Erasing the Pink on the World Atlas: Re-Mapping African American Literature

Abstract

This article aims at analyzing Henry Louis Gates’ theoretical strategies for remapping the African American literary space within the context of both American literature and world literary system. Gates’ strategies can be delineated through four stages. Firstly, he excavates a vast array of African American literary texts. In the second stage, he traces the lineage of African American literary theory to its origins within the African interpretation system. During the third stage, he employs African American literary theory to curate the African American literary canon. In the fourth and final stage, within the realm of African American literature, Gates endeavors to rebalance the representation of female and male voices within the literary space. A pivotal aspect of Gates’ strategies lies in his willingness to embrace and celebrate the African legacy, setting him apart from other marginalized nations and minority groups who may tend to disregard or belittle their own heritage. Building upon this distinctive characteristic, this article posits that Gates’ approach holds the potential to assist marginalized nations and minority groups in several ways: 1) Re-mapping literary space: Gates’ strategies can guide these groups in redefining their literary space within the broader contexts of both national and global literature systems. 2) Claiming literary legacy: emulating Gates, these groups can be inspired to embrace and champion their own literary heritage, instead of diminishing its significance. 3) Fostering indigenous literary models: by adopting Gates’ model, writers from these communities can craft their literary space grounded in their native or national paradigms, as opposed to adhering solely to Western European or U.S. models. 4) Balancing literary representation: Gates’ strategies also facilitate the recalibration of the literary landscape within these nations or groups by accommodating diverse elements such as race, gender, and class, thereby achieving a more inclusive and balanced representation. Overall, Gates’ methodology offers a powerful framework for marginalized communities to assert their literary identities, reshape their narratives, remap their literary spaces, and promote diversity within their literary landscapes.