New Books Network Sarah F. Derbew, "Untangling Blackness in Greek Antiquity" (Cambridge UP, 2022)
Dec 1, 2025
In this discussion, Sarah F. Derbew, an Assistant Professor of Classics at Stanford and author of Untangling Blackness in Greek Antiquity, delves into the complexities of Black representations in ancient Greek literature and art. She highlights the influence of Herodotus on her work, challenges traditional readings of imagery, and emphasizes the need for precise terminology. Derbew critiques modern frameworks that distort ancient understandings of race, while also exploring nuanced identities in texts like Aeschylus' Suppliants. This conversation uncovers the rich intersections of performance studies and ancient race representation.
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Early Language Training Shaped A Career
- Sarah Derbew describes learning Latin at age 12 and intensive ancient Greek study before graduate school.
- Early language exposure gave her lasting facility and shaped her career in classics.
Dissertation Seed From Herodotus
- The dissertation seed came from Herodotus' depiction of Ethiopians as "blazed faces."
- Her advisor guided expansion into a thematic project using critical race theory and performance studies.
Use 'Stages' To Analyze Blackness
- Derbew frames ancient Blackness as performed across different "stages": history, theater, satire, novel, and visual art.
- This stage approach lets her analyze representative case studies rather than exhaustively cataloging every instance.
