Member-only story

African American Culture: A Critical Survey of Long Fiction

Fernando Bell

·4.3k Followers· Follow

Published in African American Culture (Critical Survey Of Long Fiction)

6 min read · 1 month before

525 View Claps

43 Respond

Save

Listen

African American long fiction has a long and rich history, dating back to the early days of the republic. From the slave narratives of the 18th and 19th centuries to the contemporary works of Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Colson Whitehead, African American authors have used long fiction to explore the complex and often contradictory experiences of African Americans in the United States.

African American Culture (Critical Survey of Long Fiction)

by Carl Rollyson

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1587 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

This critical survey of African American long fiction offers a comprehensive overview of the major themes, genres, and authors that have shaped this vibrant and influential body of literature.

Themes

The themes of African American long fiction are as varied as the experiences of African Americans themselves. However, some of the most common themes include:

The search for identity: African American authors have long explored the question of what it means to be African American in a society that has historically defined them as inferior.
The struggle for freedom: African American long fiction has also been a powerful force for social change, documenting the struggles of African Americans for freedom and equality.
The power of community: African American authors have often celebrated the power of community to sustain and empower individuals in the face of adversity.
The resilience of the human spirit: Despite the challenges they have faced, African Americans have shown remarkable resilience and strength, a quality that is often reflected in their long fiction.

Genres

African American long fiction has been written in a wide variety of genres, including:

The slave narrative: The slave narrative was one of the first genres of African American literature, and it remains an important and influential form today.
The novel: The novel has been a popular genre for African American authors since the 19th century, and it has been used to explore a wide range of topics, from the experiences of slavery to the challenges of modern life.
The short story: The short story has also been a popular genre for African American authors, and it has been used to explore a wide range of themes, from the everyday experiences of African Americans to the more universal experiences of human life.
The autobiography: The autobiography has been an important genre for African American authors, and it has been used to tell the stories of their lives and to explore the challenges and triumphs they have faced.

Authors

There have been many great African American authors of long fiction, including:

Frederick Douglass: Douglass was a former slave who became a leading abolitionist and author. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, is one of the most important works of American literature.
Harriet Beecher Stowe: Stowe was a white author who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, one of the most influential anti-slavery novels of the 19th century.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Du Bois was a sociologist and historian who also wrote fiction. His novel, The Souls of Black Folk, is a classic of African American literature.
Zora Neale Hurston: Hurston was a novelist, short story writer, and folklorist. Her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is one of the most important works of African American literature.
Richard Wright: Wright was a novelist, short story writer, and essayist. His novel, Native Son, is one of the most important works of African American literature.
James Baldwin: Baldwin was a novelist, essayist, and playwright. His novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, is one of the most important works of African American literature.
Toni Morrison: Morrison is a novelist, essayist, and playwright. Her novel, Beloved, is one of the most important works of American literature.
Alice Walker: Walker is a novelist, poet, and short story writer. Her novel, The Color Purple, is one of the most important works of African American literature.
Colson Whitehead: Whitehead is a novelist, essayist, and short story writer. His novel, The Underground Railroad, is one of the most important works of African American literature.

African American long fiction is a vibrant and influential body of literature that has made a significant contribution to American culture. This critical survey has provided a brief overview of the major themes, genres, and authors that have shaped this important literary tradition.

For more in-depth information, please see the following resources: