Book: Fabricating Authenticity
Chapter: While Whitey's on the Moon
Blurb:
Building on Ramey’s argument, O’Brien draws on a couple of examples to explore the practical effects of our language—particularly that of authentic American identity—in maintaining power structures that oppress marginalized communities. O’Brien argues that our histories and narratives of identity are not neutral and require thoughtful and critical engagement to better understand how certain narratives are authorized and others are delegitimized.