Counterstory: The Rhetoric and Writing of Critical Race Theory

by Aja. Y Martinez

Humanities scholar Aja Y. Martinez makes a compelling case for counterstory as methodology in rhetoric and writing studies through the well-established framework of critical race theory (CRT), reviewing first the counterstory work of Richard Delgado, Derrick Bell, and Patricia J. Williams, whom she terms counterstory exemplars. Delgado, Bell, and Williams, foundational critical race theorists working in the respective counterstory genres of narrated dialogue, fantasy/allegory, and autobiography, have set precedent for others who would research and compose with this method. Arguing that counterstory provides opportunities for marginalized voices to contribute to conversations about dominant ideology, Martinez applies racial and feminist rhetorical criticism to the rich histories and theories established through counterstory genres, all the while demonstrating how CRT theories and methods can inform teaching, research, and writing/publishing of counterstory

Genres: Race, Social Justice, Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Zebadiah Demorest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect intro to CRT. It lays out the theory so succinctly and clearly and also utilizes so many unique narrative techniques. Counterstory itself is a really interesting methodology. I really wish the old Fox News people could read this lol. All this talk about CRT without actually knowing what it is

[Alexis Rocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concepts in this book are fantastic for anyone working in rhet comp

[Ron Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An expansive, complex, and multivocal approach to research and writing in composition. Forcefully deconstructs assumptions about how we as a discipline arrive at truth and tell our story. More importantly embodies counterstory as methodology. At several junctures, Martinez lays waste to any sense of scholarly foundation I imagined existed.

[Makayla Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! I enjoyed reading Aja Martinez's book and appreciate the approach to this book. I think Martinez is doing good work to show how and why counterstory should be a method and methodology in rhetoric and writing studies. I particularly liked the set up of the chapters presenting an overview of a particular scholar followed by an example counterstory using one of the 'types/genres.'

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book not only on methodology, but also as a whole when looking at story and representation.

[Erricka Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for class and loved it!