Reviews of The Black Interior

“The great achievement of Alexander's book is how seamlessly it weaves erudite analysis with lyrical exposition. The essays shift between social, aesthetic, institutional, and anecdotal frames of reference. It is refreshing to see the dimensions and intricacies of blackness articulated so eloquently. One gets a sense of just how complex these notions are, and should remain….The Black Interior is incredibly incisive and intensely poetic.” —ARTFORUM, chosen as “One of the Best Books of 2004”

“The Black Interior, a critical look at some of black America’s most influential cultural voices, may be another such masterpiece….best known for her poetry, it may be that poet’s lyricism and eye for nuance that makes this new work so compelling.” —SAVOY

“This original and electrifying collection greatly enriches and extends understanding of African American culture and its essential role in American culture as a whole.” —Booklist

“Alexander presents her critical ideas primarily in essays that examine the work of black artists and writers who, she says, reveal the private moments of black people through their art…Many of her essays are studded with questions that provide excellent fodder for debate and discussion, questions for which her analysis provides possibilities finish."—Publishers Weekly

“In prose that is both elegant and clear, rigorous and accessible, Elizabeth Alexander illuminates in these essays on art, literature, film and politics, places in African American culture that elude stereotypic representations and the limits of public discourse.” —Valerie Smith, Princeton University

“Elizabeth Alexander’s keen observations about a broad range of African American artifacts—poems, films, photographs, and conceptual art, for example—offer far more than clever visual analysis. They set cultural objects into their broadest social context. In these perceptive and eloquent essays, Alexander continually reminds us of the power of representation—words, images, indeed art itself—to oppress, to provoke, and ultimately to liberate. The Black Interior represents the best and most resonant form of cultural history, writing that tackles life-and-death issues through the lenses of visual and literary culture.” —Maurice Berger, Senior Fellow, The Vera List Center for Art & Politics, New School University

“Elizabeth Alexander is one of the brightest stars in our literary sky, a poet of poise and power. Now we see that she's also capable of striking prose. These essays speak eloquently not only about literature—especially poetry—but also about life itself and the complicated culture in which we live. Her sharp intelligence and her knowledge of the contemporary arts make her a superb, invaluable commentator on the American scene.” —Arnold Rampersad, Stanford University

“When a poet of such declarative distinction as Elizabeth Alexander unfolds her critical wings, she swoops across the landscape of Black cultural thought, making it new, making it her own. This is a work of great generosity and insight that explores the deep springs of African-American creativity with a sensibility that is both moving and engaging.” —Homi K. Bhabha, Rothenberg Professor of English, Harvard University