Literature produced by African Americans refers to the literature written by Individuals of African ancestry who are American citizens. The genre has a rich and complex history that spans centuries, from the early stages of enslavement and colonization to the present day. Although enslaved people were documenting the early days of African American history, African American lore gained official recognition during the 17th and 18th centuries, When previously enslaved persons like Phillis Wheatley & Frederick Douglass acquired popularity in their neighborhood and throughout the white population.
How has African American Literature Evolved Through the Years?
Since the earliest days, African American literary works have developed distinctive traits and viewpoints, becoming an important literary genre in the US history. It continued to evolve and expand throughout the 19th century. One significant development during this time was the rise of the slave narrative, which told the stories of enslaved African Americans and their struggles for freedom. These narratives often included vivid descriptions of the brutality and inhumanity of slavery, as well as powerful critiques of white supremacy and racism.
Some of the most famous slave narratives include Narrative of the Life by Frederick Douglass and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861) by Harriet Jacobs. Both works hugely influenced public opinion about slavery and the need for its abolition.
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What Are the Unique Characteristics of African American Narrative?
Focusing on African American culture and experience is a defining feature of African American fiction, a nation with a long Slavery in history and anti-discrimination legislation. This focus has led to works of literature exploring the struggles of individuals trying to understand their place in a civilization dominated by white people characters, like thieves, con artists, and those with non-mainstream sexualities, who are the principal protagonists of their stories. These individuals emphasize the marginalization of the societal presence of African Americans and provide a unique perspective on their experiences. "Native Son" by Richard Wright and "The Purple Color" by Alice Walker are two notable tales featuring unusual characters.
The Oral Tradition and Literary Techniques of African American Poetry
A notable feature of African American lore is its oral tradition which has roots in the legacy of poetry and slave spirituals. Additionally, African American poets often utilize the rhythms, language, and literary techniques found in Black sermons, such as circularity and repetition. Well-known poets like Langston Hughes frequently use these components in their compositions, creating a distinct style within African American narrative.
The Impact of Jazz and the Blues on African American History
Music has significantly shaped African American history beyond the oral tradition. Jazz and the blues have influenced the content and style of African American lore, with notable examples including Ralph Ellison's "Sonny's Blues," which centers around a heroin-dependent blues musician. The improvisational and non-linear style of jazz has also impacted the conception and composition of works by writers of African American descent, reflecting the fluidity and complexity of the music they draw inspiration from.
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The Prominence of Civil Rights and Enslavement
Given the significant impact of civil rights and enslavement concerning racial diversity in America, these themes became the distinctive features of African American literature. Many authors of African ancestry have discussed Civil rights concerns from the 20th century and used their imaginations to envision life as a slave. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison is a great illustration of this. It explores the traumatic experiences of a slave woman and her struggles with motherhood.
The Rise Being African American Dramatists and the Success
In the post-World War II era, African American dramatists such as William Blackwell Branch, Alice Childress, and Loften Mitchell enjoyed greater access to white American theater than previous generations. James Baldwin began his career as a playwright in 1955 with The Amen Corner, and Langston Hughes continued his stage presence with Simply Heavenly in 1957. However, Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, which opened on Broadway in 1959, achieved critical success.
The play depicted an African American family grappling with upward mobility and integration issues. It featured a talented cast of African American actors, including Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Lou Gossett Jr. The play's director, Lloyd Richards, was the first Black director of a Broadway show in over 50 years. Hansberry was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1959, making her the first African American writer to receive the prestigious award. Before her death at 34, she completed another play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, and several other screenplays, including the film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun in 1961.
African American Writers and the Civil Rights Movement
In the late 1950s and 1960s, several African American writers, including Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and Alice Walker, were actively involved in the civil rights movement. Hansberry believed all art was ultimately social and inspired by the era's freedom struggles.
The murder of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955 influenced poet Gwendolyn Brooks to compose "The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till," which signaled a shift towards more explicitly socially critical verse. Margaret Esse Danner and Naomi Long Madgett, both poets, also began publishing similar works during this time.
| African American Writers | Famous Work |
|---|---|
| Lorraine Hansberry | Raisin in the sun, The Drinking Gourd, and The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window |
| James Baldwin | The Fire Next Time, Notes of a Native Son, Go Tell It on the Mountain, If Beale Street Could Talk, Giovanni's Room and Another Country. |
| Alice Walker | The Color Purple |
| Gwendolyn Brooks | Blacks, A Street In Bronzeville, Annie Allen, To Disembark, and In The Mecca |
| Margaret Esse Danner | Impressions of African Art Forms, To Flower, Nor Light, Nor Bright, Nor Feathery, The Down of a Thistle: Selected Poems, Prose Poems, and Songs (1976), and Collaboration Poem Counterpoem (1966) with Dudley Randall. |
| Naomi Long Madgett | Ten: Anthology of Detroit Poets, and Adam of Ifé: Black Women in Praise of Black Men |
The Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and Amiri Baraka's Evolution
The rise of Black-identified poetry and the transformation of LeRoi Jones into Amiri Baraka can provide students with a deeper understanding of the social and political consciousness that characterized the 1960s. By exploring Baraka's early work in Preface to a Twenty-Volume Suicide Note and his later transformation into a voice of Black self-consciousness, students can understand how poetry was used to instill pride and inspire revolution among African Americans. A tutor can also provide insights into the impact of Baraka's play Dutchman, which polarized audiences with its incipient Black revolutionary message.
Through studying Baraka's work and the rise of Black poetry in the 1960s, students can better understand the role of art in social and political movements and the importance of self-expression in effecting change.
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The Cultural Significance of the Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts movement and its cultural significance can help students understand the historical context and impact of events like Malcolm X's assassination and the rise of Black Power in the 1960s. A tutor can provide valuable insights into the movement's goals and how it reimagined African American art by rejecting traditional notions of artistic separation and engaging in cultural nation-building. With the guidance of a tutor, students can explore the poetry, fiction, essays, and drama of writers associated with the Black Arts movement, such as those featured in the landmark anthology Black Fire. Understanding the movement's focus on self-determination, solidarity, and nationhood among African Americans can provide students with a deeper appreciation of the role of art in social and political fields.
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Diversity of African American Stories Through Decades
Popular Themes in the 1960s
While the Black Arts movement of the 1960s and early 1970s emphasized the importance of Black identity and culture in African American narrative, not all writers of the time subscribed to this new ideology. With a tutor's guidance, students can gain a deeper understanding of the diversity of African American writers during this period, including those who resisted the Black Arts aesthetic and explored other modes of artistic expression.
Some writers, such as Robert Hayden and Ishmael Reed, rejected the chauvinistic and dogmatic aspects of the Black Arts movement and instead used satire and parody to challenge attempts to impose artistic orthodoxy. Adrienne Kennedy, a postmodernist playwright, explored the psychological and social symbolic value of Black women's emotions and personal lives in her avant-garde plays.
Ernest J. Gaines and James Alan McPherson were two African American writers who mastered the art of presenting short stories and portrayed a wide range of African American experiences. Gaines created the iconic character of Miss Jane Pittman, whose first-person narrative chronicles the progress of Black people from bondage to the civil rights era. At the same time, McPherson's Hue and Cry is a celebrated collection of short stories.
Black Women's Literary Renaissance of the 1970s
A tutor can provide valuable guidance in exploring the literary, cultural, and political developments that led to the emergence of the Black women's literary renaissance of the 1970s. By examining the works of influential writers such as Lorraine Hansberry, Adrienne Kennedy, Margaret Walker, and Gwendolyn Brooks, students can better understand the role of black omen that contributed to this movement.
Moreover, a private tutor from Superprof can help students explore the impact of the women's movement on African American women's consciousness, which played a crucial role in shaping the themes and styles of Black women's writing during this period. By studying these writers and their works with a tutor's guidance, students can better understand the social and historical context of the Black women's literary renaissance and its lasting impact on American literature and culture.
Learn African American Literature With Superprof
African American Lit is a diverse subject, and students often find it difficult to navigate it on their own. This is the reason most literature students either forego their studies or fail to make a lucrative career out of it.
However, with the right guidance and assistance, you can not only explore this rich field of study but also discover rewarding career opportunities. Superprof is an online educational platform that provides invaluable assistance to students seeking to explore the diverse range of African American writers who received recognition for their work in the late 20th century.
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