Book description
Beyond Black is Ellis Cashmore's compelling appraisal of the impact of
black celebrities on the cultural landscape of contemporary America. In
recent years a new variety of African American celebrity has emerged:
acquisitive, ambitious, flamboyantly successful and individualistic -
more interested in channelling their energy into career development than
into the political struggles that animated some of their predecessors.
Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey were early examples; current A-listers
include Beyonce and Tiger Woods. The most valuable product these
celebrities sell, according to Cashmore, is a particular conception of
America: as a nation where racism has been - if not banished - rendered
insignificant. Jargon-free but with scholarly attention to theory,
evidence and logic, this is a riveting account of contemporary American
society, from the minstrel shows of the nineteenth century, through the
Hollywood film industry of the 1930s, to today's hip-hop culture. Has
America truly become a postracial society where achievement, ambition,
talent, education, and, most importantly, celebrity trump race? In his
provocative and groundbreaking book, Cashmore asks and answers that
question by taking us on a revealing, at times painful, but always
insightful look at the power and pain of black celebrity past and
present. Earl Ofari Hutchinson, author of How Obama Governed: The Year
of Crisis and Challenge Ellis Cashmore is the author of Beckham
(2002), Tyson: Nurture of the Beast (2004) and Celebrity/Culture (2006).
He has held academic positions at the universities of Tampa,
Massachusetts, Washington and Hong Kong and he is currently Professor of
Culture, Media and Sport at Staffordshire University, UK.
