Discusses William Styron's novel "The Confessions of Nat Turner." Comments on the principal charges made against William Styron by the contributors to "William Styron's Nat Turner: Ten Black Writers Respond." (Author/AM)

Argues that what lies behind the neglect of black American literature is not a supportable body of critical criteria, but a refusal to believe that blacks possess the humanity requisite for the production of works of art. (Author/JM)

Argues that the black aesthetic can be affirmed while also insisting that its affirmation cannot be achieved or denied by mere a priori assumptions, polemics, personalisms, and vague generalities--its affirmation must be based in and validated by the tradition--historical, cultural, and socio-political--of Afro American expression, it is stated.…

Argues that it is white America that has made 'Roots' a best seller because it is comforting to most white Americans. The book doesn't make most of them feel quilty. It is consistently upbeat and optimistic. It contains much of the old dialect that depicts Blacks as being not-too-bright. It seems to say while some mistakes were made everything has…

A literary analysis of Phillis Wheatley, arguing that she was simply an 18th century poet who supported, praised, and imitated those who enslaved her and her fellow black people. (EH)

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

The distinguishable black theatre in America, mirroring a distinguishable black experience, is an artistic product which demands audience involvement. Both the Afro-American oral tradition and the art of gesture are integral aspects of black theatre. In addition, the tragedy found black theatre is not tragedy in the classic sense, as blacks feel…

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)

Du Bois coupled his studies of black American and African history with the condemnation of white civilization in such a manner as to suggest that to study the one was to expose the other. (DM)

Literature seeks to recover the "facts" and fill in the gaps of knowledge as it enunciates the truth of existence. Nowhere is this more apparent than in African-American literature, where history and art are inextricably linked, where the personal truly is political. Throughout the history of the United States, the institution of slavery…

This three hundred and twenty-five page text contains one hundred brief stories intended to introduce young blacks to aspects of their culture and history. (Author)

The differences between early African American narratives written by women and those written by men can be seen in a comparison of Harriet A. Jacobs's "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself" and Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave." A comparison of these works…