Unlock profound insights into the construction of racial identity and the power of language with this seminal work. Henry Louis Gates Jr. masterfully dissects African-American literature, applying cutting-edge literary theory to explore how words and signs shape the racial self. Examining foundational writers through semiotics and critical race studies, this book is essential for scholars and students of African-American literature, cultural studies, and literary theory across India. Discover a new understanding of Black identity and cultural representation.