Everyday Black Life in America

As the author suggests in her “Note” at the end of the book, a primary thematic focus of each story in the collection is how contemporary life is lived by black people in the United States of America. But while there is significant emphasis on the “contemporary”, there is a strong sense that contemporary life for American blacks has deep roots in black American history.

To be more specific: there are references throughout the book to black characters engaging with technology like Facebook, YouTube and cellphones, as well as with to contemporary music, consumerism, and fads in clothing. All these engagements, as portrayed in the narrative, are defined by aspects of race, aspects that include consideration of how black bodies are viewed and treated by both blacks and whites, and how black culture is both desired and exploited by whites. Meanwhile, these...