Erasure and the Othering of Texts

Percival Everett's Erasure takes a look at how racism affects various aspects of our lives that we may be unaware of. An excellent example of this is when Ellison ventures into the bookstore to look for his novel only to realize that they are in the Africa-American literature section. A place, as he points out, that is wholly inappropriate for the type of novels he writes and makes it impossible for anyone who might be interested in his re-workings of obscure Greek texts.

I think the point Everett was trying to make with the bookstore scene is how racial classification permeates are life in a ways that we don't even think about. Referring to someone's work as African-American fiction is automatically labeling it less than. It is already being made an "other" to other texts they may be very similar and this othering makes the work less acceptable to more audiences.

And when the text has undergone this othering then it automatically shuts off any conversation about what the text is really about. There are many works found in the African-American literature section that don't belong there. Biographies of MLK Jr. or Sojourner Truth should be found in the same place I'd find works on Roosevelt or Reagan. Brenda Jackson, or Bebe Moore Campbell should be found where I'd find Jude Devereaux or Sandra Brown. But that's not what happens. Instead if it is by a black person and in the case of many biographies, about a black person then it is automatically black book section which sends out the idea of : Hey, this book is by someone black, and must be about someone black and therefore only for black people. That sort of attitude immediately shuts off an entire audience that may find a use for or enjoyment in a novel whose only downside is that it is written by a black person,

How does this othering of Ellison's work fit into the other themes of othering that occur in Erasure? Is this labeling of works by blacks as automatically African-American literature a form of racism? And how does the labeling of work as African-American literature ultimately affect Ellison and his ability to make it as a writer in Erasure?

(C) 2005 Tamika Johnson

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. If you'd like to read more articles by Tamika or would like to have your music, film or book reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

---

Hug Your Customers - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Don't panic. Jack Mitchell, the author of Hug Your Customers:... Read More

The Isaiah Effect, by Greg Braden

Why do some prayers seem to be answered while others... Read More

What is the Emperor Wearing - A Book Summary

What is the Emperor Wearing?Once upon a time, an emperor... Read More

Moon Child - Review

Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More

Albany, NY Family History Reference Now Available Thanks To Author Joseph Yakel

"Personal research references, especially for families who once lived in... Read More

Be the Leader - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

The author of Be the Leader: Make the Difference, a... Read More

Sound Bodies through Sound Therapy - Book Review

"Dorinne Davis has written many books that concentrate on the... Read More

Going Deeper - Book Review

Going Deeper by Jean-Claude Koven is certainly a nicely presented,... Read More

Moon Child - Book Review

Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More

Pausing To Catch My Breath - Book Review

"Debra Warren has appropriately titled her book of poetry 'Pausing... Read More

A Ghost in Cornwall

This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More

Thinking for a Change - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

John C. Maxwell is back again in Thinking for a... Read More

Straight from the Gut - A Different Take on Business

Jack Welsh, the recently retired CEO of General Electric, presents... Read More

Reality Checked - Book Review

Reality Checked ? Life through Death, is a moving saga... Read More

Review: How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as little as 7 Days

How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as... Read More

Undercurrent Blues Has A Rhythm of Its Own - Poetry Book Review

On July 17, 2005 Cahuenga Press released Undercurrent Blues by... Read More

Spiders Big Catch

When I was in college, Spider McGee, Charlie Fox, and... Read More

Mathew and the Highland Rescue - Book Review

"A stimulating adventure! Sabine Muir has written a wonderful children's... Read More

Star - Book Review

Tom Peters crafted a moving, educational animal adventure story in... Read More

The Wal-Mart Decade - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

The Wal-Mart Decade: How a New Generation of Leaders Turned... Read More

Free Ebook Offer: The Story of America: Discovery

Did Columbus first discover America?Did the Vikings first discover America?Did... Read More

Review of Alicia Maldonado: A Mother Lost by Ardain Isma

This modern, aristocratic book portrays real-life events and how hard... Read More

Book Review: What Color Is Your Parachute?

What Color is Your Parachute? Reviewed by: Matt Keegan ©... Read More

Enron Debacle: Review Of Kurt Eichenwalds Conspiracy Of Fools A True Story

Title: Conspiracy Of Fools: A True Story Author: Kurt Eichenwald... Read More

Geeks & Geezers - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Geeks & Geezers: How Era, Values, and Defining Moments Shape... Read More

Book review on Finite Capacity Scheduling, Part III

With this all possible the price could be lowered to... Read More

Workshop-In-A-Book® for Dating Again, A Must-Read EBOOK

The Joy Of Dating Again is designed to be a... Read More

Practice What You Preach - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Practice What You Preach: What Managers Must Do to Create... Read More

Until Youve Walked the Path!

From the depths of despair to the heights of hope.... Read More

Book Summary: The 17 Indisputable Laws Of Teamwork

To achieve great things, you need a team. Building a... Read More

What Color Is Your Parachute? - A Book Summary

The best-selling job-hunter's bible for decades, this indispensable resource is... Read More

Book Release: Ginas Poems - Adventures in Love

Book Release: Gina's Poems -- Adventures in Love Written... Read More

Nice Girls Don?t Get the Corner Office 101 - A Book Summary

Dr. Frankel clearly identifies the common mistakes ?101 in all-that... Read More