Name Xam Cartier Role Author | Education University of Missouri | |
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Books Be-bop, re-bop, Muse-echo blues | ||
Xam Wilson Cartiér (born 1949) is an African-American writer from St. Louis, Missouri, author of two critically acclaimed novels, Be-Bop, Re-Bop and Muse-Echo Blues. She has been recognized for her unique innovation of incorporating the language and rhythm of jazz into her narratives. Her work is a criticism of racism and promotes black speech and music in her narrative. Cartier is also a pianist, artist and dancer. Her name "Xam" means harmony in Senegalese.
Cartier's book Be-Bop, Re-Bop focuses on the role of jazz in helping the narrator to adapt to the struggles of building a new life and identity. Her other book, Muse-Echo Blues, examines the impact of jazz on black culture. She has been compared to other famous African-American authors such as Ralph Ellison and Ntozake Shange, whose works examine the connection between music and culture.