Folklore in African-American Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the presence and interpretation of folklore is critical to understanding African-American writing. It looks at how one can better understand the desires and inner thoughts of African-Americans during slavery and how conjure, heroism and tales of animalism are all reoccurring themes within African-American folklore.

From the Paper:

"The absence of interpretation and references to folklore are due to the idea that folklore is a lesser form of literature. The word "folk" itself implies a lesser academic standing to many in the literary world. African American writers and critics may feel torn between academic standards and cultural obligations. Since education is held at such a high standard, acknowledging a folk reference can be detrimental to the way in which a writer is viewed. In the analysis of post-emancipation African American literature, references to folklore are often overlooked or ignored. However, folklore plays a large and important role within African American literature. African American folklore gives insight into African American culture and represents basis and structure for a great deal of African American literature (Prahlad 566)."

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