Henry Louis Gates, Jr., has established himself as the spokesman-at-large for the richness and vibrancy of the black tradition in American culture. Gates has always been concerned with the potential of black studies to integrate not only the academy, but ultimately the Amer... FROM LONG DESCRIPTION

"In clear language and well thought out examples Gates brings us all closer to a needed dialog."--Jean Bissonnette, Texas State Network "In the 10 pieces collected in Loose Canons, Gates, writing for the most part in a genial, conversational style, endorses multicultural education as a way of expanding social tolerance....A reformer, not a revolutionary, he wants to use the institutions that are in place, the university in particular, to further his plans for social progress....Gates the academic is more accessible than Morrison the popular novelist."--The Washington Post Book World "Should prove especially illuminating and reassuring to nonacademics."--The New York Times book Review "A good source of clear thinking and sensible reasoning on [multiculturalism]."--The Boston Globe "Gates, probably the best known and most controversial proponent of African American studies, has gathered here a group of his essays on the timely topic of multiculturalism....An excellent addition to all academic libraries and a necessary purchase for any library interested in a serious discussion of multiculturalism."--Library Journal "Lucid, stimulating, and often entertaining. Gates is one of the very few contemporary critics whose work is actually fun to absorb."--Newsday "In these incisive and readable essays, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is at once sympathetic, funny, and cautionary in making the case for cultural pluralism and the revision of the literary canon."--Gerald Graff, University of Chicago "Loose Canons is an inside job, the work of a man who has mastered the arcane politics and encoded language of the canon makers; it's an arsenal of ideas in the cultural wars. But it is also the outpouring of a humane, witty, and truly civilized mind--and that's exactly why Loose Canons strikes so hard and true."--Los Angeles Times "Witty and laced with anecdotes...these readable essays serve well as an introduction to an often daunting field."--Voice Literary Supplement" "Gates...has brio, deep learning, and wit....He is also a gift to his readers and a rarity in contemporary critical circles."--Commonweal "In clear language and well thought out examples Gates brings us all closer to a needed dialog."--Jean Bissonnette, Texas State Network "In the 10 pieces collected in Loose Canons, Gates, writing for the most part in a genial, conversational style, endorses multicultural education as a way of expanding social tolerance....A reformer, not a revolutionary, he wants to use the institutions that are in place, the university in particular, to further his plans for social progress....Gates the academic is more accessible than Morrison the popular novelist."--The Washington Post Book World "Should prove especially illuminating and reassuring to nonacademics."--The New York Times book Review "A good source of clear thinking and sensible reasoning on [multiculturalism]."--The Boston Globe "Gates, probably the best known and most controversial proponent of African American studies, has gathered here a group of his essays on the timely topic of multiculturalism....An excellent addition to all academic libraries and a necessary purchase for any library interested in a serious discussion of multiculturalism."--Library Journal "Lucid, stimulating, and often entertaining. Gates is one of the very few contemporary critics whose work is actually fun to absorb."--Newsday "In these incisive and readable essays, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is at once sympathetic, funny, and cautionary in making the case for cultural pluralism and the revision of the literary canon."--Gerald Graff, University of Chicago "Loose Canons is an inside job, the work of a man who has mastered the arcane politics and encoded language of the canon makers; it's an arsenal of ideas in the cultural wars. But it is also the outpouring of a humane, witty, and truly civilized mind--and that's exactly why Loose Canons strikes so hard and true."--Los Angeles Times "Witty and laced with anecdotes...these readable essays serve well as an introduction to an often daunting field."--Voice Literary Supplement" "Gates...has brio, deep learning, and wit....He is also a gift to his readers and a rarity in contemporary critical circles."--Commonweal "An excellent story."--James E. Newby, Howard University "Admirable and truly impressive liberal vision."--American Studies "Gates is a temperate partisan with a sharp, subtle style and a sense of humor."--Jean Hardisty, The Public Eye "It is a wonderful text with an inclusive approach to pluralism and multiculturalism."--Dr. Vibha Chandra, California State University

"In clear language and well thought out examples Gates brings us all closer to a needed dialog."--Jean Bissonnette, Texas State Network "In the 10 pieces collected in Loose Canons, Gates, writing for the most part in a genial, conversational style, endorses multicultural education as a way of expanding social tolerance....A reformer, not a revolutionary, he wants to use the institutions that are in place, the university in particular, to further his plans for social progress....Gates the academic is more accessible than Morrison the popular novelist."--The Washington Post Book World "Should prove especially illuminating and reassuring to nonacademics."--The New York Times book Review "A good source of clear thinking and sensible reasoning on [multiculturalism]."--The Boston Globe "Gates, probably the best known and most controversial proponent of African American studies, has gathered here a group of his essays on the timely topic of multiculturalism....An excellent addition to all academic libraries and a necessary purchase for any library interested in a serious discussion of multiculturalism."--Library Journal "Lucid, stimulating, and often entertaining. Gates is one of the very few contemporary critics whose work is actually fun to absorb."--Newsday "In these incisive and readable essays, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is at once sympathetic, funny, and cautionary in making the case for cultural pluralism and the revision of the literary canon."--Gerald Graff, University of Chicago "Loose Canons is an inside job, the work of a man who has mastered the arcane politics and encoded language of the canon makers; it's an arsenal of ideas in the cultural wars. But it is also the outpouring of a humane, witty, and truly civilized mind--and that's exactly why Loose Canons strikes so hard and true."--Los Angeles Times "Witty and laced with anecdotes...these readable essays serve well as an introduction to an often daunting field."--Voice Literary Supplement" "Gates...has brio, deep learning, and wit....He is also a gift to his readers and a rarity in contemporary critical circles."--Commonweal "In clear language and well thought out examples Gates brings us all closer to a needed dialog."--Jean Bissonnette, Texas State Network "In the 10 pieces collected in Loose Canons, Gates, writing for the most part in a genial, conversational style, endorses multicultural education as a way of expanding social tolerance....A reformer, not a revolutionary, he wants to use the institutions that are in place, the university in particular, to further his plans for social progress....Gates the academic is more accessible than Morrison the popular novelist."--The Washington Post Book World "Should prove especially illuminating and reassuring to nonacademics."--The New York Times book Review "A good source of clear thinking and sensible reasoning on [multiculturalism]."--The Boston Globe "Gates, probably the best known and most controversial proponent of African American studies, has gathered here a group of his essays on the timely topic of multiculturalism....An excellent addition to all academic libraries and a necessary purchase for any library interested in a serious discussion of multiculturalism."--Library Journal "Lucid, stimulating, and often entertaining. Gates is one of the very few contemporary critics whose work is actually fun to absorb."--Newsday "In these incisive and readable essays, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is at once sympathetic, funny, and cautionary in making the case for cultural pluralism and the revision of the literary canon."--Gerald Graff, University of Chicago "Loose Canons is an inside job, the work of a man who has mastered the arcane politics and encoded language of the canon makers; it's an arsenal of ideas in the cultural wars. But it is also the outpouring of a humane, witty, and truly civilized mind--and that's exactly why Loose Canons strikes so hard and true."--Los Angeles Times "Witty and laced with anecdotes...these readable essays serve well as an introduction to an often daunting field."--Voice Literary Supplement" "Gates...has brio, deep learning, and wit....He is also a gift to his readers and a rarity in contemporary critical circles."--Commonweal "An excellent story."--James E. Newby, Howard University "Admirable and truly impressive liberal vision."--American Studies "Gates is a temperate partisan with a sharp, subtle style and a sense of humor."--Jean Hardisty, The Public Eye "It is a wonderful text with an inclusive approach to pluralism and multiculturalism."--Dr. Vibha Chandra, California State University

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is Chairman of the Afro-American Studies Department and W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University. He is the author of The Signifying Monkey, Figures in Black, and Colored People; general editor of The Schomburg Library of Nineteenth Century Black Women Writers; and general editor of The W.E.B. Du Bois Institute series.