Understanding African American Rhetoric is an engaging exploration of African American language within its cultural and political context. Eighteen original essays by leading scholars chronicle and celebrate the influence of classical African oral traditions upon the evolution of contemporary African American linguistic practices such as signifyin', playin' the dozens, and call-and-response. Drawing upon a breadth of historical, legal, and cultural texts ranging from Johnnie Cochran's closing arguments in the OJ Simpson trial to the rap lyrics of Tupac Shakur and Lauryn Hill, this ambitious and expansive collection is grounded in the sway of history over language and culture.