The Beginnings of African American Literary Expression
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Exploring the evolution of African American literary expression, this overview highlights early works like Lucy Terry's 'Bars Fight' and Phillis Wheatley's poetry. It delves into the rise of African American writers, the significance of slave narratives by Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, spiritual autobiographies, and post-emancipation literature's role in civil rights.
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The Beginnings of African American Literary Expression
African American literature has its roots deeply embedded in the history of the African diaspora in America, dating back to colonial times. One of the earliest recorded pieces is "Bars Fight" (1746), a ballad by Lucy Terry that recounts a Native American attack in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Another pioneering figure, Phillis Wheatley, became the first African American to publish a book of poetry with "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" in 1773. Wheatley's literary prowess was so exceptional that she was called to prove her authorship in front of a panel of Boston notables, leading to a preface in her book that certified her as the writer. This preface is often cited as an early acknowledgment of African American literary contributions.The Rise of African American Writers and Their Impact
The literary contributions of African American authors continued to grow after the works of Terry and Wheatley. Jupiter Hammon, who was enslaved in New York, became the first African American to publish a poem in the United States with "An Evening Thought" in 1761. He also penned an ode to Phillis Wheatley and a treatise advocating for the gradual abolition of slavery. In the realm of fiction, William Wells Brown and Victor Séjour were notable early authors. Brown's "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" (1853) is recognized as the first novel published by an African American. Séjour, a free person of color, authored "Le Mulâtre" ("The Mulatto") in 1837, a work of fiction published in French that had limited influence on American literature. Other significant contributions include Frank J. Webb's "The Garies and Their Friends," which explored racial passing and northern racism, and Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig," which is considered one of the first novels published by an African American woman, depicting the life of free Blacks in the North.The Pivotal Role of Slave Narratives
Slave narratives, a genre that gained prominence in the mid-19th century, are a cornerstone of African American literature. These first-person accounts by formerly enslaved individuals provided a harrowing look into the institution of slavery and the resilience of those who endured it. Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" (1845) became a bestseller and played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement, despite initial doubts about its authenticity due to Douglass's race. Harriet Jacobs's "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," published under the pseudonym Linda Brent in 1861, was a groundbreaking narrative that highlighted the sexual abuse and the fight for freedom that enslaved women faced.Spiritual Autobiographies and African American Women's Voices
Spiritual autobiographies by African American writers were instrumental in shaping the literary landscape, blending religious themes with personal journeys. These works laid the groundwork for later narratives, including those of enslaved individuals. African American women such as Zilpha Elaw, Maria W. Stewart, Jarena Lee, and Nancy Prince authored spiritual narratives that not only documented their faith but also confronted societal norms. Sojourner Truth's autobiography, "Narrative of Sojourner Truth," co-authored with Olive Gilbert, stands as a significant contribution to both the slave narrative and spiritual autobiography genres, offering a powerful account of her life as an African American woman and abolitionist.Post-Emancipation Literature and the Quest for Civil Rights
Following the abolition of slavery, African American literature continued to address the challenges faced by African Americans in a post-emancipation society. Newspapers served as a vital outlet for essays, poetry, and fiction, with authors like Jennie Carter emerging as influential voices. W. E. B. Du Bois, a scholar with a doctorate from Harvard, published "The Souls of Black Folk" in 1903, a seminal collection of essays that examined race relations and the African American experience. Du Bois's work emphasized the need for solidarity among African Americans in the struggle against racial prejudice and inequality, and his assertion that "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line" has become a defining statement in the discourse on race and civil rights.
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Early African American Literature
"Bars Fight" by Lucy Terry
Lucy Terry's ballad "Bars Fight" is one of the earliest recorded pieces of African American literature, recounting a Native American attack in colonial America
Phillis Wheatley's "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral"
Wheatley's literary prowess
Phillis Wheatley's exceptional literary talent was recognized when she became the first African American to publish a book of poetry, leading to a preface that certified her as the writer
Jupiter Hammon's "An Evening Thought"
Jupiter Hammon's poem "An Evening Thought" was the first published by an African American in the United States and also included an ode to Phillis Wheatley and a treatise advocating for the abolition of slavery
Pioneering African American Authors
William Wells Brown and Victor Séjour
Brown's "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter"
William Wells Brown's "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" is recognized as the first novel published by an African American, exploring themes of racial passing and northern racism
Séjour's "Le Mulâtre" ("The Mulatto")
Victor Séjour's "Le Mulâtre" ("The Mulatto") was a work of fiction published in French that had limited influence on American literature
Frank J. Webb's "The Garies and Their Friends"
Frank J. Webb's "The Garies and Their Friends" is a significant contribution to African American literature, exploring themes of racial passing and northern racism
Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig"
Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig" is considered one of the first novels published by an African American woman, depicting the life of free Blacks in the North
The Significance of Slave Narratives
Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave"
Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" became a bestseller and played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement, despite initial doubts about its authenticity
Harriet Jacobs's "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"
Harriet Jacobs's "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" was a groundbreaking narrative that highlighted the sexual abuse and fight for freedom faced by enslaved women
Spiritual Autobiographies and African American Women's Voices
Zilpha Elaw, Maria W. Stewart, Jarena Lee, and Nancy Prince
African American women such as Zilpha Elaw, Maria W. Stewart, Jarena Lee, and Nancy Prince authored spiritual narratives that not only documented their faith but also confronted societal norms
Sojourner Truth's "Narrative of Sojourner Truth"
Sojourner Truth's "Narrative of Sojourner Truth," co-authored with Olive Gilbert, stands as a significant contribution to both the slave narrative and spiritual autobiography genres, offering a powerful account of her life as an African American woman and abolitionist
Post-Emancipation Literature and the Quest for Civil Rights
Newspapers as a vital outlet for African American literature
Newspapers served as a crucial outlet for essays, poetry, and fiction, with authors like Jennie Carter emerging as influential voices
W. E. B. Du Bois's "The Souls of Black Folk"
W. E. B. Du Bois's "The Souls of Black Folk" is a seminal collection of essays that examined race relations and the African American experience, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the struggle against racial prejudice and inequality
The Beginnings of African American Literary Expression
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00
The origins of ______ ______ literature can be traced back to the times of the ______ ______ in America.
African American
African diaspora
01
Lucy Terry authored 'Bars Fight' in 1746, which is a ______ about a ______ ______ in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
ballad
Native American
attack
02
To verify her work, Wheatley had to demonstrate her authorship to a panel of ______ ______, which led to a preface confirming her as the ______.
Boston notables
writer
