📕African American Literature – Before 1900 Unit 14 – African American Literature: Pre-1900 Legacy

Historical Context

• African American literature before 1900 emerged from the experiences of slavery, oppression, and the struggle for freedom and equality
• Enslaved Africans brought rich oral traditions, including folktales, spirituals, and work songs, which laid the foundation for early African American literature
• The transatlantic slave trade forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas, creating a diaspora that shaped the cultural and literary landscape
• The institution of slavery denied African Americans access to education and literacy, making the act of writing itself a form of resistance
• The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the 19th century, with literature serving as a powerful tool for advocating the end of slavery
• The Civil War (1861-1865) and the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) marked a turning point in African American history and literature
  • The Emancipation Proclamation declared enslaved people in Confederate states free, though it did not end slavery immediately
  • The 13th Amendment (1865) officially abolished slavery in the United States
• The Reconstruction era (1865-1877) saw African Americans striving to assert their newfound freedom and civil rights, reflected in the literature of the time

Key Authors and Works

• Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784), the first published African American poet, known for her collection "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" (1773)
  • Wheatley's poetry demonstrated her mastery of classical forms and challenged the prevailing notion that African Americans were intellectually inferior
• Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895), a former slave who became a prominent abolitionist, orator, and writer
  • His autobiographical works, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" (1845) and "My Bondage and My Freedom" (1855), exposed the brutality of slavery and argued for its abolition
• Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897), a former slave who wrote "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" (1861), one of the few slave narratives written by a woman
  • Jacobs's work shed light on the unique challenges and abuses faced by enslaved women
• Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-1883), an abolitionist and women's rights activist, known for her powerful speeches, including "Ain't I a Woman?" (1851)
• William Wells Brown (c. 1814-1884), a former slave who became a prolific writer, known for his novel "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" (1853), considered the first novel published by an African American
• Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), a poet, novelist, and playwright who gained national recognition for his works, including the poetry collection "Lyrics of Lowly Life" (1896)
  • Dunbar wrote in both standard English and African American Vernacular English (AAVE), capturing the experiences and language of African Americans

Themes and Motifs

• The horrors and inhumanity of slavery, including physical and psychological abuse, family separation, and the denial of basic human rights
• The struggle for freedom, both physical and mental, and the resilience of the African American spirit in the face of oppression
• The importance of literacy and education as a means of empowerment and resistance against the institution of slavery
• The affirmation of African American humanity, intelligence, and creativity in a society that sought to dehumanize and stereotype them
• The role of religion and spirituality in providing solace, hope, and a sense of community for enslaved and oppressed African Americans
  • The African American church emerged as a central institution for social, cultural, and political organization
• The complex relationships between enslaved people, including family bonds, friendships, and the formation of communities in the face of adversity
• The intersection of race, gender, and class in shaping the experiences and identities of African Americans
• The critique of American society and its failure to live up to the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice for all

Literary Styles and Techniques

• Slave narratives, autobiographical accounts of life under slavery, served as powerful tools for abolition and self-expression
  • These narratives often followed a common structure, including descriptions of life before slavery, the horrors of enslavement, and the journey to freedom
• The use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in literature, reflecting the unique language and oral traditions of African American communities
• The incorporation of African folklore, spirituals, and work songs into written literature, preserving and celebrating African American cultural heritage
• The subversion of traditional literary forms, such as poetry and the novel, to convey the African American experience and challenge dominant narratives
• The use of irony, satire, and humor to critique and resist the oppressive structures of American society
• The employment of biblical allusions and religious imagery to underscore the moral imperative of abolition and the hypocrisy of slaveholding Christians
• The development of a distinctly African American literary voice and aesthetic, laying the groundwork for the Harlem Renaissance and beyond

Social and Political Influences

• The institution of slavery and the legal and social structures that supported it, including the Fugitive Slave Act and the Dred Scott decision
• The abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery through political action, moral suasion, and literature
  • Abolitionist organizations, such as the American Anti-Slavery Society, played a crucial role in publishing and distributing African American literature
• The Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, which transformed the political and social landscape of the United States
• The Reconstruction era and the struggle for African American civil rights, including the right to vote and access to education
• The rise of Jim Crow laws and segregation in the late 19th century, which reinforced racial inequality and oppression
• The emergence of African American churches, schools, and newspapers as key institutions for community building and cultural expression
• The ongoing debates over the nature of African American identity, including the tensions between assimilation and cultural distinctiveness

Impact on American Literature

• African American literature before 1900 challenged the dominant narrative of American literature, which largely excluded or stereotyped African American experiences
• The works of early African American writers expanded the boundaries of American literature, introducing new voices, perspectives, and literary forms
• Slave narratives, in particular, had a significant impact on American literature, providing firsthand accounts of the horrors of slavery and humanizing the experiences of enslaved people
• African American literature before 1900 laid the foundation for the Harlem Renaissance, a flowering of African American art and literature in the early 20th century
• The themes, styles, and techniques developed by early African American writers influenced generations of American authors, both black and white
• The inclusion of African American literature in the American literary canon challenged traditional notions of what constituted "American" literature and culture
• The legacy of early African American literature continues to shape contemporary discussions of race, identity, and social justice in the United States

Critical Analysis and Interpretation

• Early African American literature has been the subject of extensive scholarly analysis, with critics examining its historical, social, and literary significance
• Feminist and womanist scholars have explored the unique experiences and contributions of African American women writers, such as Harriet Jacobs and Sojourner Truth
• Postcolonial and diaspora studies have situated early African American literature within the broader context of the African diaspora and the legacy of colonialism
• Critical race theory has provided a framework for analyzing the ways in which early African American literature challenged and subverted dominant racial ideologies
• Reader-response criticism has emphasized the role of the reader in constructing meaning and the importance of considering the diverse audiences for early African American literature
• Comparative studies have examined the relationships between early African American literature and other literary traditions, such as Caribbean and African literature
• The ongoing recovery and republication of early African American texts has expanded the canon and provided new opportunities for critical engagement

Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

• The works of early African American writers continue to be read, studied, and celebrated as essential parts of the American literary canon
• Contemporary African American authors, such as Toni Morrison and Ta-Nehisi Coates, have built upon the literary and cultural foundations established by their predecessors
• The themes and issues addressed in early African American literature, such as racism, inequality, and the struggle for freedom and justice, remain relevant to contemporary American society
• The Black Lives Matter movement and other social justice initiatives have drawn inspiration from the activism and resistance of early African American writers and leaders
• The ongoing debates over the teaching of African American history and literature in schools reflect the enduring significance of this body of work
• The legacy of early African American literature has inspired a new generation of writers, scholars, and activists committed to advancing racial and social justice
• The study and appreciation of early African American literature have expanded beyond the United States, with scholars and readers worldwide engaging with this rich and diverse tradition