English - Henry Louis Gates Jr: Talking Black

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English Literature Theory
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Henry Louis Gates Jr: Talking Black
Henry Louis Gates Jr is an American literary scholar and critic who has
contributed to literature immensely with his African and African American literature.
Gates, in his pioneering work points out the importance of embracing mother tongue,
which would have paved their way to civilization. Freedom could have only been
achieved by not bowing down to the supremacy of the whites and their civilization. The
necessity was to translate the theories into the vernacular languages. Gates asserted the
need to name the theories and principles of criticism whereas, application was more
important. He refutes ‘the denial of intellectuality in the Negro’ (Leitch). Alexander
Crummell succumbed to the challenge given by Calhoun that Africans could only
demonstrate traits of humanity and civilization by imbibing western culture. Whereas,
Gates presents it as a metaphor for addressing the relationship of black literature and the
canon.
Gates assert that Black literature has long been assessed with respect to western
literary theories which is nothing but enslavement. He therefore, voices the need to
reflect on the native ways of developing theories in order to shape their own language for
criticism (Leitch). The theory should be redefined in terms of the black cultures by
denouncing racist premises which are directed by the whites. It would be very derogatory
to accept the theory and cultural supremacy of the whites as the empowering language or
the Universal language (Leitch). He reminds the blacks that it time for embracing the
identity of blackness. Thus, Black arts of interpreting is the way into the future of theory.

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