{"product_id":"afropolitan-projects-redefining-blackness-sexualities-and-culture","title":"Afropolitan Projects: Redefining Blackness, Sexualities, and Culture","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Afropolitan Projects: Redefining Blackness, Sexualities, and Culture from Houston to Accra, the reviewer finds a focused ethnographic study that will appeal to scholars and readers interested in contemporary African diasporic identities. The book's clearest strength is its comparative lens, tracing how Ghanaian elites in Houston and Accra negotiate class, race, religion, and particularly queer sexuality through everyday cultural practices. For readers seeking nuanced, field-based analysis rather than polemic, this book delivers a grounded account of what the author calls \u003cstrong\u003eAfropolitan projects\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComparative ethnography:\u003c\/strong\u003e The study moves between Houston and Accra to reveal how place shapes articulations of \u003cstrong\u003eBlackness\u003c\/strong\u003e and belonging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on elites:\u003c\/strong\u003e Attention to privileged classes shows how global belonging is enacted through consumption, social networks, and cultural politics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSexuality and queerness:\u003c\/strong\u003e A sustained focus on queer sexuality offers insight into contemporary sexual politics within Ghanaian and diasporic contexts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEveryday practices:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book emphasizes quotidian cultural practices to explain identity formation beyond broad narratives like Africa Rising.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical and cultural scope:\u003c\/strong\u003e Discussions of nationalism and pan-Africanism connect local life to wider debates about race, class, and religion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnographic grounding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Field-based descriptions and interviews give readers concrete examples of Afropolitan expression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is best for graduate students, scholars, and informed readers interested in cultural and ethnic studies, African diaspora studies, and sexuality studies who want a comparative, ethnographic perspective. It serves as a useful case study for courses on transnationalism, identity politics, and African modernities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad survey of all African cities or a popular history may find the narrow focus on Ghanaian elites in two cities limiting; those wanting accessible, non-academic narratives might prefer a different, more general audience book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear comparative approach that highlights differences and continuities between Accra and Houston.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThoughtful, field-based treatment of queer sexuality within Ghanaian and diasporic communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong emphasis on everyday cultural politics provides concrete examples rather than abstract theory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe focus on privileged classes means less attention to non-elite experiences, which narrows the book's generalizability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfropolitan Projects: Redefining Blackness, Sexualities, and Culture from Houston to Accra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnima Adjepong\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eComparative ethnography of Ghanaian communities in Houston and Accra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain themes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRace, class, sexuality, religion, national and pan-African cultural politics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfropolitan projects among privileged classes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMethod\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEthnographic fieldwork and interviews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfropolitan Projects is a valuable, well-grounded ethnographic study for readers who want a nuanced, place-sensitive account of how Ghanaian elites produce global belonging and contest sexual and cultural norms. Its attention to queer sexuality and everyday practice makes it excellent value for scholars and students, though readers seeking broader or non-elite perspectives should supplement it with additional sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book compare life in the US and Ghana?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the author alternates focus between Houston and Accra to highlight how context influences Afropolitan expressions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs queer sexuality a central topic?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the book pays particular attention to queer sexuality and the contemporary sexual politics of Afropolitan projects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this accessible for non-academic readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is written as an ethnographic study and is most accessible to readers comfortable with academic analysis, though interested general readers will still find rich examples.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Anima Adjepong","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48607080677595,"sku":"1469665182","price":114.07,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/8175Z6TEckL._SL1500.jpg?v=1778582877","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/afropolitan-projects-redefining-blackness-sexualities-and-culture","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}