One of the first booksampampnbspto examine representations of black vampires exclusivelyampampnbspThe Paradox of Blackness in African American Vampire Fictionampampnbspnot only refutesampampnbspthe tacit assumption that there is a lack of quality African American vampire fiction worthy of study or reading but also proposes that the black vampires help to answer an important question Is there more to beingampampnbspblackampampnbspthan having aampampnbspblackampampnbspbody As symbols of immortality the black vampires in Jewelle GomezsampampnbspThe Gilda StoriesampampnbspTananarive DuesampampnbspMy Soul to KeepampampnbspBrandon MasseysampampnbspDark CornerampampnbspOctaviaampampnbspButlersampampnbspFledglingand K. Murry JohnsonsampampnbspImage of Emeralds and Chocolateampampnbsphelp to identify not only the notions of blackness that should be kept alive or resurrected in the African American community for the twentyfirst century but also the notions of blackness that should die or remain dead.ampampnbsp