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

Richard Newton

 
9781781795477: Identifying Roots: Alex Haley and the Anthropology of Scriptures (Culture on the Edge: Studies in Identity Formation)

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.

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About the Author

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

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Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781781795460: Identifying Roots: Alex Haley and the Anthropology of Scriptures (Culture on the Edge: Studies in Identity Formation)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1781795460 ISBN 13:  9781781795460
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2020
Hardcover