soul of a nation

published with tate.

in the period of radical change that was 1963–83, young black artists at the beginning of their careers confronted difficult questions about art, politics, and racial identity. how could they make art that was innovative, original, and formally and materially complex while also reflecting their concerns and experiences as black americans? soul of a nation surveys this crucial period in american art history, bringing to light previously neglected histories of 20th-century black artists, including sam gilliam, melvin edwards, jack whitten, william t. williams, howardina pindell, romare bearden, david hammons, barkley l. hendricks, senga nengudi, noah purifoy, faith ringgold, betye saar, charles white, and frank bowling.

the book features substantial essays by mark godfrey and zoe whitley, focusing on abstraction and figuration, respectively. it also explores the art-historical and social contexts of the era, with topics ranging from black feminism, africobra, and other artist-run groups to the role of museums in the debates of the period and visual art's relationship to the black arts movement. more than 170 artworks by these and many other artists are reproduced in full color.

2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the first use of the term "black power" by student activist stokely carmichael, as well as 50 years since the u.s. supreme court overturned the prohibition of interracial marriage. at this pivotal moment in the reassessment of african american art history, soul of a nation stands as a vital contribution to this important subject.