Analyzes "Roots" as an examination of the institution of slavery seen through the eyes of the victim, an exploration of the connection between slavery and consciousness, among both masters and slaves, and a portrayal of a social institution and its effects. (JMF)

Discusses whether Black History Month effectively introduces the world to the achievements of American blacks or is primarily a marketing device for selling books and making African Americans feel good. Responses are provided from several African-American history professors. (GR)

Reactions of literary critics and popular journalists to "The Souls of Black Folk" are discussed. (MC)

Discusses the nature of rhetorical personae by examining Marcus Garvey as a Moses for Harlem Blacks awaiting a deliverer. Treats the Black Moses persona as the transcendent form and the factors of deliverance in Garvey's speeches--election, captivity, liberation--as the particulars that allow Garvey to participate in the form. (PD)

Compares three children's books retelling the legend of John Henry: "John Henry: An American Legend" by Ezra Jack Keats (1965), "John Henry" by Julius Lester (1994), and "The Legend of John Henry" by Terry Small (1994). Differences in imagery, language, symbolism, and themes are discussed. (MAK)

William G. Allen was an African-American professor at Central College, McGrawville, New York. His lecture, "Orators and Oratory," delivered on June 22, 1852, is the earliest recorded study by an American Black on the ancient art of oratory. The text of the lecture is provided. (BJV)

Recollects summer 1964, when hundreds of civil rights workers went to Mississippi to aid Black voter registration. Points out that the movie "Mississippi Burning" ignores the courageous struggle of Mississippi Blacks and, instead, presents a disempowering version of history focusing on violent White males (the Klan and the FBI). (SV)

Discusses Malcolm X's rhetoric use of animal imagery to modify Blacks' image of White America. In general, his rhetoric reflected societal conflict through word choice, sentence structure, and delivery style. The usefulness of his rhetoric in addressing other images that are in need of change is discussed. (BJV)

Examines the parallels between Ellison's "Invisible Man" and Hamilton's works. States that Hamilton is strong in elucidating the experience of growing up simultaneously black and American and that it is a continuing condemnation of our times when she must reiterate Ellison's words concerning the duality of nonwhite literature. (CRH)

Seemingly contradictory positions of J. Conrad as both a racist and an opponent of race-based imperial practices are discussed with reference to "The Heart of Darkness." It is argued that Conrad made a conscious effort to shake off the racial theories of the time and to deplore imperial racism. (SLD)

This critique of Gerald Horne's book, "Black and Red," points out the confusion, disorganization, errors, and omissions which make itdifficult to read and understand. However, the importance of the book is its contribution of raw material to the knowledge about Du Bois during his last fifteen years. (VM)

In his 1928 play, the Harlem Renaissance writer Leslie Pickney Hill portrays Toussaint L'Ouverture, the leader of the Haitian slave rebellion, with historical accuracy. Hill's presentation was aimed at rehabilitating black pride, "A worthy literature reared upon authentic records of achievement is the present spiritual need of the race."…

Toni Cade Bambara's novel "The Salt Eaters" is art colored by social responsibility as the author attempts to give her African-American audience a sense of their history and their identity so they can value and accept collective work and responsibility. The novel's strengths and thematic weaknesses are discussed. (SLD)

Careful scrutiny of the literature and actions of Paul Laurence Dunbar reveals that he was more a part of the African-American protest tradition than scholars have been led to believe. He cannot be grouped with the plantation school of writers because of his opposition to slavery and white paternalism. (SLD)

Examines the role of the African American "trickster" archetype and the conceptions of the trickster in folk tales and pop culture. Discusses the trickster in the life and work of Romare Bearden. Provides a rationale for an arts-based integrated curriculum and describes a four-step art criticism technique to integrate Bearden and the…