Politics and Identity Among Black Intellectuals

Intellectuals, whatever their national or ethnic origins, often have had to make hard choices between creative and political activity. This problem is particularly acute for black American intellectuals. In no generation have they escaped the simultaneous pulls of creative and political obligations. Given the racism of American society, conflicting obligations have proved most difficult to manage.

The problem is exacerbated by an imbalance of supply and demand. The supply of black inte...