Description
Discover the profound reflections within *A Little Devil in America*, a brand new B-format paperback that beautifully intertwines Black performance, culture, and history. This captivating book, published by Penguin UK in 2022, spans 320 pages and invites readers on a journey through iconic performances that shaped the modern age. Renowned poet and music critic Hanif Abdurraqib draws inspiration from Josephine Baker's poignant words at the March on Washington in 1963, where she acknowledged her complex legacy in America and abroad. Abdurraqib's exploration reveals the rich layers of resonance found within each performance, whether it’s the twenty-seven seconds of Merry Clayton's haunting vocals in 'Gimme Shelter' or Aretha Franklin's unforgettable tribute at her homegoing service. His insights traverse from mid-century Paris, through intimate moments of personal history in Columbus, Ohio, to the powerful cultural dialogues sparked by Beyoncé’s electrifying Super Bowl half-time show or a nostalgic game of spades among friends. With a blend of jubilation and pain, this book is infused with the lyrical rhythm of the artists celebrated within its pages, offering readers a compassionate and humorous take on the interplay of Black culture and performance in America. Perfect for anyone interested in the deep connections between art, history, and community, *A Little Devil in America* is an essential addition to your literary collection. Shipping details: quick and reliable, ensuring prompt delivery to your doorstep.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780141995793
Format: B-format paperback
Year: 2022
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 320
Description:
At the March on Washington in 1963, Josephine Baker was in a mood to reflect on her life and her legacy. She had spent decades as one of the most successful entertainers the world had ever seen, but, she told the crowd, "I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too". Inspired by these words, celebrated poet and music critic Hanif Abdurraqib has written a profound meditation on Black performance in the modern age, in which culture, history and his own lived experience collide.
In prose that brims with jubilation and pain, A Little Devil in America explores a sequence of iconic and intimate performances which take Abdurraqib from mid-century Paris to the moon-and back down again, to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. Each moment in each performance he examines has layers of resonance in Black and white cultures, the politics of American empire, and his own personal history of love and grief-whether it's the twenty-seven seconds of 'Gimme Shelter' in which Merry Clayton sings, or the magnificent hours of Aretha Franklin's homegoing; Beyonce's Super Bowl half-time show or a schoolyard fistfight; Dave Chapelle's skits or a game of spades among friends.
Infused with the lyricism and rhythm of the musicians Abdurraqib loves, and richly textured with compassion and humour, A Little Devil in America is a unique exaltation of Black performances, cultures and communities.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780141995793
Format: B-format paperback
Year: 2022
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 320
Description:
At the March on Washington in 1963, Josephine Baker was in a mood to reflect on her life and her legacy. She had spent decades as one of the most successful entertainers the world had ever seen, but, she told the crowd, "I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too". Inspired by these words, celebrated poet and music critic Hanif Abdurraqib has written a profound meditation on Black performance in the modern age, in which culture, history and his own lived experience collide.
In prose that brims with jubilation and pain, A Little Devil in America explores a sequence of iconic and intimate performances which take Abdurraqib from mid-century Paris to the moon-and back down again, to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. Each moment in each performance he examines has layers of resonance in Black and white cultures, the politics of American empire, and his own personal history of love and grief-whether it's the twenty-seven seconds of 'Gimme Shelter' in which Merry Clayton sings, or the magnificent hours of Aretha Franklin's homegoing; Beyonce's Super Bowl half-time show or a schoolyard fistfight; Dave Chapelle's skits or a game of spades among friends.
Infused with the lyricism and rhythm of the musicians Abdurraqib loves, and richly textured with compassion and humour, A Little Devil in America is a unique exaltation of Black performances, cultures and communities.