Exploring how Afro-Atlantic religion has been used toportray Black womanhood by writers and artists from Beyoncé to Ntozake Shange In this book, Sheneese Thompson analyzes works of film and literature to explore how Afro-Atlantic religion intersects with themes of resilience in Black femininity andwomanhood. Focusing on Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade, Thompsonexamines iconography of the Yoruba goddess Oshun, represented by rivers, thecolor yellow, and other symbols. Thompson argues that Beyoncé's tribute toOshun creates a narrative of self-repossession amid external definitions,generational trauma, and emotional violence and draws connections to other worksthat feature similar religious references. Oshun, "Lemonade," and Intertextuality also explores Beyoncé's album Black Is King, the television series She's Gotta Have It, Julie Dash's movie Daughters of the Dust, Ntozake Shange's novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and Jamaica Kincaid's storiesin At the Bottom of the River. These works highlight the significance ofAfrican traditional religions for the healing and transformation of their characters.Thompson discusses the ways in which Yoruba and Lucumí imagery and practicessuch as oríkì, or praise poetry, have long been incorporated into Blackcultural texts such as these to tell stories of racial and gender-basedinjustices. In looking at Lemonade together with influential older textscreated by Black women, Thompson establishes the use of Afro-Atlanticreligion--to think through Black womanhood, to explore self-defined sexuality--asa central tenet of Black women's literature, one that these artists and writershave brought to the global stage. Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Sheneese Thompson is associate professor of Afro-American studies at Howard University Publisher: University Press of Florida Publish Date: July 15, 2025 Pages: 174 Language: English Type: Paperback EAN/UPC: 9780813081106 Dimensions: 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.4 inches | 0.5 pounds BISAC Categories: Literary Fiction, Politics, Society & Current Affairs, Spirituality & Religion
