New Criticals


Either directly or indirectly, many blacks who are considered intellectuals disregard the idea of ‘their people’ being a monolith. Cultural critic Toure’s book “Who´s Afraid of Post Blackness? What it Means to be Black Now”  comes to mind as such a claim. One only need look at the title to see that the author has dubiously collectivized African Americans in order to try and make a distinction. By claiming to hold within his book the nature of what it means to be a part of this fabricated but ultimately fictitious group he is further etching a line in the proverbial sand.

The want to not simply be categorized into a uniform structure is a natural byproduct of an American culture that places an uninterrupted form of individualism in the forefront through its interaction with consumerism and social media. This denial of a collectivist trait more than likely stems from fear of being grouped in with those of the impoverished mindset, i.e., African Americans that are usually associated with incarceration and a lack of education. Whether consciously or not, they don't believe accomplishments will be credited on their own merits but judged by the physical characteristics they share with people. This is not to say that their concerns are entirely unfounded; even in a society often labeled ‘post-racial’, “affirmative action” is still a stated insult.