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African American Literature

What is African American Literature?

-Society paints it as novels about drugs, gangs and violence with covers that have half naked people on the front covers often with violent weapons.

-These books are actually "Afro-pop", "Urban" or "Hip hop" fiction.

-African American Literature is actually classic African American novels.

The Differences between being an African American Writer and a Caucasian Writer

  • Even to sell bad writing you have to be good
  • You would have an eaiser time being published if you wrote poorly compared to a Caucasian writer who had to actually write well
  • You need to be good and consistent
  • "Like an egg: first, egg; then an Easter egg, the color applied."

Origin and Growth of African American Literature

  • Africans were fimilar with literature for many years before they came to America
  • They didn't come culturally "empty-handed"

During the early 19th century, the slave narrative was the newest form of literary expression.

Charles W. Chesnutt-

started writing in 1887

wrote short stories about the traditions

& superstitions of the people he taught

Gustavas Vassa-

born in 1745 then kidnapped at 11

wrote an autobiography of his life

became a member of the anti-slavery movement

Jupiter Hammon-

was a slave in long island

was the first African American to publish a poem in 1760

Phillis Wheatley-

wrote about the Boston Puritans

became one of the best known poets in New England

Ethnic Impact in American Literature

It's not all about slavery and the ghettos

Some key values by African American folk literature and its writers are:

  • The insistence upon a tough-minded grip upon reality.
  • A willingness to confront the self searchingly and even with laughter.
  • Patience and endurance
  • A sense of something more than this world and it's rhythms.

Why are they still criticised?

-racism still exists

-only 25% all titles published annually are written by African Americans

-African American novels don't date as far back as Caucasian writers

-African American consumers are buying more books than ever despite the lack of publishing

Integration and Race Literature

  • An African American writer is living "in between two worlds-one not yet dead, the other not fully born."-Matthew Arnold
  • Was mostly protest literature
  • Now they are writing about their world and life without any restraints

African American Literature in Education

  • Less than 2% of the 2,500 to 3,500 children's books published feature African Americans and their culture
  • Should be available in public libraries and schools
  • Multiculturalism is important- it opens them up to different cultures language, values, beliefs, ways of life and patterns of thinking

Guidelines for the literature that schools allow:

1. Postive Portrayals of Characters without stereotyping

2. Authentic illustrations because they have a strong impact on children

3. Pluralistic themes to help children realize the importance of cultural diversity

4. Contemporary as well as historical fiction

5. Strong plots and well-developed characterization

The Future for African American Literature

  • "The black writer and his people are now standing at a crossroads in history."
  • No one knows what the future holds but its a time to celebrate for African American writers because they have changed the way that North America views literature
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