Lindsey Marino

May 3, 2006

Eng 112B

Annotated Bibliography

African American Literature Over Time

There are many different types of African American literature. One type is historical fiction and this can encompass many different eras in American history. Settings that occur before and after slavery can teach students lessons that they can apply to their lives. The themes that many of these books encompass go beyond racism and prejudice. Friendship, gender issues, love, and the search for one�s self are some of the issues that can be found in historical fiction that is included in this genre. Learning about the people that were oppressed and discriminated against because of the color of their skin is important because of what this period has contributed to the history of this country. Students can get a perspective for what it was like for someone that is different from them through this type of literature. Different view points are explored in many novels and the emotions of the characters are exposed. Historical fiction can show a more human side than a text book because it gives the characters emotions and a personality that readers can relate to. I know that it was hard from me to get a real feel for history because there were times it felt impersonal and I was unconnected to what had happened before. The fictional aspect gives readers a story they can look at in different ways and allows different people to connect to what is relevant for them. The novels that are classified under historical fiction are historically accurate and are true to the time, place, and people that are featured. Along with being true to the setting that is being depicted, the novel gives a story that can entertain the reader. History has a way of repeating itself and there are many things that are to be learned from what happened in the past, whether it is near or distant. Slavery in the United States is a period of history that has many novels written about it. This is a time in America that we can look back on and learn from the mistakes that were made. There are stories and characters that should be celebrated because of their strength and valor. The literature that comes from before and after the Civil War illustrates some of these characters and how students can relate and learn from their situations. What happened can become more than just words on a page and the situations can come alive in order to help students understand what really happened.

Hesse, Karen. Witness. New York: Scholastic, 2001.

Hesse uses free verse poetry to tell the story of eleven characters, of different races and ages, in a small Vermont town in 1924 when the Ku Klux Klan is coming into power. Through the different points of view and the different roles the characters play, the reader can see the all the conflicting forces that are at play in Witness. Hatred for African Americans fuels the members of the KKK to commit violent acts and the innocent of the town feel the effects. The different points of view and the changing attitudes of the characters makes this a novel that is extremely powerful. This is a novel that can be used in a reader�s theater format to make the characters come to life. Every different view point is looked at, so that the reader is able to see the emotions of each side. There are many historical references in the novel that can give students a chance to research and look more in depth into what was happening at this time in history.

Hughes, Langston. �I, Too, Sing America.� The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. New York: Knopf and Vintage Books, 1994.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

This is a poem that is short and easy to understand, but it hold a lot of meaning. Langston Hughes is a powerful African American poet and much of his work tells of the power of the African American spirit. He speaks of equality and of the racism that is experienced. People of all ethnicities make up America and without all of the differences we would not have the unique and beautiful country we have today.

Jones, B., and Bess Lomax Hawes. Step it Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. University of Georgia Press, 1987.

This is a resource book that gives numerous examples of games, songs, and other activities from the African American culture. It is mainly geared toward elementary school students, but many of the examples can be used to show the culture of African Americans. Many of the activities come from the time of slavery and have their origins in Africa. Understanding about the culture and the music of the time and people is a good way to help students get a feel for the way their life was. Activity and movement is a key part of education for students of every age and this book is an interactive way to get students involved with the material.

Jones, Bessie, Georgia Sea Island Singers, and Hobart Smith. �The Titanic.� The Alan Lomax Collection: Southern Journey, Vol. 8 � Velvet Voices. Rounder, 1997.

This song, as well as other songs on the album, are real representations of the music that was sung and listened to during the time of slavery. There are elements common to this genre of music and that is something that can be explored while teaching this subject to a class. This is an inspirational song and has a religious theme. Religion was a large part of the lives of slaves and they made it a common thread in their music.

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.

This is the centerpiece work in this project. The novel takes place in 1964 in South Carolina. Lily is a white girl who has a special relationship with Rosaleen, her African American caregiver. They leave the confines of their home after a racial dispute with men from town. The two of them embark on a journey to find their own place in life, while hiding from the law. Lily is searching for information about her deceased mother, and the pair find themselves in the home of beekeeping sisters. There are strong female relationships and the struggle for equality. Racism, love, innocence, and the task of finding oneself are all a part of this novel. This is a story that adults and students can enjoy, and it is also a book that is full of meaning. The positive relationships between whites and blacks in the novel show equality and the knowledge that can be acquired from someone that is different from oneself.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Warner Books, 1960. (Information taken from www.sparknotes.com).

This is a classis novel that is presented to many high school students across the country. The three main characters are adolescents and are dealing with timeless issues, such as growing up, family, prejudice, and finding oneself. The setting is in a small Southern town and the characters have to deal with the racial prejudice that was a daily part of life. Scout is able to come to the realization that all people, no matter their skin color, are human and deserve to be treated equally and with the same respect. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that can be very beneficial to students. The innocence and the perspective of the narrator change as the story progresses, and the lesson that is learned at the end is one that still holds true today. Injustice and justice are rival forces and can be sought out in our society to parallel what happens in the novel.

Paulsen, Gary. Nightjohn. New York: Laurel Leaf, 1995. (Information taken from www.randomhouse.com).

Set in the pre-Civil War South, this book deals with prejudice, slavery, friendship, leadership, and freedom. Nightjohn comes back into slavery with the mission to teach the slaves how to read because he believes this will help them all get out of slavery. There is harsh penalties to face if a slave is caught learning to read, but Sarny, a twelve year old slave, feels that it is worth the risk. Education means freedom to Nightjohn and those that he teaches. This is a valuable lesson for students, as well as the moral lesson that this book teaches.

Taylor, Milfred. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. New York: Bantam Books, 1976. (Information taken from www.sparknotes.com).

The Logan family is trying to stay afloat while they are faced with prejudice and hate from the community. This story shows the family�s struggles to maintain who they are and to try to make a difference in the lives of others by standing up to the injustice. The main character of the story is the eleven year old Logan daughter. She is discriminated against and is forced to learn that not everyone is equal in the eyes of society. The violence of racism is illustrated and the strength of the people that stand up against it. Survival is essential, not only economical but also physical, in a society that does not want those who are different to succeed.

The Color Purple. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, and Whoopi Goldberg. Warner Brothers, 1985.

Based on the novel by Alice Walker, this film vividly portrays the characters and the setting of the novel. It will give students the visual of life for an African American women and her struggles in life. Gender roles, friendship, empowerment, and racism are all themes covered in the movie and the novel. The emotional struggle of Celie to find herself and to free herself from the oppression that she faces makes her a powerful female character. The characters in The Color Purple are able to break free of the racism and oppression that is placed upon them by society and each other.

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Dover, 1994.

This is a classic American novel about a boy and a slave who embark on a journey down the Mississippi. Since this novel takes place before the Civil War, the issue of slavery is prevalent. Huck deals with the morality of turning Jim over more than once along their journey. This is also a novel about friendship and finding one�s own way. Adventure fills the story and the readers can relate to Huck because he is a boy who is looking for a life that is right for him. Mark Twain is one of the greatest American novelists and his work should be introduced to high school readers.