A Little Devil in America [hc]
Notes in Praise of Black Performance
By Hanif Abdurraqib [Ohio]
At the March On Washington in 1963, Josephine Baker was 57 years old, well beyond her most prolific days. But in her speech at the march, she was in a mood to consider her life, her legacy, her departure from the country she was now triumphantly returning to. “I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too,” she told the crowd. From those few words, Hanif Abdurraqib has written a profound and lasting reflection on how black performance is inextricably woven into the fabric of American culture. Each moment in every performance he examines- whether it’s a schoolyard fistfight, a dance marathon, or the instant in a game of spades right after the cards are dealt- has layers of resonance in black and white culture, the politics of American empire, and Abdurraqib’s own personal history of love, grief, and performance.
Abdurraqib writes prose brimming with jubilation and pain, infused with the lyricism and rhythm of the musicians who he loves. With care and generosity, he explains the poignancy of performances big and small, each one feeling intensely familiar and vital, both timeless and desperately urgent. Filled with sharp insight, humor, and heart, A Little Devil in America exalts the black performance that unfolds in specific moments in time and space- from midcentury Paris, to the moon, and back down again to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. 320 pages
"Blending pop-culture essays, memoir, and poetry, the latest collection by Abdurraqib... delves into the many iterations of Black artistic expression through an often deeply personal lens. Divided into five "movements," these pieces offer an expansive exploration of subjects ranging from the often-tragic lives of legendary Black artists to close examination of a singular performance... Startling, layered, and timely, this is an essential, illuminating collection that advances Abdurraqib's already impressive body of work." -Booklist, Starred Review
"Poet, essayist, and cultural critic Abdurraqib... studies the impact of Black performers throughout U.S. history, sharing his own poignant stories along the way. Inspired by Josephine Baker's extraordinary life and her self-proclaimed title of "little devil in America," Abdurraqib pens respectful, heartwarming essays that reflect on other giants in music, television, cinema, and even magic." -Library Journal, Starred Review
March 30, 2021
2021 National Book Awards Longlist for Nonfiction
Listen to an interview with the author on It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders [28 min.]
Read an excerpt at Random House, the publisher's website
