{"product_id":"the-politics-of-black-joy-zora-neale-hurston-and-neo-abolitionism-9780810144132","title":"The Politics of Black Joy: Zora Neale Hurston and Neo-Abolitionism","description":"During the antebellum period, slave owners weaponized southern Black joy to argue for enslavement, propagating images of \"happy darkies.\" In contrast, abolitionists wielded sorrow by emphasizing racial oppression. Both arguments were so effective that a political uneasiness on the subject still lingers. In \u003ci\u003eThe Politics of Black Joy\u003c\/i\u003e, Lindsey Stewart wades into these uncomfortable waters by analyzing Zora Neale Hurston's uses of the concept of Black southern joy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Stewart develops Hurston's contributions to political theory and philosophy of race by introducing the \u003ci\u003epolitics of joy\u003c\/i\u003e as a refusal of neo-abolitionism, a political tradition that reduces southern Black life to tragedy or social death. To develop the politics of joy, Stewart draws upon Zora Neale Hurston's essays, Beyoncé's \u003ci\u003eLemonade\u003c\/i\u003e, and figures across several disciplines including Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, Toni Morrison, Angela Davis, Saidiya Hartman, Imani Perry, Eddie Glaude, and Audra Simpson. The politics of joy offers insights that are crucial for forming needed new paths in our current moment. For those interested in examining popular conceptions of Black political agency at the intersection of geography, gender, class, and Black spirituality, \u003ci\u003e The Politics of Black Joy \u003c\/i\u003eis essential reading. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLINDSEY STEWART\u003c\/b\u003e is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Memphis.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Northwestern University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51690516152594,"sku":"9780810144132","price":41.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e6a6eb29-257d-49b9-b253-27af793af5cb.jpg?v=1761737707","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-politics-of-black-joy-zora-neale-hurston-and-neo-abolitionism-9780810144132","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}