Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-163) and index.
Contents
Toward a vernacular theory of African American poetry -- Mother tongue: African American vernacular speech as poetic language -- Orality: language and voice -- The poetry of preachment: didacticism in African American poetry -- Song-talk: African American music and song as poetic references -- Tell my story: boast and toast traditions -- "Black is, and Black ain't": of gender and generations in African American poetry.
