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Critical American Studies
Aberrations in Black: Toward a Queer of Color Critique
A hard-hitting look at the regulation of sexual difference and its role in circumscribing African American culture
The sociology of race relations in America typically describes an intersection of poverty, race, and economic discrimination. But what is missing from the picture—sexual difference—can be as instructive as what is present. In this ambitious work, Roderick A. Ferguson reveals how the discourses of sexuality are used to articulate theories of racial difference in the field of sociology. He shows how canonical sociology—Gunnar Myrdal, Ernest Burgess, Robert Park, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and William Julius Wilson—has measured African Americans’s unsuitability for a liberal capitalist order in terms of their adherence to the norms of a heterosexual and patriarchal nuclear family model. In short, to the extent that African Americans’s culture and behavior deviated from those norms, they would not achieve economic and racial equality. Aberrations in Black tells the story of canonical sociology’s regulation of sexual difference as part of its general regulation of African American culture. Ferguson places this story within other stories—the narrative of capital’s emergence and development, the histories of Marxism and revolutionary nationalism, and the novels that depict the gendered and sexual idiosyncrasies of African American culture—works by Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and Toni Morrison. In turn, this book tries to present another story—one in which people who presumably manifest the dysfunctions of capitalism are reconsidered as indictments of the norms of state, capital, and social science. Ferguson includes the first-ever discussion of a new archival discovery—a never-published chapter of Invisible Man that deals with a gay character in a way that complicates and illuminates Ellison’s project. Unique in the way it situates critiques of race, gender, and sexuality within analyses of cultural, economic, and epistemological formations, Ferguson’s work introduces a new mode of discourse—which Ferguson calls queer of color analysis—that helps to lay bare the mutual distortions of racial, economic, and sexual portrayals within sociology.
The sociology of race relations in America typically describes an intersection of poverty, race, and economic discrimination. But what is missing from the picture—sexual difference—can be as instructive as what is present. In this ambitious work, Roderick A. Ferguson reveals how the discourses of sexuality are used to articulate theories of racial difference in the field of sociology. He shows how canonical sociology—Gunnar Myrdal, Ernest Burgess, Robert Park, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and William Julius Wilson—has measured African Americans’s unsuitability for a liberal capitalist order in terms of their adherence to the norms of a heterosexual and patriarchal nuclear family model. In short, to the extent that African Americans’s culture and behavior deviated from those norms, they would not achieve economic and racial equality. Aberrations in Black tells the story of canonical sociology’s regulation of sexual difference as part of its general regulation of African American culture. Ferguson places this story within other stories—the narrative of capital’s emergence and development, the histories of Marxism and revolutionary nationalism, and the novels that depict the gendered and sexual idiosyncrasies of African American culture—works by Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and Toni Morrison. In turn, this book tries to present another story—one in which people who presumably manifest the dysfunctions of capitalism are reconsidered as indictments of the norms of state, capital, and social science. Ferguson includes the first-ever discussion of a new archival discovery—a never-published chapter of Invisible Man that deals with a gay character in a way that complicates and illuminates Ellison’s project. Unique in the way it situates critiques of race, gender, and sexuality within analyses of cultural, economic, and epistemological formations, Ferguson’s work introduces a new mode of discourse—which Ferguson calls queer of color analysis—that helps to lay bare the mutual distortions of racial, economic, and sexual portrayals within sociology.
175 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 7, 2025
this was a really compelling introduction to “queer of color critique” as an intellectual intervention. i really enjoyed the literary analysis. but i found it occasionally being a bit repetitive in its claims.
February 7, 2025
this book is clear, grounded, and revelatory in its analysis. i really enjoy this kind of literary study that is rooted in meticulous historical research, and is carefully articulated within social context. ferguson is thorough while also being bold and insightful with the connections he draws.
im surprised by the reviews that say that this book is unusually dense or confusing. in terms of academic writing, particularly queer theory, ferguson is remarkably lucid and precise. each chapter concludes with clearly stated reiterations of his threads of thought and situates them within his overall argument. this is a book that was not merely written to be published; it was written to be read.
this is especially remarkable considering the book’s unflinching assessments, not only of neoliberalism and white-centric marxism, but also of black nationalism and the contemporary state of postnationalist studies. ferguson is unafraid to take on the norms assumed in his own discipline in order to push the field into a more productive era. plenty of his critiques of essentializing rhetoric within supposedly revolutionary frameworks still hold up today. not a mere pessimist, he highlights the insights and liberatory pathways that queer black subjects offer society. plainly put, ferguson is a badass.
100% recommend this book to anyone interested in black american literature, sociology, history, queer studies, materialism, you name it.
im surprised by the reviews that say that this book is unusually dense or confusing. in terms of academic writing, particularly queer theory, ferguson is remarkably lucid and precise. each chapter concludes with clearly stated reiterations of his threads of thought and situates them within his overall argument. this is a book that was not merely written to be published; it was written to be read.
this is especially remarkable considering the book’s unflinching assessments, not only of neoliberalism and white-centric marxism, but also of black nationalism and the contemporary state of postnationalist studies. ferguson is unafraid to take on the norms assumed in his own discipline in order to push the field into a more productive era. plenty of his critiques of essentializing rhetoric within supposedly revolutionary frameworks still hold up today. not a mere pessimist, he highlights the insights and liberatory pathways that queer black subjects offer society. plainly put, ferguson is a badass.
100% recommend this book to anyone interested in black american literature, sociology, history, queer studies, materialism, you name it.
March 1, 2021
Aberrations in Black by Roderick Ferguson is an important book in American Studies as it is looking at the placement of queer subjects in the field. It is an excellent critique of the sociological canon’s treatment of sexuality along with racial exclusions. I found his insights about the texts that he discusses to be very useful. I missed much, but Native Son, Invisible Man, Got Tell it on the Mountain and Sula are very rich texts that speak to readers on various levels. Also, I think if I were to read Invisible Man as an older adult, I’d take much more from it than my reading it in high school.
I love how the critiques major sociological texts, many of them now questioned, with looking at treatment by African American authors. I had my own questions about the sociological work, different from Ferguson’s, but a appreciate his task. Who decides on categories and what do they mean? The need to identify what is normative behavior and therefore what will be excluded seems to be part of a search for a national identity. In the 1960s, I watched the behavior of people seeking to be revolutionaries, but did not feel the need to participate. Now, I better understand their searches.
I love how the critiques major sociological texts, many of them now questioned, with looking at treatment by African American authors. I had my own questions about the sociological work, different from Ferguson’s, but a appreciate his task. Who decides on categories and what do they mean? The need to identify what is normative behavior and therefore what will be excluded seems to be part of a search for a national identity. In the 1960s, I watched the behavior of people seeking to be revolutionaries, but did not feel the need to participate. Now, I better understand their searches.
October 21, 2017
Great book with very academic and eye-opening statements. The author purposefully uses difficult language to articulate a point that has not previously been made. Canonical sociology, as well as canonical literature is something that we don't notice or pay much thought to. However, it juxtaposes a lot of history that is roots for where we are today, as people and as a nation. I encourage anyone who is interested in learning about the notions and ideology that surrounds us everyday to read this book. Like the water fish swim in, or the air we breathe, some things encompass all of what we know, but we fail to see or realize that.
February 6, 2018
Definitely some interesting points, but very dense writing at times. I had to re-read some paragraphs quite a few times to understand what he was saying. While some of this denseness is certainly understandable due to the complex nature of the topics, I felt that it sometimes also made a few a rather simple points seem more complicated than they actually were. Overall though, this was certainly an interesting and informative read.
January 10, 2026
this was a great entry point into queer of color critique -- a little dense if you're not used to reading theory, but i didn't find it too hard to get through. the literary analysis was very engaging (i need to read more james baldwin yesterday) and i learned some horrifying american history that i'm shocked i haven't come across before. given the class i'm reading this for, i was aware the whole time that this book basically doesn't engage with disability at all, but it still covers a lot.
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January 2, 2026great book, read it in the context of my undergrad thesis, specifically for its analysis of sexual capital. I think for me this was a good study of how that capital (i.e. a claim to patriarchal heteronormativity) can be used as a way to ideological justify systems and how it works in association with white supremacy, capitalism, et al. to maintain existing systems of power... much to think about
April 12, 2019
Really brilliant, though dense, text. I particularly appreciate Ferguson's reading of Invisible Man and his analysis liberal capital's project of subsuming and erasing nonheteronormative difference under the label of "diversity." 8/10
December 8, 2024
yeah i mean what are u gonna do, not read Ferguson? It is confusing at times i did sometimes wish it was less dense but whatever, u get a lot from a single sentence and that is a gift as well as a curse
July 8, 2019
So many a-ha moments. It doesn't get much better than this!
June 8, 2021
Critical, dense, & sociological
January 26, 2011
If only for the chapter where he discusses the missing chapter (!) from Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, this book is worth the perusal. Ferguson's focus is on the intersection between some pretty effed-up sociological 'findings', women of color feminist and queer of color criticism, and African American history and literary texts (particularly Invisible Man, Wright's Native Son, Morrison's Sula, and Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain). It's a dense read but an ultimately eye-opening look at American history in general particularly through the lens of the discourse on and treatment of nonheteronormative African Americans.
Want to read
December 6, 2012The sociology of race relations in America typically describes an intersection of poverty, race, and economic discrimination. But what is missing from the picture-sexual difference-can be as instructive as what is present. In this ambitious work, Roderick A. Ferguson reveals how the discourses of sexuality are used to articulate theories of racial difference in the field of sociology. He shows how canonical sociology-Gunnar Myrdal, Ernest Burgess, Robert Park, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and William Julius Wilson-has measured African Americans' unsuitability for a liberal capitalist order in terms of their adherence to the norms of a heterosexual and patriarchal nuclear family model. In short, to the extent that African Americans' culture and behavior deviated from those norms, they would not achieve economic and racial equality.
January 19, 2015
Really a great work that explores the often implied but unexplored intersection between race, sexuality, SES, and much more. It is an essential book for anyone working in the social sciences, history, or a wide variety of other fields. Where it falls short, for me, is in the incredibly dense and theoretical language. Despite being crammed with information, I found myself saying "And...?" at the end of several sections.
With that said, I highly recommend it- just read it slowly and pay close attention to the endnotes.
With that said, I highly recommend it- just read it slowly and pay close attention to the endnotes.
January 17, 2008
awesome!
August 15, 2008
i wish i had read this book a lot earlier in life. ferguson is super adept at bringing much queer, critical race, and trans-national scholarship together. lovely.
December 16, 2008
this b00k rulez!
February 22, 2013
Extremely hard to read, in my opinion, but it's worth the work. It has me looking at the novels in the book in a whole new light, and the idea of racism in a whole new way. 4/5 stars
Want to read
April 12, 2008Read about a quarter of it. Seems good. Would like to finish.
February 16, 2013
Really dense and high-theory. Important work on queer of color analysis though!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews