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Essay Collection: Black Writers and the Left (15/01/09; 01/04/09) Essay Collection: Black Writers and the Left (15/01/09; 01/04/09) I am currently seeking essays for a collection on the relationship between twentieth African American writers and the leftist movement. Black Writers and the Left will be an inquiry into ideology and aesthetics. The book will be published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in 2009. During the early half of the twentieth century, Marxist political theories offered many African Americans an empowering way to view themselves in relation to society. Marxist philosophies spoke of an equality that had not been achieved in America. They provided their adherents with a framework in which to begin the project of affecting lasting social change and creating a truly inclusive democracy. Many black writers found themselves drawn to Marxism during this period. Within the boundaries of Marxist philosophies, black writers could explore the relationship between racism and capitalism in previously untried ways. African American intellectuals who were involved with leftist movements during the early part of the twentieth century included Claude McKay, Chester Himes, Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison. The essays in this collection will shed light on the results of these encounters. Essays which focus on form and narrative are highly encouraged. Proposals from both emerging and established scholars are welcome. Please send 250 - 350 word abstracts for proposed essays and a CV to kristin_moriah_at_mail_mcgill_ca by January 15, 2008. Complete drafts of selected essays will be due by April 1, 2009. -- Yemisi Ogunleye www.iq4news.com Head of Communications, MeCCSA Post-Graduate Network website: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/pgn/ Media & Communications Dept., Birmingham City University, City North Campus, Birmingham B42 2SU