The Signifying Monkey (by Henry Louis Gates Jr.)

"The Signifying Monkey" by Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores how African American humor, storytelling, and language challenge authority and social norms. Using the metaphor of a clever monkey outwitting a lion, Gates analyzes African American oral traditions—such as jokes, tall tales, and satire—that subvert power and authority through wit and wordplay. The work highlights how these cultural expressions serve as acts of resistance, maintaining identity and voice in the face of oppression. Overall, it demonstrates the importance of storytelling as a form of cultural survival and political commentary within African American history.