Literature african american studies research guide. Beginning in the prerevolutionary war period, african american writers have engaged in a creative, if often contentious, dialogue with american letters. African american literature is the body of literature produced in the united states by writers of african descent. Read some of the best fiction and nonfiction by contemporary black authors, including books in every genre from literary fiction to personal memoirs.
For those who know exactly what book theyre interested in, the sites simple search toolbar can locate results in seconds. From toni morrison to marcus garvey and chinua achebe to zora neale hurston, african american authors reach audiences of all ages and ethnicities. In addition there will be a wide selection of affordable literature available to purchase. These book clubs are taking over digital and traditional spaces. The cambridge history of african american literature is a major achievement both as a work of reference and as a compelling narrative and will remain essential reading for scholars and students in years to come. Online shopping for african american literature books in the books store. Africanamerican literature pennys poetry pages wiki. The harlem renaissance of the 1920s was a time of flowering of literature and the arts. Synopsis zola thought her transition back home to chicago from houston would be smooth sailing. The paperback of the afroamerican literary study in the 1990s by houston a. Started in 1997, is a widely recognized source of information about black authors.
African diaspora book club dc washington, dc meetup. We read books by afro caribbean, afro american or african authors, or any books that explore the current state of affairs of people of african origin all over the world. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or. Save over 20% credits will not expire, so you can use them at any time. Woodson in hopes of raising awareness of african americans contributions to civilization, this was later expanded to a full month, african american history month, in 1976. African american literature is the subcategory of american literature that includes work produced in the united states by writers of african descent and directly pertains to the experiences and viewpoints of africanamericans. Discover librarianselected research resources on africanamerican literature from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The primary characteristic of african american literature is that it speaks to the africanamerican experience in the united states, a country with a history of slavery and segregation laws. Introduction african american literature has become an.
With the demise of so many bookstores it becomes increasingly challenging for authors to get out the word about the new books they have written. African american literature has become an inevitable part of american. Aalbc is the largest and most popular online bookstore dedicated to african american literature and black literature from around the world. African american studies are a subfield of african diaspora studies and africana studies, the study of the people of african origin worldwide. This group is for people interested in reading and discussing literature classics and newer works, memoirs, history, narrative nonfiction of all kinds, and other book length works of the african diaspora that is, books by andor about africans, african americans, afro caribbeans, afro latinos, afro europeans, et al.
In celebration of black history month and african american history as a whole, explore our resources on african american history and culture including famous african americans from philadelphia, poets and poetry, speculative fiction, nonfiction, books for early readers, the harlem renaissance, tuskegee airmen, scientists and inventors, politics, black colleges and. From literary icons to fresh, buzzworthy talent, here are 25 great books by africanamerican authors you should add to your reading list today. In 1853 william wells brown, an internationally known fugitive slave narrator, authored the first black american novel, clotel. African american studies alternately named afroamerican studies, or in us education, black studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that is primarily devoted to the study of the history, culture, and politics of black people from the united states. Afro latin american literature africana studies program. This group is for people interested in reading and discussing literature classics and newer works, memoirs, history, narrative nonfiction of all kinds, and other booklength works of the african diaspora that is, books by andor about africans, african americans, afrocaribbeans, afrolatinos, afroeuropeans, et al. Africanamerican literary figures and scholars gathered to celebrate the publication of the first norton anthology of africanamerican literature. Simply add your details below to join our free club and get a free urban romance book now suitable for 18s and over only due to some adult themes.
African american literature african american literature prose, drama, and poetry. Atlanta, ga is one of the top destinations for readers of african american literature. London afrocaribbean book club london, united kingdom. Michael cooke examines the essential structure of afroamerican literature as it has developed in the twentiethcentury, with special attention to works by jean toomer, zora neal hurston, richard wright, ralph ellison, james baldwin, robert hayden, and alice walker. Because of this focus, many literary works are about individuals struggling to understand themselves in a whitedominated society. This list of more than 100 books opens the door to explore black life in the united states. In this collection, we also include works by authors such as harriet beecher stowe. Literature archival collections chicago public library. The result is a literature rich in expressive subtlety and social insight, offering illuminating assessments of american identities and history. The first published works of african american literature came about in the 18th century, at a time when the united states was just coming into being and when newly recognized citizens, with clearly.
Finally, african american literature has gained added attention through the work of talkshow host oprah winfrey, who repeatedly has leveraged her fame to promote literature through the medium of her oprahs book club. This book is devoted exclusively to critical discussions of afroamerican literature and focuses specifically on critical issues that are especially pertinent to designing courses in. We celebrate black culture, through books, for all readers to enjoy. We read books by afrocaribbean, afroamerican or african authors, or any books that explore the current state of affairs of people of african origin all over the world. The top cities for readers of african american literature afro. This black history month, we have put together a list of contemporary authors sparking discourses about identity and commemorating how afro latino writers are passionate in capturing the essence of their individual experiences through literature, all while being part of a larger narrative that proves there is no singular experience for latinos. Chicago public library, woodson regional library, vivian g. Afroamerican literature modern language association. African american archival collections chicago public. Afroamerican literary study in the 1990s by houston a.
African by nature an independent, critical thinking, progressive, store front and information center. Best books on african american studies nonfiction 168 books 60 voters whoever wants honey must brave the bees. From achebe to zora, youll discover a wide variety african american and black writers from all over the world. Based on the proceedings of a twoweek seminar about afroamerican literature, this book is designed as a carefully orchestrated presentation of the central ideas that sparked the meetings and made them significant. African literature african history book quotes afro novels classic books life africans. Read the biographies, discover the published books, and watch videos for more than 3,300 black, afro american, african and authors of african descent from the caribbean, europe, the americas, and the entire african diaspora. What began as national negro history week in 1926 by carter g.
This is an anthology of ground breaking african american writers pre1970, including richard wright, the first african american writer to have a book accepted by the book of the month club, and many others. It was indeed myrdal who wrote in his book famously quoted in jackson 2008 the. Harsh research collection of afroamerican history and literature. At times, she has brought african american writers a far broader audience than they otherwise might have received. Feb 11, 2017 online shopping for african american literature books in the books store. The result is a literature rich in expressive subtlety.
In one of 2019s most talked about novels, a 25yearold journalist in london. Curated by the founder of the wellread black girl book club comes this. All books chosen affirm africanamerican children and their experiences. Variations of the autobiography in afrolatin american and brazilian literature this course examines the autobiography and its variations by writers of african descent in latin america, the caribbean and brazil. The african american literature book club compiled a list of africanamerican childrens books with the aid of authors, power readers, and industry professionals. Bestselling, award winning, new and classic books for. The afro american has crusaded for racial equality and economic advancement for black americans for 125 years. By hillel italie, ap national writer new york ap oprah winfreys new book club pick is robert kolkers hidden valley road, an indepth account of a 1950s family in which six of 12 children.
These 8 popular book clubs show just how much blackled. We will analyze a number of subcategories of the autobiography including the diary, autobiographical fiction and memoir. Through a combination of literary history and insightful examination of key texts, the book clarifies issues regarding both the genesis of afro cubanism and its importance in spanish american literature, and it links the movement to recent theories of canon formation by examining how afro hispanic literary works have become valued by academic. Authors and publishers are now looking to connect with book clubs to announce their new books. Online shopping for african american romance fiction books in the books store. African american literature book club increasing knowledge of the richness that is african american literature. From literary icons to fresh, buzzworthy talent, here are 25 great books by african american authors you should add to your reading list today. This is a book club for people from the afro caribbean diaspora who share a passion for reading. In existence since august, 1892, john henry murphy sr. Thanks to the work of african american authors, the world can better. A new political history of african american literature by gene andrew jarrett new york university press. February book club selection this afropolitan life classic literature for black african american readers, young and old. Oprah winfrey starts oprahs book club, featuring book for her viewers to read and discuss.
It begins with the works of such late 18thcentury writers as phillis wheatley and olaudah equiano, reaching early high points with slave narrativesof the nineteenth century. The cambridge history of african american literature edited. Through the slave narrative, african americans entered the world of prose and dramatic literature. Books and literature bookstores african american images publisher and distributor of africentric and afrocentric black books. Black expressions offers hundred of book not only for african americans, but also written by african americans. Discover the african american literature book club. See more ideas about black history books, african american books and african american literature. Africanamerican studies alternately named afroamerican studies, or in us education, black studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that is primarily devoted to the study of the history, culture, and politics of black people from the united states.
Chapter one afroamerican literature from slave narratives. Chapter one afroamerican literature from slave narratives to recent fiction africanamerican literature has undergone a revolutionary change from phillies wheatley, the first africanamerican poet to publish her works, to toni morrison, maya angelou, walter mosley, alice walker, gloria naylor, and paule. Recommended african american literature titles by grade level. African american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club. Aalbc is the oldest, largest, and most popular online bookstore dedicated to african american literature and black literature from around the world. Discussion forums on black literature, culture, and more. The concise oxford companion to african american literature online. The essays are arranged in sections that discuss afroamerican literary history, black figurative language, afroamerican literature and folklore, frederick douglass 1845. The african american childrens book fair is a part of the african american childrens book projects initiative to promote and preserve multicultural childrens literature. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or, gustavus vassa, the african. Featuring the work of the most distinguished scholars in the field, this volume assesses the state of afro american literary study and projects a vision of that study for the 1990s. Cambridge core american studies the cambridge history of african american literature edited by maryemma graham.
Atlanta hosts the national book club conference nbcc, the premier event for book clubs from across the nation. African american literature 1970 present lit 325 cambridge college christina j. Aalbc the largest site dedicated to books by or about. African american literature, body of literature written by americans of african descent. This book was subtitled as vernacular theory signaling his commitment to vernacular black tradition and to a systematic mode. Read the biographies, discover the published books, and watch videos for more than 3,300 black, afroamerican, african and authors of african descent from the caribbean, europe, the americas, and the entire african diaspora. African american literature book club authors homepage. Through a combination of literary history and insightful examination of key texts, the book clarifies issues regarding both the genesis of afrocubanism and its importance in spanishamerican literature, and it links the movement to recent theories of canon formation by examining how afrohispanic literary works have become valued by academic. Its mission is to expand the african american reading experience, concentrating on authors from the african diaspora. Check out these sites for comprehensive information on african american literature and writers. The norton anthology of african american literature eds. Given the long history of african american literatureone fraught with difficulty and violencehow can we even begin to give a brief account. Books of interest to readers of black literature coming.
Feb 01, 2017 february is african american history month. Oprahs book club, african american fiction, american fiction. Remembering the past, celebrating the present, and forging a future. African american archival collections chicago public library. The premier online bookstore for bestselling and classic african american books. Chosen carefully by black expressions editorial staff. This is black gold for groundbreaking writers and an excellent teaching aid. The organization firmly believes that a book opens up a world of opportunities. The top cities for readers of african american literature. A journey through african american culinary history in the old south by michael w.
Books with a noncaucasian person as theone of the lead characters. This video gives you a brief overview our our website. The most convenient aspect of the black expressions book club is the easytouse website that provides customers with several tools to help them find exactly what theyre looking for. This is a book club for people from the afrocaribbean diaspora who share a passion for reading. Forthcoming books for 2017 by authors of african descent. African american literature prose, drama, and poetry.