The Midwest has long been a pivotal yet underexplored region in the history and cultural expression of Black Americans. From Black homesteading communities that shaped the rural landscape to the literary voices that captured the complexities of migration, labor, and identity, the Midwest holds a unique place in the Black American experience. This edited volume seeks to explore the intersection of history and literature, focusing on Black homesteading, migration, and cultural production in the Midwest. We invite scholars, historians, and literary critics to contribute original essays that examine the Black Midwest through historical, cultural, and literary lenses. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
Potential Topics include the following:
– Black Homesteading and Rurality: The role of Black farmers and settlers in building self-sufficient communities,
including all-Black towns and agricultural practices.
– Migration and Urbanization: The impact of the Great Migration on Black Midwestern communities and its literary representation.
– Black Women’s Voices: Contributions of Black Midwestern women in literature, journalism, and activism.
– Popular Culture and the Black Midwest: The region’s influence on music, film, and other artistic expressions.
– Regional Identity in Black Literature: How writers like Toni Morrison and Gwendolyn Brooks depict the Midwest.
= Canadian Connections: Black settlers in the Canadian Prairies and their cultural contributions.
Contemporary Reclamations: Modern literature, activism, and cultural movements revisiting Black Midwestern history.
Key Questions:
– How did Black homesteaders shape the economic and cultural landscapes of the Midwest?
– What role did the Great Migration play in the cultural and historical representation of Black Midwestern identity?
– How have Black Midwestern women contributed to cultural and historical narratives?
– In what ways does popular culture reflect or distort the realities of Black life in the Midwest?
– How do contemporary writers and activists engage with the legacy of Black settlement and migration in the region?
– What connections can be drawn between historical Black Midwestern communities and present-day social and political movements?
We seek well-researched and original chapters between 6,000 and 8,000 words. Submissions should be grounded in historical and/or literary analysis and should align with the themes outlined above. Interested contributors should submit a 300–500-word abstract outlining their proposed chapter, along with a brief biography (150 wor