Henderson has gathered 14 essays (two of which she authored) on the subject of the African American body and identity. Exploring topics ranging from race theory to legal discourse and literature, the essays provide a dialogue about the black body, oppression, race relations, power, and class as these issues relate to the ways both male and female bodies of African Americans are represented both in real life and the world of fiction. The collection also connects the subject to the issue of white privilege. Literary analyses cover such white authors as William Dean Howells, Kate Chopin, and William Faulkner as well as African American writers, among them Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, and James Baldwin. The historical coverage extends from the 19th century to the present, covering, for example, the early literary market, the Emmett Till murder, and the Rodney King case. Easy to read and fascinating in its thematic array, this unique compilation begins a conversation in African American studies that will appeal to readers in many disciplines. Highly recommended. All readers.
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