Keith Gilyard Boeken

From the bestselling author of Drugs, Guns & Lies, comes Keith's story of what it was really like to be a tactical police officer in the violent and corrupt eighties

Part of the Penguin Academics Series, Rhetorical Choices is a rhetorically-organized reader whose selections and apparatus reflect the belief that language and literacy have deep political and social dimensions. The exploration of these dimensions throughout the book encourages students to see the power of writing and the lifelong benefits of writing well. To this end, through its choice of readings and surrounding apparatus, Rhetorical Choices: A Reader for Writers stresses more than any other reader the idea that writing always stems from some perspective and always reflects some perspective.

Focusing on the significant yet underappreciated contributions of John Oliver Killens, this work explores his influence on the African American novel from the 1950s onward. As a two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and a pivotal figure in the Harlem Writers Guild, Killens inspired many with his politically charged narratives. Keith Gilyard offers a fresh perspective by analyzing Killens's novels through the lens of African American rhetorical forms and verbal traditions, aiming to enhance appreciation for this vital literary voice.

The collection showcases Keith Gilyard's influential prose, emphasizing the significance of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in education and cultural identity. It includes "Voices of the Self," which advocates for linguistic pluralism, and "Let's Flip the Script," a series of essays on language and politics. In "Liberation Memories," Gilyard examines the intersection of rhetoric and poetics in African American literature, particularly through the works of John Oliver Killens. These texts serve as vital resources for discussions on Black language as a transformative force.