14.2 Influence on 20th-century African American literature

Pre-1900 African American literature laid the groundwork for 20th-century Black writers. It introduced themes of identity, resistance, and cultural preservation that resonated for decades. The slave narrative genre, vernacular language use, and protest literature tradition shaped future works.

Key concepts like double consciousness and spiritual elements continued to influence 20th-century writers. While earlier works focused on slavery and inequality, later literature expanded to urban experiences and experimental styles. The legacy of pre-1900 writing shaped modern movements and genres.

Lasting impact of pre-1900 African American literature

Foundational themes and genres

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• Pre-1900 African American literature established themes of identity, resistance, and cultural preservation resonated with 20th-century writers
• Slave narrative genre pioneered by Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs influenced structure and content of 20th-century autobiographical works
• Vernacular language and dialect use in pre-1900 literature (Paul Laurence Dunbar) paved way for exploration of Black linguistic expression in 20th century
• Protest literature tradition (David Walker's "Appeal") set precedent for politically engaged writing in 20th century
  • Influenced civil rights movement literature
  • Shaped development of Black Power manifestos

Influential concepts and elements

• Double consciousness concept articulated by W.E.B. Du Bois became central in 20th-century African American literature and cultural theory
  • Explored in works like Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man"
  • Influenced development of critical race theory
• Spiritual and folkloric elements in pre-1900 literature continued to influence 20th-century writers' engagement with African American cultural heritage
  • Zora Neale Hurston's use of folklore in "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
  • Toni Morrison's incorporation of African spirituality in "Song of Solomon"

Pre-1900 vs 20th-century African American literature

Thematic and stylistic differences

• Pre-1900 literature focused on slavery, freedom, and racial inequality while 20th-century expanded to urban experiences, psychological complexity, and pan-African perspectives
• Narrative styles in pre-1900 more straightforward and didactic whereas 20th-century embraced modernist and experimental techniques
  • Stream of consciousness in Jean Toomer's "Cane"
  • Non-linear narratives in Ishmael Reed's works
• Religious and spiritual themes more prevalent in pre-1900 literature while 20th-century often adopted more secular or skeptical approach
• Pre-1900 literature employed allegory and symbolism to convey messages about race and society while 20th-century used more direct and confrontational approaches

Cultural and literary contexts

• Oral traditions and folklore common in both periods but 20th-century writers reinterpreted these elements through modernist lens
  • Langston Hughes' use of jazz rhythms in poetry
  • Sterling Brown's incorporation of blues forms
• Pre-1900 literature constrained by expectations of white audiences and publishers while 20th-century saw greater freedom in addressing Black readership and exploring taboo subjects
• Racial uplift and respectability politics more prominent in pre-1900 literature whereas 20th-century often challenged these notions and embraced diverse representations of Black life
  • Nella Larsen's exploration of racial passing in "Passing"
  • James Baldwin's frank discussions of sexuality in "Giovanni's Room"

20th-century African American literature: Building and diverging

Expanding on pre-1900 traditions

• Harlem Renaissance writers (Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston) expanded vernacular language and folklore use elevating it to central aspect of artistic expression
• 20th-century writers (Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison) built upon protest tradition incorporating more complex psychological and existential themes
  • Wright's "Native Son" explored psychological impact of systemic racism
  • Ellison's "Invisible Man" delved into existential questions of Black identity
• Black Arts Movement drew inspiration from assertive voice of pre-1900 writers (David Walker) adopting more radical and Afrocentric approach to literature and culture
  • Amiri Baraka's revolutionary poetry
  • Sonia Sanchez's exploration of Black nationalism in verse

New directions and perspectives

• 20th-century women writers (Toni Morrison, Alice Walker) expanded on gender and sexuality themes creating more nuanced and empowering portrayals of Black womanhood
  • Morrison's "Sula" challenged traditional notions of Black femininity
  • Walker's "The Color Purple" explored lesbian relationships and sexual trauma
• Geographic and social scope broadened to include urban settings and international perspectives moving beyond rural South and slavery focus
  • Claude McKay's poems about Harlem and Jamaica
  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's exploration of Nigerian and American experiences
• Modernist and postmodernist techniques incorporated diverging from traditional narrative structures while engaging with similar themes of identity and racial experience
  • Colson Whitehead's genre-bending in "The Underground Railroad"
  • Paul Beatty's satirical approach in "The Sellout"

Pre-1900 African American literature: Shaping modern movements

Influence on genres and literary forms

• Slave narrative genre influenced development of neo-slave narrative in late 20th century
  • Toni Morrison's "Beloved" reimagined historical trauma of slavery
  • Octavia Butler's "Kindred" blended slave narrative with science fiction
• Autobiography and personal narrative tradition contributed to emergence of memoir as significant genre in 20th-century African American literature
  • Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me"
• Satire and irony in pre-1900 works (Charles Chesnutt's stories) influenced development of similar techniques in 20th-century African American humor and social commentary
  • George Schuyler's satirical novel "Black No More"
  • Ishmael Reed's use of satirical elements in "Mumbo Jumbo"

Conceptual and cultural legacies

• Oral traditions and folklore emphasis contributed to Black Arts Movement's focus on African cultural heritage and oral performance
  • Spoken word poetry movement
  • Performance aspects of hip-hop culture
• Literature as tool for social and political change tradition informed Black Arts Movement's concept of art as revolutionary force
  • Nikki Giovanni's activist poetry
  • The Last Poets' politically charged spoken word performances
• Double consciousness exploration laid groundwork for psychological complexity and identity politics central to many 20th-century African American literary movements
  • Audre Lorde's exploration of intersectionality in her poetry and essays
  • W.E.B. Du Bois' influence on critical race theory in literature
• Engagement with African American spirituality and religious traditions influenced 20th-century writers' approach to faith, skepticism, and cultural heritage themes
  • James Baldwin's exploration of religion in "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
  • Alice Walker's spirituality in "The Color Purple"