Envisioning AfAm Literary History in Norwegian Fjord og Fjell

Abstract

To many, Norway is a land of extremes. One of the wealthiest countries in the world, it's also said to be home to the happiest people who benefit from the strongest social welfare system, frolicking among the fjords and vistas in one of the world's most democratic societies. Paradise. While many of these superlatives are indeed part of Norwegian life, for most who live in Norway, the country is a space that is better described as moderate. For example, the weather is slow to change over long periods of time, there is a high level of wage equality within a large middle class, and ruling political parties typically must work together in coalitions. For better or worse, Norway is a land of moderation. Nordic moderation stands in stark contrast to the very recent extreme political rhetoric and actions of the U.S. Republican Party and responses from leftist groups in the form of rallies and protests. International media coverage of U.S. unrest, which lingers on images of violence and destruction, has bolstered student interest in the African American literature I teach in my classes and has ignited conversations about equity, the long history of slavery and its repercussions in the U.S., and the representation of these and related issues in literature. The explosive and divisive news stories have caught the attention of students in a country whose own complex history of race and colonial power is not widely discussed or taught.