Reviews for Aberrations in Black (Critical American Studies Series): Toward a Queer of Color Critique

The average rating for Aberrations in Black (Critical American Studies Series): Toward a Queer of Color Critique based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-03-01 00:00:00 Marthanyal Markwardt Aberrations in Black by Roderick Ferguson is an important book in American Studies as it is looking at the placement of queer subjects in the field. It is an excellent critique of the sociological canon's treatment of sexuality along with racial exclusions. I found his insights about the texts that he discusses to be very useful. I missed much, but Native Son, Invisible Man, Got Tell it on the Mountain and Sula are very rich texts that speak to readers on various levels. Also, I think if I were to read Invisible Man as an older adult, I'd take much more from it than my reading it in high school. I love how the critiques major sociological texts, many of them now questioned, with looking at treatment by African American authors. I had my own questions about the sociological work, different from Ferguson's, but a appreciate his task. Who decides on categories and what do they mean? The need to identify what is normative behavior and therefore what will be excluded seems to be part of a search for a national identity. In the 1960s, I watched the behavior of people seeking to be revolutionaries, but did not feel the need to participate. Now, I better understand their searches.

Review # 2 was written on 2017-10-21 00:00:00 Rex Thrown Great book with very academic and eye-opening statements. The author purposefully uses difficult language to articulate a point that has not previously been made. Canonical sociology, as well as canonical literature is something that we don't notice or pay much thought to. However, it juxtaposes a lot of history that is roots for where we are today, as people and as a nation. I encourage anyone who is interested in learning about the notions and ideology that surrounds us everyday to read this book. Like the water fish swim in, or the air we breathe, some things encompass all of what we know, but we fail to see or realize that.