“The Prince of Pulpsters” or “Debunker of Myths”: Frank Yerby Syllabus

by Matthew Teutsch

When reading Frank Yerby’s work, I keep asking one question over and over again: “Why isn’t anyone teaching these texts?” I know that some scholars teach Yerby; however, compared to other authors, his appearance in the classroom is minuscule. I had heard the name, in passing, during my graduate work; however, I never saw him in any anthologies or read any of his books … Read More “The Prince of Pulpsters” or “Debunker of Myths”: Frank Yerby Syllabus

June 28, 2018 + african american literature, american history, american literature, early american literature, EJI legacy museum, EJI memorial for peace and understanding, equal justice initiative, frederick douglass, history, hosea easton, lynching, Margaret Mulrooney, Pedagogy, slavery, william apess

Reflections on EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice

by Matthew Teutsch

Every semester, I try something new in my classroom. Recently, I’ve been working on decentering my courses in various ways, specifically through the use of active learning assignments. These involve assignments such as my archives project or creating more student centered discussion through the questions I pose in class. This summer, I taught a minimester course in early American literature. Essentially, we met 24 … Read More Reflections on EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice

June 19, 2018 + african american literature, american literature, attorney general, frederick douglass, immigration, jeff sessions, john fea, propaganda, romans 13, sarah huckabee sanders, slavery, william apess

“I play Monopoly with refugees”: Romans 13 and Immigration

by Matthew Teutsch

Last week, while speaking in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Attorney General Jeff Session referenced Romans 13 as he defended the administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their families at the border. He said, “I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of government because God has ordained them for the purpose … Read More “I play Monopoly with refugees”: Romans 13 and Immigration

June 5, 2018 + african american literature, alice walker, american history, american literature, cult of domesticity, enslaved, harriet jacobs, incidents in the life of a slave girl, slave narrative, the slave's narrative, Trimiko Melancon

Harriet Jacobs’ Challenge to the Cult of True Womanhood

by Matthew Teutsch

A while back, I wrote a post about the ways that Harriet Jacobs, in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, challenges the Cult of True Womanhood. Specifically, she counters it by showing the ways that society denied her the chance to adhere to the four pillars of the Cult of True Womanhood. Thinking about this some more, I want to briefly look … Read More Harriet Jacobs’ Challenge to the Cult of True Womanhood

April 24, 2018 + african american literature, american literature, comics, early american literature, enslaved, graphic novels, kyle baker, literacy, nat turner, neo-slave narrative, slave narrative, slavery, the confessions of nat turner

Literacy in Kyle Baker’s “Nat Turner”

by Matthew Teutsch

In his preface to the graphic novel Nat Turner, Kyle Baker talks about his reasons for wanting to tell Turner’s story through the medium of comics. He states hat “[c]omic books/graphic novels are a visual medium, so it’s important to choose a subject with opportunities for compelling graphics.” The story of Nat Turner’s rebellion in 1831 provides just that opportunity. More importantly, Baker wanted … Read More Literacy in Kyle Baker’s “Nat Turner”

Interminable Rambling

“The Prince of Pulpsters” or “Debunker of Myths”: Frank Yerby Syllabus

Category: african american literature