Micki mcelya brings to light a wide array of interlocking connections among wellknown. Mcelyas stories expose the power and reach of this myth, not only in advertising, films, and literature about the south, but also in national monument. In clinging to mammy, micki mcelya uncovers the often astonishing ways white americans have strived to substantiate the myth of the faithful black mammyliterally as well as figurativelyin. Clinging to mammy the faithful slave in twentiethcentury. Clinging to mammy micki mcelya harvard university press. Micki mcelya, assistant professor of american studies at the university of alabama, will discuss her new book, clinging to mammy. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america 2007 and the politics of mourning. Given these details, micki mcelya, author of clinging to mammy. In clinging to mammy, micki mcelya uncovers the often astonishing ways.
The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america micki mcelya. Ua scholars clinging to mammy wins humanrights award. Micki mcelya is professor of history at the university of connecticut. Micki mcelyas fascinating book clinging to mammy examines the function and significance one of the most popular and longlived representations of the faithful. Though white american society had developed this concept during the years of slavery, it resonated strongly in american culture during the twentieth century by painting a mythical. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america, the journal of african american history 94, no. She argues that the figure of the loyal slave has played a powerful role in modern american. Micki mcelya in clinging to mammy the faithful slave in twentiethcentury america about micki mcelya few american icons have been as comforting or as destructive as the black mammy.
Msnbc host melissa harris perry recommended this book for anyone who saw the help and couldnt understand why some were so viscerally opposed to the book and film. There is much more, however, to contemplate in this analysis than simply the images of mammy as a cultural icon. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america and new book liberating beauty. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america, published in 2007 with harvard university press, was quoted in a recent article by kali halloway.
This book signals the arrival of a talented new historian. Micki mcelyas clinging to mammy quoted in the nation. Click download or read online button to get clinging to mammy book now. Micki mcelya brings to light a wide array of interlocking connections among wellknown and forgotten uses of the stereotype mammy and its iconography.
The mammy, mcelya observes, is the most visible character in the general myth of the faithful slave, that paternalistic narrative of slavery as reciprocal affection and loyalty. Mcelya quickly reveals that aunt jemima the character was carefully constructed fiction, the result of a popular vaudeville act and a highly successful readymade pancake flour enterprise of the r. When aunt jemima beamed at americans from the pancake mix box on grocery shelves, many felt reassured by her broad smile that she and her product were dependable. Ua scholars clinging to mammy wins humanrights award december 12th, 2007 tuscaloosa a prestigious center for promoting human rights has honored dr. Titled loyal slave monuments tell a racist lie about american history, halloway specifically references mcelyas research on the largestblack newspaper in dc in the 1920s. Clinging to mammy micki mcelya bok 9780674024335 bokus.
In clinging to mammy, micki mcelya uncovers the often astonishing ways white americans have strived to substantiate the myth of the faithful black mammyliterally as well as figurativelyin the twentieth century. Micki mcelya is an assistant professor of american studies at the university of alabama. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america by micki mcelya, journal of the history of childhood and youth, 2009, 2, 1, 151153. She was everyones mammy, the faithful slave who was content to cook and care for whites, no matter how grueling the labor, because she loved. Micki paige mcelya born 1972 is an american author and historian. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america 2007 as well as several articles and book chapters. She gives us parlor theatrics, courtroom drama, legislative debate, and movement politics. Loving, hating, pitying, or pining for mammy became a way for americans to make sense of shifting economic, social, and racial realities. Loving, hating, pitying, or pining for mammy became a way for americans to. Micki mcelyas new book joins the corpus of literature that explores the complexities of mammy and her surrounding myths. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america micki mcelya stay safe and healthy. Micki mcelya, assistant professor of american studies at the university of alabama, for her book, clinging to mammy. Death and honor in arlington national cemetery 2016, and is currently at work on her next book, liberating beauty.
The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america micki mcelya isbn. Ua professor to discuss her book on clinging to mammy. She is an associate professor of history at the university of connecticut. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america harvard university press, 2007. Death and honor in arlington national cemetery was a finalist for the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction early life and education. Mcelyas sensitive, surprising, and enlightening book will make readers wonder at how desperate white america was to believe. Assertions of black contentment with servitude alleviated white fears while reinforcing racial hierarchy. Clinging to mammy explains why that bestseller struck a nerve by painstakingly detailing the sometimes brutally blunt, sometimes nuanced relationship between the black female domestic labor force and the white families they worked for postslavery. Harvard university press, jun 30, 2009 social science 334. Assertions of black contentment with servitude alleviated. Buy clinging to mammy online of indias largest online book store, only genuine products. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america kindle edition by mcelya, micki. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america and of the politics of mourning.
Mcelyas first book, clinging to mammy, won a 2007 outstanding book award from the gustavus myers center for the study of bigotry and human rights. She argues that the figure of the loyal slave has played a powerful role in modern american politics and culture. She was named a top young historian by the history news network in 2008. Mcelya received her bachelor of arts degree in history from bryn mawr. Death and honor in arlington national cemetery, which won the john brinckerhoff jackson book prize and the sharon harris award and was a finalist for the jefferson davis award and the pulitzer prize. Clinging to mammy the faithful slave in twentiethcentury america book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. Mcelya s stories expose the power and reach of this myth, not only in advertising, films, and literature about the south, but also in national monument. Clinging to mammy download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The books six chapters follow a loose chronological path from the.
Clinging to mammy begins with aunt jemima, her rise to stardom, and her untimely death in 1923. Reviewed by gail murray published on hsawh november, 2008 commissioned by antoinette g. Before joining the faculty of the university of connecticut, she was an assistant professor of american studies at the university of alabama. Ebook goodbye mammy hello mom as pdf download portable. Death and honor in arlington national cemetery harvard university press, 2016 and clinging to mammy.
Buy clinging to mammy books online at best prices in india by micki mcelya from. Micki mcelya loving, hating, pitying, or pining for mammy became a way for americans to make sense of shifting economic, social, and racial realities. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america, micki mcelya primarily chronicles the early twentieth century legacy of mammy, the fictitious image of an enslaved woman who was devoted to the white family she served and was in return treated with great distinction and affection. Loving, hating, pitying, or pining for mammy became a way for americans to make sense of shifting economic, social, and racial. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america, micki mcelya primarily chronicles the early twentieth century legacy of mammy, the fictitious image of an enslaved woman who. The book starts with the mammy figure most familiar to anyone who has enjoyed a clinging to mammy explains why that bestseller struck a nerve by painstakingly detailing the sometimes brutally blunt, sometimes nuanced relationship between the black female domestic labor force and the white families they worked for postslavery. The faithful slave in twentiethcentury america harvard university press, 2007 on tuesday, nov. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library.
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