Talma Gordon Critical Edition
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Authors
Wallis, Caleb
Williams, Nicole
Shefelbine, Lucas
Richardson, Morris
Weeks, Rylie
Date of Issue
2020
Type
Presentation
Language
en
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
During Fall 2020, the Literary Studies class created a Critical Edition focused around the short story “Talma Gordon,” published in 1900 and often cited as the first ever African-American mystery story. Often cited as the first ever African-American mystery narrative, “Talma Gordon” revolves around the titular main character’s struggles as she deals with a society entirely set against her biracial background and gender. In examining this concept, the Critical Edition delves into the social, economic, and political stigma surrounding interracial marriage and imperialization during the late nineteenth- and early twentieth century. This presentation delves into these ideas hidden within the base narrative via critical thought and literary analysis, making an attempt to determine the meaning of “Talma Gordon” as well as its overall message for industrial American society. The story has been analyzed through multiple lenses, including 1. A Critical/Edited Story, 2. Contemporaneous Context, 3. Early Influences and Criticism, 4. Contemporary Criticism, and 5. A Time of Pauline Hopkins’ Life, all done via Adobe Spark. While “Talma Gordon” is a literary work and is therefore open to any analysis, our edition shows that the story is a critique of American imperialization and the absurdity of interracial marriage and breeding.