Literature Analysis

Racism and the Legacy of Slavery in Victor LaValle’s Up from Slavery 

• This was for my Spark001 Horror Literature Class Final Essay my freshmen year, I chose the Cosmic Horror due to intrigue in Cosmic Horror since middle school. The introduction paragraph is one of the best introduction paragraphs I've written, pretty good essay considering it was transitioning back from Covid-19 pandemic the academic year in 2023. I used quotes from the book I read entirely for my Forging USA History course in Fall 2023, Incidents in the Life of the Slave Girl in it.

• Professor Yia Lee's comment: "Terrific analysis on the social commentary and sharp observations about how LaValle calls out the racism in Lovecraft by subverting the figure of the Shoggoths. In particular, your research was really well done especially when it came to the racism and prejudices of Lovecrafts' time--and even now with how LaValle highlights systemic racism. You also provided enlightening authorial context which really helps in informing us about the story--the quotes you got from LaValle were excellent"

• Topics: Cosmic Horror, Lovecraft, Restorative Justice, Scientific Racism, Systemic Racism, Xenophobia

• Introduction Excerpt: "In Victor LaValle’s novel The Ballard of Black Tom, his dedication states “for H.P. Lovecraft, with all my conflicted feelings.” (LaValle 2016). The ghost of Lovecraft haunts the genre of cosmic horror. Lovecraft’s influence is cemented within modern culture with countless stories derived from his tales of incomprehensible beings and grotesque monstrosities. While known as a pioneer for the genre of cosmic horror, Lovecraft’s racism is an undeniable part of his legacy. His fears of otherness are integrated into his writings, through Lovecraft’s transformation of what he dreaded (e.g., immigrants, people of color) into alien monsters."

• Stories and Books Referenced:

  • Jacobs, Harriet. (2016). Incidents in the Life of the Slave Girl (First Clydesdale Press edition.). Clydesdale.

  • The Ballard of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, Up from Slavery by Victor Lavalle

  • At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft, The Horror at Red Hook by H.P. Lovecraft, The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft