Beyond Black: Celebrity and Race in Obama’s America

Description

Beyond Black is Ellis Cashmore's compelling appraisal of the impact of black celebrities on the cultural landscape of contemporary America. In recent years a new variety of African American celebrity has emerged: acquisitive, ambitious, flamboyantly successful and individualistic - more interested in channelling their energy into career development than into the political struggles that animated some of their predecessors. Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey were early examples; current A-listers include Beyoncé and Tiger Woods. The most valuable product these celebrities sell, according to Cashmore, is a particular conception of America: as a nation where racism has been - if not banished - rendered insignificant. Jargon-free but with scholarly attention to theory, evidence and logic, this is a riveting account of contemporary American society, from the minstrel shows of the nineteenth century, through the Hollywood film industry of the 1930s, to today's hip-hop culture. Cover Half-title Title Page Copyright Page Contents 1 Introduction – "I sell entertainment" 2 Sideshows and carnival barkers 3 Obama believes in Obama 4 If Oprah can make it, what does it say about me? 5 A black family that tv hadn't seen before 6 Please be black, Michael 7 A desire for buffoonery and song 8 Black models don't sell 9 Like a jungle sometimes 10 The ghetto inside 11 To be spoken for, rather than with 12 The death of blackness Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y