Charles Johnson Criticism
Charles Johnson, born in Evanston, Illinois in 1948, is a prominent American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and more, known for his profound exploration of the African-American experience and the legacy of slavery in American culture. His notable works include The Middle Passage, which earned him the National Book Award for fiction in 1990, becoming the first African-American to win since Ralph Ellison in 1953. His fiction uniquely blends Eastern and Western philosophies, enriching narratives with genres like the slave narrative, picaresque bildungsroman, and folk tales.
Johnson's educational background in journalism and philosophy, including a master's degree from Southern Illinois University, heavily influences his writing style and thematic focus. His debut novel, Faith and the Good Thing, integrates fantasy and satire to depict a young African-American girl’s spiritual journey. Oxherding Tale follows a slave's quest for freedom and self-discovery, employing humor and philosophical allegory rooted in Buddhist traditions. Another acclaimed novel, Middle Passage, examines race and identity through the voyage of Rutherford Calhoun, a freed slave caught between the American crew and African captives on a slave ship.
Johnson's critical acclaim extends to his short stories, such as those in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and his historical fiction, notably Dreamer, which fictionalizes the final months of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, exploring themes of racial identity and political activism. His nonfiction works also provide insight into African-American history and cultural narratives.
Critics have recognized Johnson for his innovative integration of philosophical thought into fiction, as discussed in 'Leavin' a Mark on the Wor(l)d' and Passages from the Middle. His works have been praised for their philosophical depth and narrative complexity, likened to the works of Melville, Douglass, and Homer. As noted by Gary Wills, his prose transcends traditional narratives, offering fresh perspectives on race and identity.
Contents
- Principal Works
- Johnson, Charles (Vol. 7)
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Johnson, Charles (Vol. 163)
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Stowaway on a Slave Ship to Africa
(summary)
In the following review of The Middle Passage, Flick compliments Johnson for skillfully combining beautiful language with a philosophical examination of the nature of racism.
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Something to Serve: Constructs of the Feminine in Charles Johnson's Oxherding Tale
(summary)
In the following essay, Hayward discusses Johnson's representation of women and the feminine in Oxherding Tale.
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The Long Voyage Home
(summary)
In the following review, Wills argues that Johnson's prose style in The Middle Passage transcends traditional ideological formulas about the African-American experience.
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Charles Johnson's Revolutionary Oxherding Tale
(summary)
In the following essay, Little examines Oxherding Tale as a story of interracial romance that addresses issues of gender, race, and identity.
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An Interview with Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following interview, Johnson and Little explore the intersections of philosophy, racial identity, and narrative structure in Johnson's work, highlighting his characters' journeys towards enlightenment and the fluidity of identity, as well as his challenge to fixed notions of self and Black cultural identity in contemporary literature.
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‘Leavin' a Mark on the Wor(l)d’: Marksmen and Marked Men in Middle Passage
(summary)
In the following essay, Goudie asserts that The Middle Passage expresses an African-American perspective that is influenced by Western philosophical and literary traditions.
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An Interview with Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following interview, Johnson discusses his artistic evolution from cartoonist to philosopher-novelist, his commitment to expanding black philosophical fiction, and the influences of martial arts and Buddhism on his work, while also reflecting on his cultural identity within the context of the American experience and literary traditions.
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Passages from the Middle: Coloniality and Postcoloniality in Charles Johnson's Middle Passage
(summary)
In the following essay, Fagel explores the role of the central character in The Middle Passage as a “middleman” between competing forces in the colonial power structure.
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Global Bodies/Postcolonialities: Charles Johnson's Consumer Culture
(summary)
In the following essay, Brown discusses Johnson's short story “China” from The Sorcerer's Apprentice in terms of theories about masculinity, spectatorship, and commodity culture.
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Imagining Slavery: Toni Morrison and Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following essay, Parrish compares Johnson's Oxherding Tale with Toni Morrison's Beloved in terms of the slave narrative genre and issues of African-American identity.
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Charles Johnson's Middle Passage as Historiographic Metafiction
(summary)
In the following essay, Thaden examines The Middle Passage as a postmodern novel that both draws from and questions American literary traditions.
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A Conversation with Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following interview, Johnson and Nash explore Charles Johnson's influences, his philosophical and artistic development, his views on the role of race in writing, the impact of the Black Arts Movement, and the necessity for black artists to transcend racial constraints while maintaining individuality.
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King and I
(summary)
In the following review, Holt argues that Dreamer is a “monumentally important” novel, praising the work for its treatment of the doppelganger theme and its philosophical insights on Martin Luther King Jr.
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The Philosopher King
(summary)
In the following review of Dreamer, Zawacki notes the importance that Johnson places on Martin Luther King Jr.'s role as a moral philosopher.
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Black Skin, White Tissues: Local Color and Universal Solvents in the Novels of Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following essay, Hardack discusses Johnson's application of transcendental thought to issues of race, identity, and history in his novels such as Oxherding Tale, Middle Passage, and Faith and the Good Thing.
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A Conversation with Charles Johnson
(summary)
In the following interview, Charles Johnson and Rob Trucks explore Johnson's creative philosophy, emphasizing his commitment to writing for personal fulfillment rather than audience expectations, while highlighting his interest in philosophical fiction and addressing gaps he perceives in African-American literature.
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Fiction about Slavery Finds Humanity amid the Injustice
(summary)
In the following review, Lightfoot praises the short stories in The Soulcatcher and Other Stories, noting that although the collection accurately portrays historical events, Johnson's prose “transcends indignation and blame.”
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Stowaway on a Slave Ship to Africa
(summary)
- Further Reading