Thulani Davis Livres

Thulani Davis’ synesthetic documentary poems breathe impressionistic life into the sonic-social history of East Coast avant-garde jazz, soul and punk Written between 1974 and 1985, these are Davis’ most anthologized works. Featured musicians and dancers include Cecil Taylor, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Bad Brains, Henry Threadgill, Thelonious Monk, the Revolutionary Ensemble, the Commodores, Ishmael Houston-Jones and many more, in performances at historic venues such as the Five Spot, the Village Vanguard and the Apollo.Nothing but the Music is further proof of Davis’ place as a crucial figure, alongside poets Jayne Cortez, Sonia Sanchez and Ntozake Shange, in the cultural landscape surrounding the Black Arts Movement.Thulani Davis (born 1949) is the author of the novels 1959 and Maker of Saints , several works of poetry and the forthcoming book The Emancipation Black Activism Forging a Culture of Freedom (Duke University Press). She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

Thulani Davis provides a sweeping rethinking of Reconstruction by tracing how the four million people newly freed from bondage created political organizations and connections that mobilized communities across the South.

The book offers a comprehensive reevaluation of Reconstruction, focusing on how four million newly freed individuals forged political organizations and community connections throughout the South. By leveraging their experiences during enslavement, they established new settlements and created networks that facilitated the exchange of ideas about freedom. This interdisciplinary history highlights the interplay between rural and urban activism, labor movements, and education, ultimately tracing the roots of the first mass Black political movement in the U.S. and the ongoing struggle for equality.

Set against the backdrop of 1959 Virginia, the story follows 12-year-old Willie Tarrant as she navigates the complexities of integration in her town. While the adults around her express concern for the safety and education of their children, Willie views the impending changes as just another challenge to manage. Her perspective shifts dramatically when eight college students stage a pivotal protest at the Woolworth's lunch counter, sparking a movement that will profoundly impact her life and community.