African American Literature

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    Oral Story Telling and Vernacular Tradition

    Since the 17th century, and well before that, oral story telling has been a huge part of the African American culture. It is still used today to explain the stories and events in African American history.
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    Slavery

    Slavery was a huge wrong doing in America since around the 1600's. The American Civil war turned into a fight over slavery, and it finally was not legal anymore when the U.S created the 13th amendment.
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    Phyllis Wheatley

    She was the first published African American women author
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    Pan-Africanism and interest in African Heritage

    Pan- Africanism is the idea of solidarity in Africans worldwide. It is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social, and political progress and aims to unify all people of African descent.
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    Abolitionist Movement

    A movement to protest slavery. The men and women involved helped slaves escape through the underground railroads.
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    Frederick Douglass

    An African-American social reformer, and writer. After escaping from slavery, Douglass decided to write a book telling all of the horrors from that time. He later became a leader of the Abolitionist Movement.
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    Frances Harper

    An African American poet and an important member of the abolitionist movement
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    Booker T. Washington

    He had a very different view of segregation, stating that he wanted gradual desegregation, instead of fighting back.
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    Reconstruction

    A time of rebuilding of the south after the civil war. It was important for African Americans because they tried to establish rights for themselves, and be respected in society, although many people still treated them poorly
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    W.E.B DuBois

    He was the first African American to earn a doctorate, and a founder of the NAACP. His views on segregation were for African Americans to fight back, and to not wait for gradual desegregation
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    Jim Crow Era

    Laws that that kept blacks and whites segregated.
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    Claude McKay

    He was an author born in Jamaica. He writes in sonnets about his radical ideas and his want for African Americans to fight back.
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    Zora Neale Hurtson

    She was an African American novelist who wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God.
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    Sterling Brown

    He received a bachelors degree from Williams College and a masters at Harvard. He then went on to teach at Howard University for forty years. He became intrigued by African American folklore, as well as writing critical essays
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    Langston Hughes

    He was regarded as one of the best American poets of the 20th century. After reading Negros Speaks of Rivers, he became proud of his race. He wanted America to be free and equal. He was a songwriter poet and novelist and he used realism, and black music, while writing.
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    Countee Cullen

    American poet and leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
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    Richard Wright

    He was an African-American author who wrote Native Son. He wrote about race, especially involving the plight of African Americans during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries.
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    Migration

    The migration of African Americans in the 1900's from rural areas to bigger cities in hopes of finding jobs and escaping racism
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    Harlem Renaissace

    A black expression of culture through art, music and literature.
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    Maya Angelou

    She wrote a variety of music/ literature. She was active in the civil rights movement. One of her more famous plays, Look Away, won a Tony Award. She is still alive today.
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    Lorraine Hansberry

    She was the first African American women to write a play that is used on broadway. She focused on the African American peoples struggle
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    Toni Morrison

    Author of Song of Solomon, Toni was an extremely influential and popular African American writer who is still alive today.
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    Amiri Baraka

    An American writer who was known for his blunt way of saying things.
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    Naturalism

    The movement towards desegregation which was important because it helped assert black culture into society.
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    Everett C. Hoagland

    He was a swing musician who played in the 20's and 30's. He is still alive today
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    Civil Rights Movement

    The fight for equality between whites and blacks in the United States