1. William Greaves, Documentary Filmmaking, and the African- American Experience

Scriptures, Myths, and Power: The Bible at Work

Postscripts The Journal of Sacred Texts and Contemporary Worlds ◽

10.1558/post.v5i1.5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 5-15

Author(s):

Burton Mack

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Linguistic Style ◽

American Experience ◽

Cultural Function ◽

The Bible ◽

Henry Louis Gates ◽

American Tradition ◽

Christian Myth ◽

American Society

The introduction to Burton Mack's extended conversation with Vincent Wimbush and Institute for Signifying Scripture, Claremont Graduate University. The conversation revolves around the cultural function of the Bible as Christian myth in American society, and the African-American domestication of the Bible as their Scripture. The essay explores the differences between the Bible as myth in the dominant Euro-American tradition, and the Bible as Scripture in African-American experience. Drawing upon the work of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the concept of "signifying" describes a remarkable linguistic style characteristic of African-American mentality and culture.

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Scriptures, Myths, and Power: The Bible at Work - Chapter Five

Postscripts The Journal of Sacred Texts and Contemporary Worlds ◽

10.1558/post.v5i1.91 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 91-113

Author(s):

Burton Mack

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Linguistic Style ◽

American Experience ◽

Cultural Function ◽

The Bible ◽

Henry Louis Gates ◽

American Tradition ◽

Christian Myth ◽

American Society

Part 6 of Burton Mack's extended conversation with Vincent Wimbush and Institute for Signifying Scripture, Claremont Graduate University. The conversation revolves around the cultural function of the Bible as Christian myth in American society, and the African-American domestication of the Bible as their Scripture. The essay explores the differences between the Bible as myth in the dominant Euro-American tradition, and the Bible as Scripture in African-American experience. Drawing upon the work of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the concept of "signifying" describes a remarkable linguistic style characteristic of African-American mentality and culture.

Download Full-text