The African-American Literary Cannon

Paper Summary:

This paper defines and discusses the African-American literary canon. It shows how African-American writers and literature differ from British and American writers and discusses specific characteristics of African-American writing. The paper then looks at how African-American literature has been pertinently divided into periods by Henry Louis Gates and provides a brief historical view of these periods.

From the Paper:

"The bulk of African American literature has been pertinently divided into periods by Henry Louis Gates. A historical view of these periods emphasizes the growth of African American literature from the 'slave narratives' to the emancipated, free 'black art.' The literature has thus matured together with the people that created it. From the beginning to the end, the struggle to attain independence can be sensed in every piece of writing. The first period in African American literature comprises the so-called 'slave narratives', which already express the emerging of the black consciousness that will later shape the African American canon. "The Literature of Slavery and of Freedom 1746-1865" is made up thus of the writings of a people who was trying to make its experiences public. Needless to say, the shadow of slavery is cast over each of these first attempts at writing. It is through these incipient literary productions that the black people grope for their identity for the first time. With an almost exclusively oral tradition behind, the African American writers of the late eighteenth century have little ground for an identity in front of the dominant white culture."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Dept. of State: International Information Programs: Publications - Outline of American Literature." International Information Programs. Apr. 2002. U.S. Department of State. 18 Mar. 2008 <http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/oal/amlitweb.htm>.
• Gates, Henry L., and Nellie Y. McKay, eds. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
• Gorski, Paul C. "Classic African American Literature." EdChange Multicultural Pavilion. 2008. EdChange. 18 Mar. 2008 <http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/sites/aframdocs.html>.
• Keenan, A M. "African American Review." African American Review. 5 Mar. 2008. Saint Louis University. 16 Mar. 2008 <http://aar.slu.edu/>.
• Lightfoot, Judy. "Judy Lightfoot PhD - Some Characteristics of African American Literature." Judy Lightfoot. 18 Mar. 2008 <http://home.earthlink.net/~judylightfoot/afrchar.html>.

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