideas and the dine
renee of contemporary ein the Wet to which they pot. Sometimes
‘wrtem fave bees eoncerned to sea and account for recent die
shia i the cular climate ofthe overdeveloped counties and in their
‘eltonship to she staf the world. Many participants have conse
Intellectual dewous though modernity as 2 way of demurcating what i
‘ove historical orginal inthe conemporay posmodem condon,
‘Ochers have analysed he postmodern asift had simpy effaced or replaced
‘he modern andy Hke Lyotard ave not deed deeply nto the history of
the posooder, its emergence from modern orks relationship othe
proceses of modenistion.
“However they approach thir tak these authors share 3 preocspation |
wich the impact of po war changes on the cognitive and technological
‘beer of soci and extrait inthe verdeveloped wld where the are
been able to detect "a sort of orow inthe Zlgee*® The concept of
postmoderism ison introduce to emasise che ral reve cat
rophic nature ofthe break between contemporary condition andthe ep
‘chofimademam, Thus thee tention given tothe posi that
‘uch of whats idssfed as poster may hae been foreshadowed oF
prefgued inthe Uneaments of modernity sel Defenders and rc of
‘modernity scem wo be equaly unconcerned tat the history and exresire
cate ofthe Alfican spor, the practice of rail bey, the mar
thes of European imperil conquest may regal imple priodssions
‘ofthe modern and the postmodern o be dra eto!
“The pvr cations berween the moder and the postmodern res
‘numer of ter ies not let besa i const a al par of
vider engi int the comtnsing vay of what Habermas has called
the Enlightenment projec* Those dicaions profes to be more than
tmery cholate comtibutons tothe intelectual history ofthe West. They
hve crn acquired broader pola cureny paral wher they
hme pronounced pea the Mea of progres and the view of cistion
suided tently towards perfection by seca, rational pipes tat ss
tins tat ea, Habermas an other ave, for example, ocwed aetion
‘on thereltonhipberween fesom and reson, wich as been 2 nda
Incotleaure of wesc pole discourse the end ofthe cg
teenth century This hs gained a special reonance during period in
‘which technological eansormatons and polisal upheaas peer 0
Jopantn both feedom snd eon in equal mensre. The contemporary
Ferracrring of polite and economies in the overdeeloped
Manas Misra Sars “
countries hs called many of the histo atmptons of western ronal
inn ino question, Aging saint the dtd of dem rational,
incredalos vies hve demon cal steton to te bold, enters
Clams of ocentl modemty snd is hubti condence in tow na
oly Te is csapointing that the positon ofthe sep has smedmes
ten nderold by chorus of etal commentary which dvs se
hush fom the excesses of an-plical posestcturism in gene
and deconstractiv trary crt in parla
wil noe auempt to reconstruct the whole complexity ofthese «x
chung here. A number of authors hae sready proved valuable sec
‘cir atare onthe principal postoosnvoed Lar, however ees
tenmplae hati eres std unmial eteeational dha i clety
‘sed both to theft ofthe ntelcsal ars discret, author caste and
tothe fire ofthe universes which 0 many oftexmed protons
fave acquired secure perches. In Europe atleast, thee istitons of|
higher esming are being veniated by thecal bceze of downard me
tuly arate when the utononous cultural power and preeminence of
thelr mandarin inhabitants as plc inlectual ar also being severly
tedced. This sony one of ever reson wy itmaybe pore rare
{hat whats iaceasngly perceived as the iss of moder and movers
‘alus is pehaps beter undestod as the css ofthe inlet whowe
Seleconsciounes was once served by thee terms® Focusing onthe role
‘ofintelcrns within meeriy isn important way of ring ost the
Driclary shat lis beneath the univers claims of the Enlighten
ment projet which was, in theory valid for ama 39a whole een if
Inomaniy nto be rather eric dened. The meaning of being 22
‘neler in setings tht have denied acer to Beracy ac encouraged
‘other forms of communion ns place na rearing question in what
flow.
Receat dscusions of modemity and its pose clips ae also insepa
ble om the cured blak fortunes of expel soca ocr the
‘cvendeveeped counties, Fewould therefore be wrong ro suppor ha the
poli importance ofthis debe i eaiely diminished by is academic
‘rigs and spec appeal to thor sient afte of the Bourpenae
‘sho once, jor repel laced ther weapons frie nal
Thent with te profeacat' crc of weapons, Reforms and revolution
arylefis alk are now being challenged to defend the provocol of secular
‘euson and the ideal of human and socal pees iespective of|
Iwheter i cared out under the banner Of working ce slfeman
‘Spt othe anda of more modest and anowedy reli plc phi
lovopis.“ Maser Mires Slane
“Though may ot contin he ven onthe gral nara of
Ero Ameen progr a th nee of role face
shtisotenseen ye and gh kennel poco rhe
‘shanement of ol an oil eco ths der impr
‘evr eons which hare 050 ben ed om within Tecan be
feped tht much of he appre nowy ofthe pounder eeprstes
‘hen swe athe unorghng hon igh of the el eu,
ter between Europeans and ths hy congue sgh, sen
Sine. The peoion ofthe mode sad the osmoder thro he
Ins profound importance forte hse of ck nthe Wes aod fer
‘hroiting the sing ete of doninton and orton 6.
‘een Europeans nde te word es cen or our nde
sanding ofthe eegory of “ce alan fe gees ad dol
tnenc af zene fam of at Keno I tern ove li
Strang en tepid clon oft pale
"sak ies cal ton oe comple ince o Aan
and Bropee pki lie ren andes cone at
‘modem tes word lk onht, fe rae, oe someting 0
enue oan aaa afte pra vanes of edo ac.
Int rough he eva feined people adele co te.
clogs ote western Ae of Recon sd ten fone it sel mone
ines ofan anol and decedy stop pe, Lat he
Orcoming of wicca (one of moderns more rc lee
Sal procs) as pone tonortan ino nee cll ess
thts comple iene strane tp Nery
‘roe lig conte ca of wt sep owe ie Bad
‘etves ofsce nao a upto
“ont the poem ofthis eae ound modernity was ese
peeing uso ace sd rich nt Yo say tal he cement
‘Scel rection we ey ec In wat eco be
Sackvak fom wat wecaealhhigh men mtr ne ct
tnd pote sbonaton of cs and ber no Earopens People
dees gency ete i cotenpray debs wound te ios
‘ah ieloge, orcad conten conseuenes of ser
‘id an inant overly emerges fom te spac happy oe
‘sont rd heme nant onion
ope locos a eal pred of any ceo the pole
thot hia whose dered nes ght sera qpeon bat
te iis of bourzasamani. Montesquieu on “hw
‘28 coe be Pesan” resin bors wily unseeel,Wat
igre hb an cay portnoderns stacks bth onal ad
aver, Mires Seer “
‘erly through an obvious and baal ats, bat such poston hos
Do promi for thos wo recat fom the suggestion tat l modes of ife
te ineconclable and the rel idea hat cy ceil opt postion
ia valid a any other The work ofa numberof blick thinkers wil be
amined below spurt of «general argument that cere ar her bases
{vet and cst tan thor which ppearimmanent within the ver
tons of moder that thet myopially Broce thers construct.
“This chapter will amine some omiions and absences in thee debates 9
lla some of the unacknowledged and feuentyehnocenc premios
‘Bom which they have been conducted
want alo to fers equ of and 2 corrective to these exchanges, nd
iy fundamental conser wth the history ofthe Afcan dagora neces
tater the speci starting point—the Blac Adane—that T set dows in
(Chapter I. The dinincive historic experiences ofthis diaspora pope
lations hae crested 2 unique body of rellecioas on modernity and is
Eacontents which i an enduring presence inthe cultural and poll
‘ruggles of te deacendas today I want tring t the fre elements
(fh altematve sequence of cogs int the pois of iin the ese.
‘This decominuons“tradon” has Been occded bythe dominance of
Enropean and Amescan wring elites whos loud modernist rics hae
dominated the camour of phlowpbial and polka dacours that
‘aches out fom the eighteenth century t hau now Hower, Tam
‘oggcting someting more than the coc inckson of those ck
‘onimentais onthe modern which haves ar ben veloaked by Wes
‘ra intellect history Tntend not only to question the realty of 2
thy holt conception of modernity but aa to argue for de inversion
‘ofthe relationship berssen margin and centre has appeared Within
the maser dicoares ofthe mater race. Ia other words, Tam seeking
to contbute ro some nconstracve intellectual labour which, through
looking athe modern caltural sory of lak inthe moder word, ht
2 great bering on ides of what the Wes was ad etd Thi nally
‘eies return to and thinking of the chrarersial modera el
[Snip betwee dhe mater andthe save [sr this work at complement
Jing and extending the work offeruinistphosopicrs who have opposed
the guration of woman aa sgn for the repreed or erasoal other of|
ntonaly identified ar male, Theis exposure of what Rosi Bradt cal
‘the “unacknowledged and camouflage sexual distinction a the very bear
‘of pilorphy™ ean be pale by an archaeology of the icons of the
‘acs that appear aig of ratonalciorer or a2 means to celebrate
‘the power of human nature uncoraped bythe decadence ofthe iin
proce Is ether guise, Hacks enjoy 2 subordinate postion inthe dual“ Maser, Mire Seer
system that repeoduers the dominance of bonded whines, ssl
trol.
‘Slavery and the Enlightenment Project
If poplar wes ike Jurgen Habermas and Marsal Berman are to be
bcited, the unfilled promis of modems’ Enlightenment projec
maine beleaguered but nonetheless rant resource which may cw 20m
beable to guide the practice of contemporary sacl and politcal raga.
Ts opposition to this ew I popone thatthe hitory ofthe Afcan das
ora and assessment the eltonsip between moderisy and lvery
may equtea more complete revision ofthe ermsin which the modernity
debates have been contracted than any of sacri paripens may
be wing wo concede
Despite the many postive quakes of Bema work the persatve
severity ofhis argument eas tiesto peak rather aly ofthe inate
tity ofthe moder self and he modem environment” Thies convey
lina instinctive manne by “the fe great wave of writers and thinkers
shout modemity-—Goethe, Hegs, Mars, Stendhal and Baadehire, Ca
Inland Dickens, Herzen and Dostocy™ Ther compicious European
entrees aside, remarks Uke this Would seem not oly t endone the
“view of moderiy a5 an abolue break with past but ao to deny he
possibly that the dinetveness of the modern al might fede tos
bring neces ractared or compound etn, From Berta perspec
tive, the power impact of ies like “ace” and gender onthe formation
and reproduction of moser eles an too easly beset ide. The pos
Jy hat the modern subject maybe located in tory pecan wn
sroidly complex configurations of ndvidaastion and embodiment —
‘black and white, mle ad emale, oe snd bondsman —is noted
Bean compounds these dificulis by arguing that “modern envio
‘ments and experiences cut aca all boundaries of geogrihy and
ici, ofl and nationality of lion and ideology inthis sense mover.
rity canbe si ort all mankind (phase added). Thi col be
‘eal aa suggestion tht an allencompasing modemiy ics eveyone
Jina uniform and een similar wa. This spprouch sherefore rans con
‘rary tomy own concer wi the varton an contin in modern
‘rprence and wth the decented snd nescepsbly laa nature of modern
‘bes and ident.
‘Like Habermas, Berman makes some very bold cams forthe Enighen-
ment’ ideologial and pola bequest: “then images and iets provide
a ich egay for moder political thought aad frm» sot of agenda for
Master, Mires Slaves ”
neat al the radi movements ofthe past two centuries"! He notes
pereptively bur ater fly, thar Mocesuiew nd Rowseas “have
[Gen ra agenda, bu no wtp (emphasis ded) We shall ae below
‘hare expresions of bck anemia which re explored in sub-
‘sesuent chapters hive consitentlyaeqied and somctises cen rene
{heir utopia tones, One fry ss isto defend dhs choice and ihuminate
the octal sengts wth wich thas endowed diaspora pois and
sestctc,
‘leurs, in an inceting exchange with Perty Anderson, Berman
ocr frat sugges eat sown eal landable des to rein at
lone at pole to the nsnuting hehe of everyday and his ad
‘ale bl tat eft intellect shoal elas the epaciy to ead the
Sign inthe suet in defiance of contemporary presurs to at ato 2
Contemplative tat, ae both vakinbe prod ofthis special modernist
especie. Though noc inne othe re ofthe exter, for vai
‘freon ack nelleel, most of whom: hae ot held academic pos
‘ns, have tended to find ener to remain in contact with the lvl
‘te which Berman 20 rightly Sods iogoratiog.
“The same sc of aics emerges in even shaper focus whe, in another
stile, Berman deve a rezamto the aca ofthe South Bronx where
Ine spent his boyhood The breakdance and grafts thet he obsees
moving ston the shadows of tat desolate urban landscape ae not 29
ny fo be chimed fr the everthing moderiam he secs to aim
“Ther ry, which forall appeal doesn enter dee into Berm
counts ofthe dizzying allure andthe democrate potent of modern
‘oct onginats in diecey moder inrsons ofthe westers hem
‘phere ke the sug planation Te conssates the Encage ovary of|
{Deal thought-—a movement or sequence of movement i clr pa
‘rand politcal calte—which isan extremely ambiguous component
(of his modern vision and has lise todo wih the innocent, Baropean
‘modernity tha sper inthe wider debates in which ei paripatng.
Tater on we sal cei detail how specie groups of lak intel
als—again nt sinpywotrs—hat analysed and soght 0 come terns
‘vit cc inherently ambalenteltonhip to the West and ious
ola legacies. Here only necessary to note that the comtemporary
‘Sescendants nd the protective carl form of back adam also rae
‘gure abo she astampton of ymmetril intesubjectiy which
tursin wo mbch ofthis dicoune onthe narre of moder and moder
‘ton, In ew ofthis unsurprising that Berman speaks of those who
Ima ic oof the rain of the South Broa simply a "working she
toes? tthe membership of or alation tan iendfable and coe“ Maer, Mires Saree
sive working class aselfviden fat that somehow com his sense of
the centspetal effects of modern,
| should emphasise chat Berman inno being singled ut for aac here,
and that Thies grea elo pathy wth hx persative and smaling
‘count of modernity ais aneadantpoltcl choc, Polaing to sme
ofthe psesin his neat ofthe modern shoul not ead one to velo
the fic tht he, unlike many of his theoreal pees, doe test noe
the back and Hispanic presence inthe in of the modem cy. He may
not be concerned withthe impact frac eategore and meanings he
‘wor of "intatie” moderais bike Hegel, but he doc recognise the on
‘emporary cla produ of modem biak istry sn eck to poray
thei postive vale, Berman even appeitesthat “ont mcf thee ar
is produced in commodity foem for sle™” Hower, ane ofthese im
porent insights inerups his hase to annene the cultural forms of the
back Ala foran image of the working last, In al way, Berm,
Inabi ogie de weight the paral tha I ei integral he
‘modem ses furber profound problems about his precotaon of the
‘contin of moders Went andthe toasing wholes with whi he
Imes his conception of modern experienc.
Poinng out specs ofthe partly of movern black expeiences
should not be understood at an oceason for staging the confonaion
beeweea the regional vale of dint sector or comma andthe up.
ped universalism of occidental ational Lam ot sopgesing tht the
‘comtemporary traces of back intellects Nistor compro eve ee fo
2 lifeworld thats incommeasurble wath tht ofthe former sebokes.
‘That would be the easy way out, for infusing on rc savey ants
aficmath we are equred o considers historians in which de
pendency and antagonism ar itimately scat an in which lack
‘queso moenty may also be, in some signin ene, aman.
“The key to comprchending thie aot inthe verasty separation of te
calurl forms parla 6 both groupe int some ethnic typology Bt in
2 detailed and comprehensive grasp ofthe comple interpenetration
“The inelecul apd clear! achievements of the black Atantc popula
tins ext purl inside and noe aay gaat the grand marae of En
lghtenmentendits operational pinaples, Thr es have grown 00g.
supported by 2 laticeof western politic and lees, Though Adican in
ite ropes and polkcal and plulosopical themes ae sll vile for
those who with tose them, they have oes been anetormed and ded
‘by ther New World locations to anew pot where the danger ses
of pure essences and simple origins lose all meaning. Thee modern
‘bck poli formations stand smltanousy both sie and outside the
;
|
Marrs Mires Sas »
wet culture which hasbeen thei peculr stepparent. This complex
{clonship point once again tothe aed to engage etal with the way
In which mover hasbeen tore and peroed by x mor eats
‘Soc defenders and crc. Regret, both groupe hae been equly sow
inp ey eo cmd ce other ogag
"TIC Beran, whe work ea his infec, Jen Habermas wit
ings conrey a darp ih inthe democratic potential of modernity Moder-
ty undertod aa distinct configuration wi son sata and em
por characte defined abo all trough the conscousnes of novelty
‘Batsurounds the emergence fc soley the meer tae, 2nd indus
tl coptaam, Nether wer woald accepe tht the normative potential
ofthis new ea has ben exhausted, bu thei i not» post ate
huss, Modernity appended through ts couerdncounes and
‘fen defended solely through i counterfcral element, yet thet ay
Ses remain substantial nafete bythe hitoris of barby which p-
pear tobe such a promiact Ferraz ofthe widening gap between modern
__expenence and modern expectation. There 2 sant seme, for example,
tha the universlty and rtonliyof enlightened Earope and America
Ine mcd to sustain and eloate rater than eacatean onder of racial
{iferece iste ftom the premoder ex. The Bgurof Columbus does
oe appear to complement the standard pang of Luther and Coperias
‘hat ipl nero marke nso his parca understanding of
‘modernity Locke colonial interests and the eet ofthe conquest of the
‘Amesias on Descartes and Rowsca ae simply non anes. I this sewing,
its baal surpsing tae ft perceived to be relevant tal she sory
of ery somehow aniged to backs. It becomes our pec propery
athe than apart ofthe eta and intel eskage ofthe West 83
‘whole This is only js preferable to the conventional akeratve
Spon which vewsplintaton slavery aa premodern side tat sp
‘eam once i reveled tobe fundamentally incompatible with eight
ned atonaliy and capitals nda production.
Tikes good miny eraines and sboloniss, Habermas i tenaciously
commie 0 the course of making bourgeois i society Ive up
plea and pilosophieal promises, Drawing hr theory of madeeity
fom the work of Kant and Hegel, he notes is contemporary criss but
says thas they can be ssl only fom thin moderiy ef by the
‘Completion oft Eallghtenment project. Thete i perhaps anion in
Secing the alas of ioral materaian defending the very humane
fntionlty which for many yar was one of thet major intellect oe
Habermas eecogrives the intimate es between the idea of modernitys Maer, Mirae Sees
‘ve working clas isa sei evident fit that somchow confoms his sense of
the centripetal ect of modernity,
{should emphass thet Benman noting sag out for tack her,
and that Ihave a great deal of sympathy with peruse and atialating
account of moderiy ands stcadant poll choices, olaing to sme
ofthe psn hs narrative ofthe modem should not ead one to orclook
the fact that he, unlke many ofhisdheoresal per, dasa lett ace
‘the black and Hine preseace inthe ruins of the moder city. He may
fot be concerned with the impact of ral epee and meanings the
‘work of "inne” mode like Hegel, but he doc resognise the ot
‘emporay cultural products of modem bak istry sn ck to portay
thei postive vale. Beeman even appreciates tat “noe mich oft at
is produced in commodiy form fr sle™” Hower, none of thes im
portaneinsighs imeraps his haste to annexe the eral farms ofthe
back Aan fran image ofthe working clit Ins sal way. Berman’
loa to give de weight othe plait tha T belie integral to the
modern raises farher profound problems about his presentation ofthe
2 Maser, Mires Stars
“HI Colin argues dar che western tadtons of thinking and thinking
shout hiking to which the human scence ate bound hae systematically
tried to separate these priveged acti fom mere beng This nih
linked in er argument to eis fhe pernicious eft ofthe dali,
‘binary thinking in which one partner the ogntve coupes alwys dom
inated by is repressed and subjaated oer halmale/female, atonal?
national, mcre ule igh ek
‘Though F concur with mow of Hill Colla diagnos ofthis at of
aii, I disagree with her raponsr oe. Her anever othe neste see
‘ation of hiking and thinking abou thinking) fom bing it colle
‘hem back no each other tht they forma fnctonl uty that can be
verily celebrated. She uses a feminist versio of this rasoning at
an analogy for undertanding wht bck women can doo produce +E,
al theory capable of addresing thc experiences of marginal fom
‘ruthseehng nd interpre aces, This bogs nan argument or the
social construction of rae” and pen, Thee no een worma et
woman general hat ca focus the emancipatory project of emis pl
tics therefore» feminist epistemology mot proceed fo consrac ts owe
standpoint adres o that ack. Tass doe in wie daabused of the
‘bei that essential feminine experience can atthe guarantor off
‘st Knowledge chins, In he (non-bic) feminist dcoure, the tems
‘woman and feminist ae ditinguied and must remain separte fr the
esque to operate play. Thee ino open counter argument ory Hill
Colins for the superior valve ofan eatin understanding of back
female subject. However, another version of racial eset
snuggled in trough the back porch cin Fill Clins loudly Danis
icf her fone dooe. In her tapos, te tem “black” does dow.
be dur. Tt covers the postions of knowing an ting Is epistemolopicl
and ontological dimensions are ete congrcet. Tir timpleegesie
‘uty joins an 2 of poll fimation to his phiosopicl ange be
ing black encompass both experiencing white domination and inv
snd group valiation ofan independent, long sanding Arcee con
‘ious Her inconsistent deployment ofthe term Aftocenr, ome
‘Se apearing a2 sony fo black and sometimes egal othe
sense of che word “feminist” which was opposed to the word “wasn”
cs lise to solve the cofision tha els om this: “Even though
‘icontaae owe the term Aocent: feminist thought inerchangeaby
with the phrase Black emi though, thnk they are conceptual i
El Coline repeatedly emphasises tha the endpoint she is exploring
is “lfdened” This formulation appears tthe point where + clsicly
Mater, Mires Saves 5s
“Lenin” veson of vanguai is imported into her wtng. The mast,
of back women have experiences that open the way Foran to unique
ems of conscioumess. However hey se incapable of arscalng” the
_seandpoint and need to be heed todo this by an elite cade of Mack
femal italecl who vacinateodiary ok with the products of thei
“sia theorsing, thereby generating resistance. This group alo performs
‘what appear to be a low-otensiy dscpiary fneson in ates of back
pi omer shan eins sugges “Black women inellecils who 2
“uate an autonomous lf eine eandpoin arin postion to xan
_tpology and pole pate. This woul ako mean taking 4 ce from 4
ted posmoderism and ving the categories of enquiry open
yc iter nthe foun eon athe ar of Hegel The Phe
omens of Minis wo: Ft ica be sed nia nai
foci wich abjured by Habermas bese pins dict
ts aproach wich es te intimate sociation of moder and sltry
fundamen conceal toe Tir sigan because cane wed
{ofr frm rebuke othe mest of inary ax progres and be
_ cae provides oportnyto-peiodse and eccetite C00Cs Maser Mires Slaves
ofthe dice of Ealghtemene which hae not ays Been concer
to ook at modems through the lense ofcoloniasm or cent rac
‘Second, rtun to Hegels acount of the confit nd the forms of depen
fn cory to embrace or even accep thie edited, acca elatonship
to the uarepesentble, the preraonl andthe slime would ber ip
fom spottoned chalice. These quetons have become poll dec
since these cultural forms hae colonised te inesces of thecal in
‘dary on bel? no jar of black Alantc peoples but ofthe poor,
poted, snd dowaprened everywhere
“The curent debate over modem centres either an the problematic
enti between politic and sete or on the question oF cence
{is asociton wih the practice of dominstion. Few ofthese debates
‘pert atthe interfceofeenc and aesthetics which isthe required sar
ing poin of contemporary Back clr expression and the digital tec
logy of i sc disemination and reproduction. These debates ver
‘moderns comenonally define the poliscal instance of the moder soc
Totaly trough «lore ivocaon of the achievements of bourgeois de
tmocrcg. The discrete notion ofthe sstet in elation to which his sel
Ssning politcal domain then evaluated, i const by the idea
fd the cology ofthe text sa of textual ar 2 mode of eomamanicatve
pacice which provides a model fr all eter forms of cognitive exchange
nd socal inerction, Urged on bythe port sacar crisques ofthe
inetapyice of presence, contemporary debates have moved beyond cing
Tinguage a the fundamental analogy for comprehending al signifing
pst to a pation where rertaairy (specally wen wrenched pen
‘hough the concept of ference) expands ad merges wih ro. Py
ing careful tention to the strctre of feling which underpin Back x
resve cultures cn show ow his eique is incompee. tgs blocked
Ep tis invocation of all-encompassing textual. Tentalty becomes 2
means 0 evacete the problem of human agency a means to speci the
eat (by fragmentation) of de subject and, in the same manoeuvre, to
atone the lier cates mites or master ofthe domain of crenive
human commenican,
“Ath ik of pening ether esters [want suggest tha the history
and peste of tick mie point to eter possible and generate other
plnuble mods Tis eplested story s worth econsrocting, whether
tr not supplies pointers to ote regener cual process. How
ver I want to sugges tha burgess democracy the gente! metropel
tan ie in which appesredat the dava ofthe public sper shook! not
Serve san ieal ype for all moder poll process. Seondly, I want,
{oshftconcem with the problems of Seay ste, and artic jugementa "Tew Brea from Bondage”
‘0 that dscoion isnot circumscribed by the idea of rmpet,ivase
‘ex Foregrounding th history of Black masc making encourages
both ofthese propositions, Tals requis deen eles of analec
‘enceps This demand is apliedby the need to make sense of ms
pesformances in which identi etingy experienced inthe mot nt
sive ways and sometimes socially eproduced by means nepleted odes
of siting practice le mimes gesture, kines, and emtne. Arp
‘ony (allan response) isthe encpl fora eae of these sl.
Ans. I us come fo beset bie fom mse i ter oes
‘falar expresion, soplyng slong wth inprovsti, montage, and
ee edd ea and we aaa ber f ro
Sonal nd the tay minority who managed 9 sure some sot af 2
demic postion in ewently segregated educational gotems or took
scantage of oppornie in Liber, Ha, and the independent sats.
“Thiscompany spreads out in dsconiauous,transiee nes of descent that
seech outward acrm the Aan foes Phylie Wheatley onwards. [x
teat aur is an ant irri tadiion of thought tae probably cu
sme. Janes ht onary po donot eda te
ecu vag o ep tem o peak oF tell them wht to"
pete within this cxpresve alee ir mci who are presented
lng symbols ofthe value of selacvy" Thi ten aoting more oF
ess than a question of sy
“The bac labour of archaeological reconstruction and pridistion
aside, working onthe contemporary fons of black expresive clr in
‘eine sling with one problem in pansclr I the pul of whet,SBR
7 ‘Tevet Bong from Bondage?
nc tas soul be gen to the vaison within ak communis
and berveen inch cite which ie masa tals real Te ea
prodnced by ane to compat or case drag back alfa
Imatons an be sme opin the follwing ucston: ow we oie
{Seay about arate prdace und eee cles wch ocgh ter
‘ye cea buck on tn laine een change eer by
the page of time or yt depnement locaton, dacnaog
shrough sewers of comaunicaton ander exhroge’ Ths ean
sere aarp er sow vn mow vlan! They ne
‘hewn ad dilenton ofthe come ack she ved aero
‘Mh parity and theo of clr expres ns rma sd
reproduc, Te poe ate scl swe bene Dak ke
tre been nse spel the ahora rare of phone
sa mean fo ground th cowl pron of he ann, Wah
{ew able cep, scone dai of Back sabre
‘ution andreance ve bern dogg xnoca aon and
‘oven Ts imporehcs modem bck cl Haar bee he
‘rman rats whch onthe Bac Aan wel
have hemes dolped ad sow acl is myn oe ono
tem of got ommuntations ented by ove Ts fondant cr
Jocion of ck ear i ep imporan the et hry of
Black musi which prac our oe ea dey wich made mene
‘voter cation ponte now dominate ppc ener,
nthe feof he concur dentin and pelle of ck
cura ses an gene pew aly odor hr epen ogo Ta
the name of ncaa an hero segs se
‘ack paralysis tonal conscted en play a
‘come inecapbl, he Pur o sy ing dmc o ndeyng
ruc offing in comeopory bck elere i ety son
Te atenpe to let the cate pct, mows pt pena
sha might conse the dienes ded acs fe er won sed
of are wih each others cen vth As daa econ
Cede or beh"
“Teer postion aetcedoutin thst et of hi chap rs
4 texte mtu to that onodony which I rep prone nf
ion of the protic of tong acd ent Trepp er
‘ephing the sds and ieee bone kere oy
tpt concer, Tepes ceil on the concede
‘lich wife duced in mre alin Onpcr For pot ce
Tanto sate a dap linapesle lo cng the oe
alan tial mani ofthe une history ef lactose
‘ot The dagen of eam and pstrion anode with th
Pack Masia eit of Antbentiiy a
concep ought by nt be obvious, but he ver eas that tess an
eartic means fo fos on the elatonship of enti and non-idesty
intlack polinealclture. rea ao be employed to projet the pale
tas of black culture in diferent pars ofthe word fo counerpoine 1
‘hei common snsbliie—boththore regulated om Aca
tnd thoe generated fom the spec Btemeat of 2 wood acl saver.
‘This i ot an easy mater The proprion thatthe postive clues of
the Aancc wo are in some significant way related vo one anothe and
to the Alcan clare for wich they pray deve has long Been a
{er of great controvery capable of arousing intense fing wich gos fx
‘yond dspesonate schol contemplation. The stastion rendered
tien more comple by theft dat the fragile peychologial,cmovional,
{nd cuturlcorespordences whic conacct spo popalatons is ste
(of thce munifltdiftrencs te often apprehended oni Beng and is
‘wae that persitenty confound the protools of academic orthodowy.
“Therein however a et body of wotk which user the proposion that
Some cura igi, nd ngieanons cas be Wend even if
thee conterporary plicalsigicance remains disputed. There ae also
‘alae though undertieg leads tobe found ia he work ofthe eins
Poli thinker, cult cries, and philopbers who hate formulated
‘Simulating conespton the slaonship between desi anddiference
inthe context of advancing the poli project of emale emancipation.”
UK Blak
“The ue of the dent and non ideas of ack clrs has cgi 2
speci strcl and politcal sgnieance in Bea. Black element in
that country gocs back many centuries, and firming is continuity as
become an inporane para the polis that sve ro answer contmpo-
ray Bish acu. However the bulk of a's ak communities ae of|
‘ately ent oii, dating ony fom the pos-Westd Wa ped. I
these popuston are nied sal ee more by the experience of mgr
tion tan by te memory of very and the es of plantation soe
‘tl recently tha ery nee aed conspicuous ck ofrotednes nthe
indigenous carer of Bri inner cites condoned the formation of
‘cal subculares which dew heal oma range of Saw materials” up
fled by the Canbean and ack Americ, Thea re een where these
{ubculre ako contrite tothe unsteady ear of antagonisic
‘decane into which Betis Mack eters found thems in
‘ened as rial subordinated migrant labourers but abo as working as
black seen.
The music ofthe black Aan wld were she primary eresions ofoats
i ‘Jewels Brong from Bondage?
cull ltncivenes which this population seized upon and adapted to
‘new circumstances. Te used the parte but converging mine ad.
ios ofthe back Aanic wo, foro creae tel anew ya congo.
‘raion of black communities, then aa mca to gauge the socal progres:
‘of pontaneossel-creation which war sedimented together by teen
presares of economic exploitation, poi rcsm,dplacemet, nd ee
ic This musical heritage gradual became an portant foro cise
ing the wanton of diver seers to dint mode of fined blckness.
{eva instramentl in producing + conseliion of subject postions that
openly indebed forts condtions of posit to the Caen the
Use States and even Afi, was al indlily mh bythe Bech
‘condions in which grew and matred.
1s esenil toapprecate tht this ype of proces hat not been con:
Sed eo sets of Atto-Caribbean dese. In reinventing thet ow eh.
iin sme of Beta Asan setders he alo bocroned the ond pte
ure of the Caribbean and the oul and hip hopes of black Ame,
‘well a techniques like mixing, seratching, nd sampling as par of he
invention of a new mode of cultural production with an item
match." The popula of Apache Inian® and Ball Sagoo” stempts
‘0 fase Panjabi music and langage with reggae msc and apg
sie raed debuts about the autbeascy of these hy cult! form to
sn unprecedented pitch. The experince of Caribbean migzats o Bin
Provides further examples of complex curl exchange end of the way in
which self consol symtheti cule can supprt some equally noel
pola identities, The ultra and pola histones of Gavan, Jame,
Bacbados, Grea, Tiida, and St. Luis, ike the economic forces st
workin generating thr especie migrations to Europe, are widely di
simi. Even fie wee possbl, le alone desabl, tee smbessot
singe lack Bish caleure could never have been guarantee bythe eles
of acim alone, Thus the role of ecemal meanings around Backes,
drawn particular from black Americ, boca impercantin the cabo
tion of connecine ere which drew these diferent “national” groups
{ogtbe nto new pater tat war not ethnically marked inthe ay
‘tht tele Csbean clr inhetances ad ben, Reggae supposedly
sable and satheniccatcgory, provides wel example hee. One Ow
brid org in shyt and blues wee eecily conceded" xs
in Brain, to signi a exclusively ethnic, Jamaican syle nl dered a.
‘ret kind ofeltrallegimacy both fom 3 ew global eats and fom
ltexpression of what might be termed «pa Carb car
The sv, rheto and moral ato ofthe cigs mance od
oF Blick Power seed similar te. They t00 were detached om the
Plc Mae nd ce Pali of Aung 8
crn chic mater sd oil pi xo ated, wth
tik spec ut I senting to oh eds ad pal ce
ts pang Bain tagh sccm hat gre ed
plese mn wich in th ae nd nel Bick rep
er pea hey wee arated in ciicey European cn
thon, How de appropedion ftom ead oir of
stone wpe ach ge psa snd cl tence i
{Sihcresingqton el iran ws ney com
ton nd of ban pect he Oc of lr bat yo es
{nel frm false well the mony faney 2
gry of Acai and nck porary then
5th Dido fem th rgd conn of anne, he ound
tes fhe Alcan Ancan el bode ee metas
Ot cnc cnr sd cased i Bare ad cere wie
Averound aerate uc pcs conned und an expres
her acws domon ——
“Te scab pla tgnge of cine, rl jie on
equ oe cue wih cone eo
Gln sn pliant oeing Acommenty one
tn of wrk oes the rape fr of ero ith
ch heaping wos cone cis roel nd ang
proce Ah hots smi spel Scan with Boy
tide sgltaes otc ty how she ee en led on
Se lds of raion vara td congrats Teepe
seuon of ray snd gtr es a prc te al pbc
froin of he tiie rienp eta Hc wore a meh
‘marie erm dentate rong enough openers
She fea wsthe rh cen wa eae
tipi mntion dagen tough tems he ba A
ita wr
The conf epcttion of ray haved wih tbe couse of
rch eouncpuon vo conte he inet cov of Bick epee
She. Oommen tol oueperdewoped gh te me
{er femmeatve poset bre heed thaedcoanes to Become
‘tnd Thc caion wer cel or coe th ane
[toto thar proce alt of iy sce perio
TRambe ca dared in tbe Colt ne te noggin oe ad
‘slat eto tip hop Fo cla has een pee the
‘ntl econ teen ck wl enn nd
rete enero ssw. T hs wm oe ack ome
‘Seno es qn wh iy be eed pr eccs ‘Fen Brg from Bonage”
sc ofeaurl insides and drawing the comforting oak of abeote
chit een more ightly around ther anous shoulders. The most sig
nian een ilstraon of diss provided by the comple sues sem
‘ming fiom the obscenity tal of? Live Crem a loa-based rp ct ed
by buther Cambel, 3 commercial minded lack American of Famaean
descent. This episode i no noexbe case the forms of miso that
acted the tenon of the poice andthe dict stomeys wee Ae"
Is imporance ly inthe fc thst wae the oceasion fran import
public intervenson by Mack Anerca best kaon acaemic an etre
‘tte, Henry Lous Gates, Je Gates wet beyond spy affrming the
sic staf ths particular ip hop product, eguing nfl eet cht
the Crew’ materal war amanifeation of dtnctely black elral ad
tions which operated by parca stil codes wher one ma ison.
‘yy turns out tobe another mas parode play: Rakim the mon ged ap
oct ofthe ihe, had a very diferent penpeesve onthe uthenicty of
2 Live Crew's outpae :
That [the 2 Lite Crew situation] sat my problem. Some people
mig thik is our problem beease rp it one big bpp a>
‘When Take my bed ay oat I dont sy noth Tea tnd up
for “ase I sen one interven, where they asked hz [Lther Cam
‘bel a question anche stare aie leh abou back cle That
‘made everbody on the rap ip look hinds dene, He wa sit “Yo
this fs my cere That’ no laa all>
[es sking that aplopts for the woman hating antics of? Live Cew
and other srr pefomer have eens far uaconcemed that the sera
ar tation they ight dese to legimie and protect sts own record
ofrefetion on the specie eicl obligations and poll rsponsbies
hich consace the unigue burden ofthe black st. Learing the ques.
tion of miogyy aie for a momene, to collude in the Belt that Hack
‘veracul is mating other han ple, pero acide of Rabelisan
sulrersiondessiely weakens the postions of the ais, the eal com
‘mentator, andthe community asa whole. Wha more sgt suey
the fire of ther adem or oral commentary on black propel
smusicin America o develop refervepolisal ett capable of i.
shin 2 Live Crew and ther fom thi equally athens bt psiby
mote compeling and eraily mere comsroctve pers
Tam not suggesting thar the self conus rc pedagogy of ogni
sy polical ats ike KRSI, the Poor Righteous Teacher Lakim Sha
baz, othe X Cian should be srsightirwarlycounerpocd again the
‘arf caleultedafrmstie nil of ee Cube, Tim Dog the Ghetto
Black Nai and tts of Aster 8s
Boys, Above the Law nd Compton Most Wanted. The diferent ses
snd pola pespecves expressed within the music ar inked bth bythe
bonds ofa syed but aggressively masculnist discourse and by formal
boerowings fom the ling innovaons of Jamas’ eine modes of
nei orling™ Thie debe co Caribbean forms, which can olf der
sine the defiion ofp hop 22m exlsely American produc, is mace
openly aclnowledged inthe lic Aentns ofthe Jungle Brothers, De
1s Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest, which may represent a third alera-
he bodh in its sespectil and enlavian representation of women apd in
is more ambivalent elaonship to America and Americanism. The sim
lating and innoratve work ofthis Is group of ass operts a rater