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The Plan: An American Belief Narrative.

This article explores the history and contours of a belief narrative found in many historically Black communities in the United States. Known in many places as "The Plan," it draws from the experiences of centuries of forced displacement episodes and the ways people have sought through art and narra...

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Published in:Journal of Folklore Research Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 73 - 109
Main Author: Rotenstein, David S.
Format: Article
Published: Indiana University Press May-Aug2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: The Plan: An American Belief Narrative.
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        au: Rotenstein, David S.
        affil: Covington, Kentucky
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      ab: This article explores the history and contours of a belief narrative found in many historically Black communities in the United States. Known in many places as "The Plan," it draws from the experiences of centuries of forced displacement episodes and the ways people have sought through art and narrative to make sense of the inexplicable. Often dismissed as conspiracy thinking or rumor, The Plan plays important roles in Black communities. Partly because of its historically large Black population, Washington, D.C., is the city most often associated with The Plan narrative. This article connects scholarship from literary studies, history, and political science to situate The Plan's history within Washington's history and to unpack the narrative's key motifs of genocide and displacement.
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    language: English
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