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On Making Sense juxtaposes texts produced by black, Latino, and Asian queer writers and artists to understand how knowledge is acquired and produced in contexts of racial and gender oppression. From James Baldwin's 1960's novel Another Country to Margaret Cho's turn-of-the-century stand-up comedy, these works all exhibit a preoccupation with intelligibility, or the labor of making sense of oneself and of making sense to others. In their efforts to "make sense," these writers and artists argue against merely being accepted by society on society's terms, but articulate a desire to confront epistemic injustice--an injustice that affects people in their capacity as knowers and as communities worthy of being known. The book speaks directly to critical developments in feminist and queer studies, including the growing ambivalence to antirealist theories of identity and knowledge. In so doing, it draws on decolonial and realist theory to offer a new framework to understand queer writers and artists of color as dynamic social theorists.

American literature -- Minority authors -- History and criticism. --- Gays' writings, American -- History and criticism. --- Homosexuality in literature. --- Race in literature. --- Sexual minorities in literature. --- Sexual minorities' writings, American -- History and criticism. --- Sexual minorities' writings, American --- Gays' writings, American --- American literature --- Sexual minorities in literature --- Homosexuality in literature --- Race in literature --- English --- Languages & Literatures --- American Literature --- English literature --- Agrarians (Group of writers) --- American sexual minorities' writings --- History and criticism --- Minority authors --- Gay people's writings, American