| Papers [1-15] of 100 :: [Page 1 of 7] | | Go to page : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 —> | Search results on "AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE LITERATURE": |
|
|
The African American Heritage, 2006. This paper presents a book review of "African Americans in the Early Republic" by Donald Wright. 900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, $ 35.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract The paper discusses the lead author behind the work, Donald Wright. The paper explains that he began his interest in exploring the African American heritage as a youth. Wright contended that he spent much of his childhood fascinated by anything related to Africa and as a college student wanted to pursue these interests. Wright has remarked that he felt there was a need in the United States for people to realize the importance of Africa and African American people, because of the impact that these individuals have on the nation. Language, culture, tradition and the African American inclusion in the country has changed every aspect of society since the country began. Wright has worked as a researcher, instructor and first hand observer that has frequented the country of Africa and learned from the people he writes about.
| |
|
African American Heritage in Literature, 2000. A look at African American heritage, primarily through the eyes of Langston Hughes and Alice Walker. 2,127 words (approx. 8.5 pages), 2 sources, $ 66.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract Introduction: the idea of heritage
The First Person Narrator
The Idea of Heritage as an Important Part of Self-Identity
Hughes: His poem: Walker?s story
The Complication
The Idea that Everyday Things are Different to Mama and to Wangero.
Conclusion
| |
|
African-Americans or Black-Americans?, 2007. This paper examines the impact of family history stories on African-American students' attitude and behavior. 2,410 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 73.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract The paper explores whether documenting and researching Black-American history, especially individual family history, has an impact on Black-American students' attitude and behavior. The paper discusses the move away from an African-American identity to a distinctly Black-American identity. The paper relates that teaching the history and stories of Black-Americans has served to inspire and motivate Black-American students towards a more successful academic life. The paper concludes that Black-American students today are aware that their cultural heritage and tradition began in Africa, yet, informed with the stories of their past, their attitude is that they are predominantly Americans.
Outline:
Introduction
Background
Family and Community History and Student Attitudes and Behavior
From the Paper "The history of Black Americans is one that began as slavery and oppression. It is only during the twenty years that Black Americans have had the full range of education, opportunity, and social equality to partake in the American dream. It was a long road to that point, and there remain challenges to be overcome, but the road towards overcoming those remaining challenges began with America's Civil War and freeing Black Americans from the condition of slavery. Many have traveled the road on behalf of equality and Civil Rights, and the challenges that remain today are the social and psychological barriers that prevent Black Americans from embracing the opportunities that were hard won on their behalf."
| |
|
Jazz: The American Heritage, 2002. Looks at the origins, history, and composition of American jazz. 1,774 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 57.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper delves into the indigenous, American creation of jazz music. It looks at the relationship between the origins of jazz and the history of African-Americans, the main characteristics of jazz music, and the instruments originally used for playing jazz. The beginning of jazz music in New Orleans is discussed, as well as some of the influences on the music and the different types of jazz that evolved over time. Famous jazz musicians and singers are also mentioned.
From the Paper "A significant relationship exists between the origins of jazz and the history of African-Americans. To entertain themselves and get through the grueling days, plantation slaves would perform music that would remind them of their African homeland. Their songs, sounds and compositions would be on the wide variety of singing, rhythms and melodies that ranged throughout the continent."
| |
|
African-American Grandmothers, 2007. This paper compares the historic role of African-American grandmothers and their contemporary role as sole parent for their grandchildren. 1,675 words (approx. 6.7 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 54.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper explains that, under slavery and during the period afterward, older African-American women played active and respected roles in their communities as based on their African heritage, which venerated its elderly. The author points out that, in light of this history, it is not surprising that, in record numbers, African-American older women today are assuming the role of primary caregivers to their grandchildren due to social and addiction problems of the mothers of these grandchildren. The paper relates that the considerable stress of these women, who are permanently primary caregivers for their grandchildren, has resulted in their having many social, economic, physical and psychological problems.
From the Paper "The number of grandmothers raising their grandchildren nearly doubled between 1970 and 2000--from 2.2 million to 4.5 million. During the 1990s, the biggest increase was among families with no parent present, usually because of social problems such as the mother's alcohol or drug abuse. Death from AIDS, long-term incarceration, and mental illness are other reasons. The trend has become a "dominant theme" for social work research, and the term skipped generation caregiver has come into use. Of all the children living with grandparents in the U.S., nearly 44% are African-American, a proportion that is six times greater than in white families."
| |
|
African American Identity, 2003. Discusses the theme in two short stories. 1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 2 sources, $ 47.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract African American identity is examined in two short stories: James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use." Discusses how members of an oppressed minority group achieve a sense of personal identity and recognition of their heritage and place in American society.
From the Paper "Alice Walker and James Baldwin are two of America's most prominent African-American writers. Both have addressed the question of how one "becomes" African-American, focusing on issues of how an oppressed minority group and its members achieve a sense ..."
| |
|
African-American Literature, 2002. An analysis of the importance of African-American literature. 7,166 words (approx. 28.7 pages), 0 sources, MLA, $ 159.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of African-American literature, in order to come to a true understanding of how influential and important this particular literature is. The paper claims that this literature has made an impact in many ways, including social, economic, environmental, cultural and historical.
Contents:
Introduction
The importance of African American Literature
The Implications of African American Literature
Social
Economic
Environmental
Cultural
Historical
How African-American Literature Has Changed -- Across the Genres
Slave Narratives and Biographies
Novels
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "The changes in African-American literature are also very important. At least two genres will be discussed, one being slaved narratives and biographies and the other being novels, in order to understand how African-American literature has changed. It has not stayed the same over the course of time, and often it has evolved as history has evolved, changing and reshaping itself in order to fit the times that it finds itself in. Occasionally, however, a particular work of African-American literature will simply break away from what society considers as the norm for that time period, and the author will go off on his or her own to write something that he or she feels is vitally important."
| |
|
Wole Soyinka's "Myth, Literature and the African World", 1994. This paper reviews Wole Soyinka's "Myth, Literature and the African World" on the importance of stories emphasizing African identity based on African experience without comparison to European experience. 1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, $ 47.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
From the Paper "The central theme of Wole Soyinka's "Myth, Literature and the African World" is that the most important myths and literature in Africa are those which allow Africans to understand and appreciate their lives and history without comparing it in some way to the European experience. Soyinka writes that his book is concerned with eliciting from history, mythology and literature, for the benefit of both genuine aliens and alienated Africans, a continuing process of self-apprehension whose temporary dislocation appears to have persuaded many of its non-existence or its irrelevance . . . in contemporary world reality.
In other words, Africans have let the European world convince them that their culture was somehow inferior to that of ... "
| |
|
Victims in Contemporary African-American Literature, 2005. Analyzes the evolution of victimization in 20th century African-American literature. 2,250 words (approx. 9.0 pages), 7 sources, $ 89.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract In this paper, the differing aspects of economic, religious, education and gender roles have been sequentially analyzed in African-American literature. Through the works of 20th century authors, there have been steady stages of evaluations of the victim roles imparted on African- American from outside of their race, as well as those brought about by self-induced aspects of interior issues of African-Americans. The paper shows that in this manner, victimization is an evolutionary process that Ellison, Walker, Baldwin, and Wright infer within their plots, characters and racial issues in these texts.
From the Paper "This literary study will analyze the evolution of African American literature throughout that 20^th century. By understanding the nature of economics of racism that began with Richard Wright's Native Son; the aspects religious victimization also developed in Baldwin's latter tale: Go Tell It on the Mountain. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man "I could fly a plane if I had chance," Bigger said. "If you wasn't black and if you had some money and if they'd let you go to aviation school, you could fly a plane," Gus said "It's funny how the white folks treat us, aint it?" Bigger said. "It better be funny," Gus said (Wright 17). Gus and Bigger are two friends that relay the sense of economic disenfranchisement that a white hegemonic community has imparted upon them."
| |
|
Folklore in African-American Literature, 2005. A look at folklore and its role in African-American literature. 1,191 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 40.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract 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)."
| |
|
African American Literature, 2002. Discussion and analysis of African American literature by Jean Toomer and Langston Hughes. 2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 2 sources, $ 89.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper discusses "Cane" by Jean Toomer and analyzes the poetry of Langston Hughes.
| |
|
Decolonizing the Mind-Politics of Language in African Literature, 2000. A look at how Nguii wa Thiong's ?Decolonizing the Mind? illustrates the politics of language in African Literature. 710 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, $ 25.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
From the Paper "Thiong?o goes into great detail in describing his oversimplified view of the correlation between language and culture. He claims that language is a carrier of culture, and uses the example that in Sweden and Denmark, English is only used to communicate with those who cannot speak their language. However, in Britain, the English language is not only a means of communication, but also a carrier of its culture and history. For Africans, there is no relationship between their acquired language?English, and their African culture. Thiong?o defines culture as a product and a reflection of human beings communicating with one another in the very struggle to create wealth and control it?a product of the history which it in turn reflects. "
| |
|
African-American Literature, 2005. This paper discusses the use of the English language in African-American literature by Ralph Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" ("The Battle Royal" scene) and Harryette Mullen's poem "Sleeping with the Dictionary". 1,100 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 38.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper explains that Ralph Ellison's and Harryette Mullen's respective use of language represent descriptive language usage within two entirely different literary genres (fiction vs. poetry) and contexts (a public speech vs. a private bedroom). The author points out that Ellison's use of language is vividly descriptive, harsh at times, non-playful and non-alliterative; whereas, Mullen's use of language to playfully describe a solitary bedroom setting is relaxed, playful, metaphorical and alliterative. The paper relates that these differences are due to social context: Ellison's black speaker (the powerless) is publicly addressing a group of whites (the powerful); whereas, Mullen's speaker is relaxing at home with a much-loved though inanimate object.
From the Paper "Not only is the dictionary used as metaphor for an erotic lover; within lines 16-18 Mullen's speaker even metaphorically describes the sex act, using doubly-denotative words and phrases like: "Aroused"; "perverse positions"; "nightly act"; "penetration." Later, in the final line, yet another playfully metaphorical phrase appears, describing nighttime decoding of the dictionary's messages as similar to deciphering "the secret acrostic of a lover's name" (line 23). Like an illicit love relationship, then, relationship of speaker to the dictionary ("taking the big dictionary to bed" (line 8)) is secretive, stimulating, and filled with new and exciting discoveries. "
| |
|
African-American Literature, 2007. This paper discusses the importance of African-American women writers. 1,518 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 50.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract The paper examines African-American literature across the genres and mentions specifically the famous author, Toni Morrison. The paper discusses slave narratives, biographies and novels. The paper discusses how African-American literature has changed; the lives, beliefs and experiences of African-American writers today are different than the experiences of the first black authors. The paper shows how African-Americans have had a significant impact on the literature produced in the United States.
From the Paper "Literature is very important. Many people love to read, and still others love to write. Together, they make a winning combination. Literature is often studied, but one aspect of it has been getting very little attention (Morgan, 1996). African-American literature has often times been ignored, or been only selectively visible, and this is especially true where women writers are concerned. However, this literature has become more important and significant in recent years, and this helps to show the important of African-American women writers."
| |
|
African-American Literature, 2007. A discussion of the African-American experience as reflected in literature. 2,079 words (approx. 8.3 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 65.95 »
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract This paper examines the African-American experience as it is expressed in the work of several notable writers. The author states that the works of black writers reflect aspects of American life and the development of American society over time. Several works are discussed that highlight various themes in African-American life, such as slavery and discrimination. The paper concludes by stating that the black experience is as American as any other and complements the experience of the majority society in many respects even as it extends it to new areas.
From the Paper "Ralph Ellison is a black man and approaches the world from that perspective, finding a way to express how society treats the black man through the character of the Invisible Man, a persona that enables him to hide even when in a crowd. For Ellison, blackness has been made by society into the defining characteristic of his existence. In a sense, he adopts the point of view of the white by making himself invisible. He is treated as if he were invisible, and he finds the benefit in that stat and uses it to his advantage in commenting on whit society. The main character in The Invisible Man is invisible only in a metaphorical sense, so that he seems invisible both to himself and to others. The hero of this novel is a black man who is invisible in white society because he is black. He is invisible in black society because of the way he takes on various roles expected of him by white society, though he recognizes how demeaning and false many of those roles are. He is invisible to himself because he has adopted certain roles and so cannot allow himself to exist as a real person with his own point of view. The existence of such a character is a devastating indictment of the dehumanization process in American society based on racial discrimination."
|
|
|