Scary Mason-Dixon Line

The exploration of the South as a complex rite of passage for black writers forms the core of this scholarly work. Trudier Harris examines the dual feelings of love and hate that authors like Baldwin and Gaines express towards the South, viewing it as essential to their identity as African American writers. By analyzing a range of works from various genres and time periods, Harris highlights themes of slavery, migration, and violence, illustrating how engagement with Southern history and memory is a defining trait of African American literature.