African American Writers and Classical Tradition

African American Writers and Classical Tradition PDF Author: William W. Cook
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226789985
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 466

Get Book

Book Description
Constraints on freedom, education, and individual dignity have always been fundamental in determining who is able to write, when, and where. Considering the singular experience of the African American writer, William W. Cook and James Tatum here argue that African American literature did not develop apart from canonical Western literary traditions but instead grew out of those literatures, even as it adapted and transformed the cultural traditions and religions of Africa and the African diaspora along the way. Tracing the interaction between African American writers and the literatures of ancient Greece and Rome, from the time of slavery and its aftermath to the civil rights era and on into the present, the authors offer a sustained and lively discussion of the life and work of Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, and Rita Dove, among other highly acclaimed poets, novelists, and scholars. Assembling this brilliant and diverse group of African American writers at a moment when our understanding of classical literature is ripe for change, the authors paint an unforgettable portrait of our own reception of “classic” writing, especially as it was inflected by American racial politics.

African American Writers and Classical Tradition

African American Writers and Classical Tradition PDF Author: William W. Cook
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226789985
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 466

Get Book

Book Description
Constraints on freedom, education, and individual dignity have always been fundamental in determining who is able to write, when, and where. Considering the singular experience of the African American writer, William W. Cook and James Tatum here argue that African American literature did not develop apart from canonical Western literary traditions but instead grew out of those literatures, even as it adapted and transformed the cultural traditions and religions of Africa and the African diaspora along the way. Tracing the interaction between African American writers and the literatures of ancient Greece and Rome, from the time of slavery and its aftermath to the civil rights era and on into the present, the authors offer a sustained and lively discussion of the life and work of Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, and Rita Dove, among other highly acclaimed poets, novelists, and scholars. Assembling this brilliant and diverse group of African American writers at a moment when our understanding of classical literature is ripe for change, the authors paint an unforgettable portrait of our own reception of “classic” writing, especially as it was inflected by American racial politics.

Notable African American Writers

Notable African American Writers PDF Author: Salem Press
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781642654073
Category : African American authors
Languages : en
Pages : 1084

Get Book

Book Description
Provides a three volume set that examines African Americans who wrote centuries ago, as well as modern storytellers whose work reflects the changing global landscape, providing an overview and more in-depth context to the stories of over 100 acclaimed African American authors.

African American Writers

African American Writers PDF Author: Valerie Smith
Publisher: Free Press
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 444

Get Book

Book Description
This concise edition of a 1991 Scribner's Reference work features detailed biographical portraits of 28 black writers, including James Baldwin, Alice Walker, W.E.B. DuBois, Ntozake Shange, Richard Wright, and others--a 200-year chronicle of their lives and literature.

Black Writers, White Publishers

Black Writers, White Publishers PDF Author: John Kevin Young
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 160473549X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 242

Get Book

Book Description
Jean Toomer's Cane was advertised as a book about Negroes by a Negro, despite his request not to promote the book along such racial lines. Nella Larsen switched the title of her second novel from Nig to Passing, because an editor felt the original title might be too inflammatory. In order to publish his first novel as a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection Richard Wright deleted a scene in Native Son depicting Bigger Thomas masturbating. Toni Morrison changed the last word of Beloved at her editor's request and switched the title of Paradise from War to allay her publisher's marketing concerns. Although many editors place demands on their authors, these examples invite special scholarly attention given the power imbalance between white editors and publishers and African American authors. Black Writers, White Publishers: Marketplace Politics in Twentieth-Century African American Literature examines the complex negotiations behind the production of African American literature. In chapters on Larsen's Passing, Ishmael Reed's Mumbo Jumbo, Gwendolyn Brooks's Children Coming Home, Morrison's Oprah's Book Club selections, and Ralph Ellison's Juneteenth, John K. Young presents the first book-length application of editorial theory to African American literature. Focusing on the manuscripts, drafts, book covers, colophons, and advertisements that trace book production, Young expands upon the concept of socialized authorship and demonstrates how the study of publishing history and practice and African American literary criticism enrich each other. John K. Young is an associate professor of English at Marshall University. His work has appeared in journals such as College English, African American Review, and Critique.

The African American Guide to Writing & Publishing Non Fiction

The African American Guide to Writing & Publishing Non Fiction PDF Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0767910850
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 368

Get Book

Book Description
In college and graduate school, Jewell Parker Rhodes never encountered a single reading assignment or exercise that featured a person of color. Now she has made it her mission to rectify the situation, gathering advice and inspiring tips tailored for African Americans seeking to express their life experiences. Comprehensive and totally energizing, the African American Guide to Writing and Publishing Nonfiction bursts with supportive topics such as: ·Finding your voice ·Getting to know your literary ancestors ·Overcoming a bruised ego and finding the determination to pursue your dreams ·Gathering material and conducting research ·Tapping sweet, bittersweet, and joyful memories ·Knowing when to keep revising, and when to let go The guide also features unforgettable excerpts from luminaries such as Maya Angelou, Brent Staples, Houston Baker, and pointers from bestselling African American authors Patrice Gaines, E. Lynn Harris, James McBride, John Hope Franklin, Pearl Cleage, Edwidge Danticat, and many others. It is a uniquely nurturing and informative touchstone for affirming, bearing witness, leaving a legacy, and celebrating the remarkable journey of the self.

African American Writers

African American Writers PDF Author: Valerie Smith
Publisher: Charles Scribners Sons/Reference
ISBN: 9780684806389
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 925

Get Book

Book Description
Offers brief biographical sketches of obscure and well-known African American authors including twenty new authors who have gained prominence since the mid-1980s.

Black American Writing from the Nadir

Black American Writing from the Nadir PDF Author: Dickson D. Bruce, Jr.
Publisher: LSU Press
ISBN: 9780807118061
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 292

Get Book

Book Description
In this wide-ranging study, Dickson D. Bruce. Jr., analyzes post-Reconstruction and turn-of-the-century black writing, treating minor as well as major authors and considering a broad range of genres. Bruce shows that black writers confronted the conditions of an increasingly racist society in almost every aspect of their work—from their choice of subject matter to the way they drew their characters to the mood they portrayed. At the same time, these writers, most of whom were members of a small but growing black professional class, displayed a concern for middle-class aspirations and values. Bruce underscores the significance of discerning the tensions between these opposing forces in studying the literature of the time. Bruce’s attention to the body of work produced by minor writers, most of whom have remained obscure to all but a few literary scholars and historians, adds an important dimension to our understanding of African-American history and literature. His discussion of such better-known writers as Charles W. Chesnutt, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, and W. E. B. Du Bois places them in a fuller literary context, defining more clearly their significance as individuals. Black American Writing from the Nadir is an insightful, well-focused work that will benefit social and cultural historians as well as students of literature

Representing the Race

Representing the Race PDF Author: Gene Andrew Jarrett
Publisher: NYU Press
ISBN: 0814743382
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 276

Get Book

Book Description
Examines various forms of African-American literature, with the aim of delineating the political legacy of black Americans. Simultaneous. Hardcover available.

Black on White

Black on White PDF Author: David R. Roediger
Publisher: Schocken
ISBN: 0307482294
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 367

Get Book

Book Description
In this thought-provoking volume, David R. Roediger has brought together some of the most important black writers throughout history to explore the question: What does it really mean to be white in America? From folktales and slave narratives to contemporary essays, poetry, and fiction, black writers have long been among America's keenest students of white consciousness and white behavior, but until now much of this writing has been ignored. Black on White reverses this trend by presenting the work of more than fifty major figures, including James Baldwin, Derrick Bell, Ralph Ellison, W.E.B. Du Bois, bell hooks, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker to take a closer look at the many meanings of whiteness in our society. Rich in irony, artistry, passion, and common sense, these reflections on what Langston Hughes called "the ways of white folks" illustrate how whiteness as a racial identity derives its meaning not as a biological category but as a social construct designed to uphold racial inequality. Powerful and compelling, Black on White provides a much-needed perspective that is sure to have a major impact on the study of race and race relations in America.

Great Short Stories by African-American Writers

Great Short Stories by African-American Writers PDF Author: Christine Rudisel
Publisher: Courier Dover Publications
ISBN: 048647139X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 259

Get Book

Book Description
Offering diverse perspectives on the black experience, this anthology of short fiction spotlights works by influential African-American authors. Nearly 30 outstanding stories include tales by W. E. B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay, and Jamaica Kincaid. From the turn of the twentieth century come Alice Ruth Moore's "A Carnival Jangle," Charles W. Chesnutt's "Uncle Wellington’s Wives," and Paul Laurence Dunbar's "The Scapegoat." Other stories include "Becky" by Jean Toomer; "Afternoon" by Ralph Ellison; Langston Hughes's "Feet Live Their Own Life"; and "Jesus Christ in Texas" by W. E. B. Du Bois. Samples of more recent fiction include tales by Jervey Tervalon, Alice Walker, and Edwidge Danticat. Ideal for browsing, this collection is also suitable for courses in African-American studies and American literature.