Spirit-Surrendered Surrealism: The Language of the Black Diaspora

Abstract: This essay provides a brief analysis of the Afro-American art form of jazz through the lens of surrealism. The author traces surrealism's roots and argues that it is an inherently Black diasporic creative practice. The essay culminates in a brief overview of the life and practice of Ted Joans who the author describes as an embodiment of "surrendering to the surreal spirit." Inspired by surrealist art and scholarship, this essay introduces language and notations that energize the writing, emphasizing the surrealist urge to push beyond normalcy to reveal new modes of storytelling and creativity.