Racial Fictions

Author: Carby, Hazel V

Literary essays

Published on 25 November 2025 by Verso Books in the United Kingdom.

Drawing on a rich tapestry of historical analysis, literary criticism, and cultural theory, Hazel V. Carby interrogates our racial fictions, which have been constructed, maintained, and weaponized across centuries to justify systems of domination and exploitation.

Traversing temporalities and global boundaries, Racial Fictions reveals the inter-connectedness of America's domestic racial struggles and international colonial ambitions. Carby challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the persistence of white supremacy, the violence embedded in historical memory, and the silencing of marginalized voices. The result is a profound exploration of the intricate and enduring legacies of race, imperialism, and violence in the formation of modern identities and nation-states.