Preaching the Gospel of Black Revolt

Preaching the Gospel of Black Revolt: Appropriating Milton in Early African American Literature, volume 1, is a scholarly work of literary criticism. Reginald A. Wilburn examines how early African American authors engaged with the works of John Milton to advocate for freedom and racial uplift. This study explores the transatlantic negotiations between black writers and the English tradition, focusing on figures such as Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, and Anna Julia Cooper.

The text analyzes how these authors utilized Milton's poetic mastery and Christian convictions to challenge assessments of black intellect. By blending African American and European literary studies, Wilburn demonstrates how these writers remastered Milton's themes of revolt and liberation. This volume provides a detailed analysis of how Renaissance influence and satanic criticism intersect within the context of American and English literary history to create a unique framework for cultural liberation.