Building on the theories of the Black Aesthetic and Black Nationalism, the Black Arts Movement sought to create a populist form of art that would promote the idea of black separatism, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Adherents felt that the artist was responsible for building racially separate study groups and publishing houses. Writers and artists interrogated issues such as interracial tension, poverty, and the importance of black culture and history of African Americans in the United States. This compelling volume provides an insightful survey of the Black Arts Movement, with chapters exploring the rise of Black Nationalism and the arts as means for exploring identity. The volume also examines the effect of the movement on mainstream culture in the United States.