Eyes on African-American Literature - The Journey to Present Days

African-American literature gives insights into the historical experiences of Black people. Since it represents actual lived experiences, it depicts historical events as they were, capturing the struggles and triumphs of the community through the centuries. African-American people lean towards this literature as it celebrates Black culture and asserts their sense of identity while challenging the stereotypes portrayed in other literature. We look at the top literature through the centuries and what has made it stand out.

Going Back to the Roots - Literature in the 19th Century

Slavery was rife in this Century, and it is thus unsurprising that many of the earlier works of literature focused on this theme. Let's consider some of the pieces from this time:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Autobiographies are a great way to bring out true lived experiences, and Frederick did not disappoint his readers. This book, which dates back to 1845, starts by detailing his earlier life. Having been born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick had to endure tough conditions, many of which included physical abuse and lack of access to basic needs. But he did not allow his circumstances to define him. Instead, he fought for a better life, seeking education even when reading and writing were not easily accessible to slaves. His determination helped him escape to the North, where he began his work advocating for the end of slavery.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Women's rights, especially slave women's rights, were not what they are today (though we still have a long way to go). In the 19th Century, women had to fight tooth and nail to overcome oppression, as was the case of Harriet Jacobs. This book, which was written in 1861, follows Harriet's life as she works to keep her family together and protect her children. But with her master sexually harassing her atop all the other challenges that come with slavery, this is quite a hard task. Harriet finally has enough of the struggles and escapes her master, eventually finding an attic where she hid for seven years. Like most slaves, she ran to the North, where she sought a new and better life, not just for herself but for all other enslaved people.

The President's Daughter

In 1853, William Wells Brown published a novel that would capture people's attention. In it, he follows the life of Clotel, Thomas Jefferson's daughter. As a mixed-race individual, she had the odds against her as she did not fit in with any of the dominant communities. Brown explores how slavery not only broke people's spirits but also contributed to the breakdown of African-American families. He also goes into the ethical considerations behind slavery and the irony that the nation, which relied on liberty principles, was burying its head in the sand when it came to outright human rights violations.

Of Voting Rights and Equality - A Walk Through the 20th Century

The end of slavery catapulted the African-American community into a new world where they faced different struggles. While they no longer had to be slaves, the world they were walking into had few opportunities for them. Worse still, they were not treated as equals and had to fight for things as basic as the right to sit on the bus. The following works explored these struggles:

Cane

In 1923, Jean Toomer released a novel that captured the African-American community's thoughts about their new way of life. He explored the different experiences of people living in the South compared to those in the North. By using poetry and prose, he invited his readers to explore their cultural heritage while he broke down the complexities of the new African-American struggles. Jean's book also touched on issues of racial identity, using vignettes to explore each theme independently.

A Love Supreme

This jazz album by John Coltrane wowed people from the minute they heard it. Released in 1965, the whole recording took place in a single session with the classic quartet - piano, bass, and drums. The album focuses on Coltrane's spiritual journey and his zest for enlightenment, which the audience can follow as they move from the acknowledgement to the resolution, pursuance, and psalm, which are divided into four parts that complete this masterpiece. Many people applaud Coltrane for his work on this album, which set the pace for other jazz musicians to invest in works that could evoke deep emotions.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Books

This guide would not be complete if we failed to mention books by this Civil Rights Leader. Here are some top options:

Stride Towards Freedom: The Montgomery Story: If you want to learn more about this monumental bus boycott, this is the book to read. Published in 1958, it gives accounts of everything that went into this boycott and how it shaped future civil rights events.
Strength to Love: Nonviolence was at the top among King's beliefs. This 1963 collection of sermons portrays as much as he advocates for a better society where people embrace each other rather than resort to fighting. It's a great opportunity to view things from his perspective.
The Trumpet of Conscience: King's lectures in Canada focused on the need for social justice. So good were they that they were published posthumously, allowing his audience to read about his vision and implement it.

There are also many books about King's contribution to society that are worth a read. Below are some good options:

Bearing the Cross. This book, published by David Garrow in 1986, focuses on how King was instrumental in the Civil Rights movement. His work includes an analysis of King's paper and interviews with people who were close to King, thus curating a biography that allows King's followers a deep look into his life.
Let the Trumpet Sound: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr. Stephen Oates released this book in 1982, depicting the life of King. In it, he goes into detail about King's personal struggles and how hard he worked to beat the odds and become the face of what was a monumental movement in Black history.

These books dive into King's philosophy, enabling the audience to understand why King was so invested in a better life for all.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston, who wrote this book in 1937, has received praise in recent decades for her early works, which set the pace for women's literature. In this piece, she follows the life of Janie Crawford, a woman who is intent on finding her independence in a world where women barely have rights. As Janie navigates love and marriage, she often finds herself questioning the impact of gender roles and race in the face of personal identity. Three marriages on, the questions linger as she fights to assert her existence without bending to societal roles in a world where women often have no choice.

Two Scholars Discuss Afrocentrism

This book, by Wilson Jeremiah Moses, gave readers an in-depth look into Afrocentrism by digging into its origins and how it had developed through the decades. He explored how Afrocentrism could help African Americans reclaim their African heritage, thus fostering a sense of belonging and identity. In the book, he also shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of this movement, which allowed other scholars to build on his work while discussing Black cultural and political movements. His work, which dates to 1998, has also been used in academic settings to encourage critical thinking about the African-American community and opportunities to foster social identity.

The Narrows

Relationships between Blacks and White people had often been frowned upon. And in the 20th Century, not much had changed. Ann Petry, who wrote this book in 1953, captured the effects of racial identity and stereotypes on couples in this Century. The story follows a black man who pursues a relationship with a white woman. Throughout the story, they contend with issues of race and class, with societal beliefs often getting in the way.

Richard Wright Essays

Wright's commitment to social justice pushed him to publish many works that the African-American community still refers to in the modern age. Below are the top three pieces:

The Ethics of Living Jim Crow: This autobiography, which was published in 1937, followed the effects of Jim Crow laws on the African-American community. Wright explores how segregation and humiliation shaped his life and that of others.
Blueprint for Negro Writing: As novels gained traction, Wright wanted to lay the foundation for what would eventually become the script for future novels. He emphasized the need for authors to dig deep when creating content to ensure their works could be influential in advocating for social change.
Black Power: The effects of slavery were not just in the US but also affected other nations. In Wright's tour of Ghana, he wrote a piece highlighting the effect of colonialism on African communities, detailing how it had played a part in social identity and altered global dynamics.

Many of his works focused on collective consciousness and have been instrumental in pushing authors to explore more than surface-level themes.

Most of the work in this period focuses on social norms and the quest for identity. Many other books also focused on the fight for human rights in a world where African Americans barely had a say in their lives.

Books By Howard Thurman

As people started digging into themes surrounding social justice and spirituality, they leaned on Howard, an amazing writer whose work often taught people how to improve their lives one aspect at a time. Below are some of his top works:

Meditations of the Heart: This 1953 book featured meditations and prayers that gave the audience insight into Howard's spiritual awakening.
The Luminous Darkness: In 1965, the racial divide was still evident, and Howard covered its effects in this book that addressed the spiritual challenges that came with this oppression.
The Search for Common Ground: This book, released in 1986, highlighted the divide in the world while highlighting the importance of seeking shared interests in the quest for a better future.

To date, many people refer to his books when seeking answers about personal growth or how their faith affects their role in society.

God of the Oppressed

This book, written by James H. Cone, focuses on Black struggles as a foundation for Black theology. It also highlights the shortcomings of Euro-American theology in addressing Black people's experiences and thus maintaining the status quo that continues to oppress disadvantaged societies. The book additionally explores how the Christian faith can be instrumental in offering strength and hope to the community as it works to fight for its place in society. The themes in the book were so impactful that they have been used by the clergy, scholars, and students to further social justice discussions.

Focusing on the Future - Literature in the 21st Century

If you don't know where you're coming from, it's hard to know what you should do to get where you want to be. As such, as authors focus on what the African-American future could be, they also enjoy taking a walk down memory lane to figure out how past events have shaped the community. Below are the works that stand out in this regard.

The Known World

Historical reports on slavery in the South often depict White people as the slave owners. But this historical novel by Edward P. Jones takes quite a turn. Published in 2003, Edward follows the story of Henry Townsend. Like many black people, Henry starts his life as a slave, toiling hard to keep up with his master's requirements. But the sun soon shines on him and he becomes a successful farmer - here is where things get interesting. Like many farmers in the region, he acquires slaves to work on his farm. The novel explores the moral dilemma in this situation, examining the lives of the free and the enslaved and the motivations behind the slavery complexities.

The Underground Railroad

Enslaved people suffered so many hardships that many of them sought to run away, willing to risk their lives to end the suffering. As a result, the underground railroad became the passage to a new life - many historical reports have covered this amazing concept. Colson Whitehead released this novel in 2016, adding a twist to the railroad that African Americans used in the past. Rather than go with the original context, she adds some aspects of magic to make the journey even more exciting, as she takes her audience on a journey with Cora, an enslaved woman who escapes a plantation in the South in search of freedom. The re-imagination is quite captivating!

The Hate U Give

African Americans are still fighting for their rights to this day. Along this line, many movements have come up, seeking to spread a message of hope while raising awareness about the brutalities that are ingrained in the system. This 2017 novel by Angie Thomas seeks to do as much. It follows the story of a young girl who witnesses the police gun down her unarmed friend. The book explores how racial injustices still prevail in the system and sheds light on the hope that activism offers to the community. The storytelling is quite impactful, making this one of the best reads for anyone seeking a way to be part of the fight for justice.

As the African-American community works to solidify its place in society, we can expect that more authors will add their voices to the fight for justice.

Conclusion

African-American literature provides educational value to its audience, enabling people to understand how the complexities of race and identity have shaped the community's past and present. It also highlights the diversity within the community, challenging stereotypes and enabling people to feel like they belong.