Deadline: 15 April 2012
This special issue for the Western Journal of Black Studies will address the growing interests in interdisciplinary scholarship on Critical Race Theory and African American Folklore. Historically, scholars collected folklore to examine how African Americans constructed a life in America, and the creative expressions that African Americans employ to define themselves and in opposition to dominant discourses about themselves and African American culture. Despite the oppositional intentions of this scholarship, African American people and culture were still, sometimes, depicted in ways that fulfilled or perpetuated negative dominant discourses or stereotypes. In reflexive ethnographies, many folklorists have critically revisited this research on African American folklore to ask provocative questions about representation, identity construction, and the politics of folklore.
This special edition will read African American folklore (creative expressions, material culture, and institutional practices) through the lens of Critical Race Theory. Proposals should be one to two pages and articles should be no longer than 25 pages (including references).
If you have any questions please contact Editor Professor Aaron N. Oforlea at aoforlea@wsu.edu or Patrick B. Mullen, Professor Emeritus at mullen.4@osu.edu.
Proposal Deadline: April 15, 2012
Essays Deadline: June 1, 2012
Please email or send proposals to:
Professor Aaron N. Oforlea
Washington State University
Department of English
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: aoforlea@wsu.edu
For submissions: Professor Aaron N. Oforlea, Washington State University, Department of English
Website: http://www.wsu.edu/wjbs/