Identifying Roots: Alex Haley and the Anthropology of Scriptures (Culture on the Edge: Studies in Identity Formation) - Softcover

Richard Newton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1781795479 ISBN 13: 9781781795477

Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2020

Synopsis

This volume presents a cultural history of Alex Haley s Roots, examining the strategy and tactics Haley employed in developing a family origin story into an acclaimed national history. More than an investigation into Alex Haley s legacy, Identifying Roots unearths the politics of beginnings and belongings. While we all come from somewhere, this book examines the terms on which our roots can work as a tradition to embrace rather than a past to leave behind. And it investigates why some of the texts we read also seem to read us back. Identifying Roots invites readers to reimagine the way we tell stories. A provocative study that draws upon Black studies, the history of religions, and anthropology, the book underscores the social drama and dynamics that define our scriptures. Nimbly moving between the stories of Alex Haley, his characters, and the world that received them, Newton reminds us that our roots are stories of consequence.

About this title

About the Author

Richard W. Newton, Jr. is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama.

Edition details

• Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1781795479
• ISBN 13: 9781781795477
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 322