Cultural Sites of Critical Insight Cultural Sites of Critical Insight Philosophy, Aesthetics, and African American and Native American Women’s Writings Edited by Angela L. Cotten and Christa Davis Acampora State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2007 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384 Production by Judith Block Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Cultural sites of critical insight : philosophy, aesthetics, and African American and Native American women’s writing / edited by Angela L. Cotten, Christa Davis Acampora. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-6979-8 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-6980-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. American literature— African American authors—History and criticism. 2. American literature— Indian authors—History and criticism. 3. American literature—Women authors—History and criticism. 4. African American women authors—Aes- thetics. 5. Indian women authors—Aesthetics. 6. African American women in literature. 7. Indian women in literature. 8. Feminism in literature. I. Cotten, Angela L., 1968- II. Acampora, Christa Davis, 1967- PS153.N5C85 2007 810.9’928708996073—dc22 2006009009 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Angela’s two mothers— Mary Rogers Cotten and Martine Watson Brownley And to Christa’s grandmothers— Lillian, I wish I had known you, Stella, I am glad I did, and Ila James, I’m so very grateful I do. Contents I. INTRODUCTION 11 ON THE “RES” AND IN THE “HOOD”: MAKING CULTURES, LEAVING LEGACIES Angela L. Cotten 3 II. TRANSFORMATIVE AESTHETICS 12 SELF-HELP, INDIAN STYLE? PAULA GUNN ALLEN’S GRANDMOTHERS OF THE LIGHT, WOMANIST SELF- RECOVERY, AND THE POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATION AnaLouise Keating 31 13 MAKING THE AWAKENING HERS: PHILLIS WHEATLEY AND THE TRANSPOSITION OF AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY TO CHRISTIAN RELIGIOSITY Elizabeth J. West 47 14 “ANY WOMAN’S BLUES”: SHERLEY ANNE WILLIAMS AND THE BLUES AESTHETIC Michael A. Antonucci 67 III. CRITICAL REVISIONS 15 THROUGH THE MIRROR: RE-SURFACING AND SELF- ARTICULATION IN LINDA HOGAN’S SOLAR STORMS Ellen L. Arnold 85 16 THE RED-BLACK CENTER OF ALICE WALKER’S MERIDIAN: ASSERTING A CHEROKEE WOMANIST SENSIBILITY Barbara S. Tracy 105 17 WOMANIST INTERVENTIONS IN HISTORICAL MATERIALISM Angela L. Cotten 121 vii viii CONTENTS IV. RE(IN)FUSING FEMINISM 18 “BOTH THE LAW AND ITS TRANSGRESSION”: TONI MORRISON’S PARADISE AND “POST”–BLACK FEMINISM Noelle Morrissette 139 19 LUCI TAPAHONSO’S “LEDA AND THE COWBOY”: A GYNOCRATIC, NAVAJO RESPONSE TO YEATS’S “LEDA AND THE SWAN” Maggie Romigh 159 10 MOTHER TIMES TWO: A DOUBLE TAKE ON A GYNOCENTRIC JUSTICE SONG Margot R. Reynolds 171 REFERENCES 191 CONTRIBUTORS 207 INDEX 211 Part I Introduction