African American literature and its importance to the slaves and freemen.

African American literature and its importance to the slaves and freemen.

This is the body of writing that was used by African descendants who lived in the United States. It contained the slave narratives and spiritual literature, but after development of slave writing, autobiographical spiritual writing slowly diminished. In African American writing, a wide range of themes were featured in the texts that included; Africans role in the American population, racism, slavery and equality. Today in the African American writing, assimilation of oral narratives such as, sermons, rap, and gospel music. Before the civil war the writings majorly spoke about slavery (done by escaped slaves or freed slaves), while those born there voiced about oppression and racism. But after the civil war, and in the 20^th century, African American literature was considered a part of American literature. It now talks about their roles and what position they take in their nation and issue of equality that had long been denied to them. Some of the characteristics of the African American literature were the use of poems, songs and stylistic devices such as alliteration and repetition were used. Some of the earliest writers were Lucy Terry, Phyllis Wheatley and Jupiter Hammon (Smith, 18). World War 1 and 2 that lead to the great immigration helped the Africans move from the south to the northern places like Chicago where they got jobs in factories and gave African writers the opportunity to expound on their work. Since the 19^th century books written by Africans have gained popularity and publishing and being top bestsellers is often seen now than before.

Importance of African American literature. During the slave error, they were seen as subhuman and were seen as those who cannot learn the art and sciences. The main reason why black Americans wrote was to proof that they too could write and produce as the whites’ did or even way better and to proof they are just as better as the Whiteman was. They needed to be treated as equally as other people were since they were all human beings. The literature was used to voice their problems and what difficulties they went through. It was used to express what their problems were and what they would want be done for them. Through writing they were able to show they were both intelligent opposed to what the whites’ saw them as. Today, they use writing to maintain that legacy and to still show despite them having different skin complexion the still are able just like everybody else. Literatures in the 18th and 19th century discuss the essential aspect of the black songs and stories and honouring of their vernacular, they wanted to enrich it and preserve their heritage. With regards to spirituality, writers like Wheatley urged their people to keep Christian message of brotherhood. In the early republican the text was used as a way to negotiate their new status as free citizens and not slaves anymore; however African American literature was highly opposed by the Whiteman and some of the Blacks. People from within the community describe the literature as portraying Black community to be dark and negative livelihood. Several African writers have recently written accusing their own to be unfair. The whites who thought us to be illiterate and sub-humans wrote about it in opposition to what black writers wrote. Some were hanged and lynched as their texts tried to eliminate slavery and discrimination. After the abolition of slavery and freedom to write they still hard difficulties i.............