The Origins of African American Literature, 1680-1865

From the earliest texts of the colonial period to works contemporary with Emancipation, African American literature has been a dialogue across color lines, and a medium through which black writers have been able to exert considerable authority on both sides of that racial demarcation. Dickson D. Bruce argues that contrary to prevailing perceptions of African American voices as silenced and excluded from American history, those voices were loud and clear. Within the context of the wider culture, these writers offered powerful, widely read, and widely appreciated commentaries on American ideals and ambitions. The Origins of African American Literature provides strong evidence to demonstrate just how much writers engaged in a surprising number of dialogues with society as a whole. Along with an extensive discussion of major authors and texts, including Phillis Wheatley's poetry, Frederick Douglass's Narrative, Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Martin Delany's Blake, Bruce explores less-prominent works and writers as well, thereby grounding African American writing in its changing historical settings. The Origins of African American Literature is an invaluable revelation of the emergence and sources of the specifically African American literary tradition and the forces that helped shape it. Dickson D. Bruce Argues That Contrary To Prevailing Perceptions Of African American Voices As Silenced And Excluded From American History, Those Voices Were Loud And Clear. Within The Context Of The Wider Culture, These Writers Offered Powerful, Widely Read, And Widely Appreciated Commentaries On American Ideals And Ambitions. The Origins Of African American Literature Provides Strong Evidence To Demonstrate Just How Much Writers Engaged In A Surprising Number Of Dialogues With Society As A Whole. Along With An Extensive Discussion Of Major Authors And Texts, Including Phillis Wheatley's Poetry, Frederick Douglass's Narrative, Harriet Jacobs' Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl, And Martin Delany's Blake, Bruce Explores Less-prominent Works And Writers As Well, Thereby Grounding African American Writing In Its Changing Historical Settings. The Origins Of African American Literature Is An Invaluable Revelation Of The Emergence And Sources Of The Specifically African American Literary Tradition And The Forces That Helped Shape It. Background To An African American Literature, 1680-1760 -- The Age Of Revolution, 1760-1800 -- Literary Identity In The New Nation, 1800-1816 -- The Era Of Colonialization, 1816-1828 -- The Liberator And The Shaping Of African American Tradition, 1829-1832 -- Literary Expression In The Age Of Abolitionism, 1833-1849 -- African American Voices In The American Crisis, 1850-1861 -- The War For Emancipation And Beyond. Dickson D. Bruce Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 335-360) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 16 I......Page 20 II......Page 26 III......Page 36 2 The Age of Revolution, 1760 -1800......Page 58 I......Page 59 II......Page 80 III......Page 93 3 Literary Identity in the New Nation, 1800 -1816......Page 111 I......Page 113 II......Page 131 4 The Era of Colonization, 1816 -1828......Page 154 I......Page 156 II......Page 165 III......Page 171 5 The Liberator and the Shaping of African American Tradition, 1829 -1832......Page 194 I......Page 196 II......Page 203 III......Page 212 6 Literary Expression in the Age of Abolitionism, 1833-1849......Page 230 I......Page 231 II......Page 239 III......Page 246 IV......Page 257 V......Page 267 7 African American Voices in the American Crisis, 1850 -1861......Page 276 I......Page 277 II......Page 292 III......Page 301 8 The War for Emancipation and Beyond......Page 320 1. Background to an African American Literature......Page 334 2. The Age of Revolution......Page 336 3. Literary Identity in the New Nation......Page 340 4. The Era of Colonization......Page 342 5. The Liberator and the Shaping of African American Tradition......Page 345 6. Literary Expression in the Age of Abolitionism......Page 346 7. African American Voices in the American Crisis......Page 350 8. The War for Emancipation and Beyond......Page 353 Newspapers and Periodicals, 1680-1870......Page 354 Published Sources......Page 355 Index......Page 380 WARNING! Should this "DUMB-DOWN" book list a "Phillis Wheatley" and a "Jupiter Hammon" then throw it in the recycle bin ... because these two "First-of-a-type-Negro" (or, Zora's: "niggerati"), like George Moses Horton, Nat Turner and David Walker, are historical ciphers and never existed! See Arthur Graham "Southern Renaissance: Subliminal Omni Ciphers & the Autotelic Structure of the Land and Slave Kingdom of God" (BSLF, Los Angeles - Released Dec 21, 2012. ISBN 978-0-9883848-0-4) This volume asserts that contrary to prevailing perceptions of African American literary voices as silenced and excluded from American history, those voices were loud and clear. The book provides evidence to demonstrate just how much writers engaged in a surprising number of dialogues with society.