Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
5-2018
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Scott Honeycutt
Committee Members
Michael Cody, Thomas Holmes
Abstract
Emmett Till’s murder inspired many novelists, poets, and artists. Recently, Till has inspired several feminist young adult novelists who are introducing his case in an intersectional way to a new generation of readers. The works that I have studied are A Wreath for Emmett Till (2003) by Marilyn Nelson, The Hunger Games Trilogy (2008-2010) by Suzanne Collins, and Midnight without a Moon (2017) by Linda Jackson. By examining how the authors employ a feminist perspective, readers can understand how they are striving for a more inclusive, intersectional feminist movement. This is significant because the publishing industry, specifically for Young Adult Literature, is not diverse. These works, while often overlooked by critics, may be the first exposure most young readers have to Emmett Till. Each of these novels could be used to teach readers not only about Till’s case, but also about current events to help foster a multicultural consciousness.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Jones, Claire, "An Intersectional Feminist Perspective of Emmett Till in Young Adult Literature" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3413. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3413
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
African American Studies Commons, American Literature Commons, American Popular Culture Commons, Cultural History Commons, United States History Commons, Women's Studies Commons