Celebrating African American Authors Who Were Trailblazers

Libraries across the country are gearing up  to celebrate Black History Month.   There are so many resources out now about the contributions African Americans that it seems that a month is not enough time to showcase the best of the best.  Perhaps it would be easier to pay tribute to those whose works not only stood the test of time but inspired generations of writers, of all races.   Their passion  and talent encouraged others  to add their authentic voices in the African American literary experience. Without there contributions,  it is safe to say the American Literature would not be same or have reaped the benefits of a Toni Morrison or Maya Angelou.         African American literature is not limited to slave narratives or the Harlem Renaissance or even the Civil Rights experience.  The influences of the early trailblazers can be seen in today’s  Children and Young adult literature as well.   It would be a good idea to showcase these trailblazers at the library, especially if their tomes are on the shelf waiting to be checked out by the right reader.

The conversation on African American trailblazers could and should begin with the slave narratives.    It is here that readers can begin to get a glimpse of the slave experience in America.   Many of the slaves who fled North, learned to read and write,  which gave testimony to horrors of slavery and aided the cause of the Abolitionist Movement.   Phillis Wheatley, a slave in Boston was the first African American to have her book published.  Ms. Wheatley may also be  the first African American who had to prove in court, that she had actually had written the book. She not only stated her case, proving once and for all that she authored the book, she also had high profile admirers such as President George Washington.  How  could a young black women be articulate and write so eloquently?  Her owners had encouraged her to learn to read and write.  From there, her talents as a poet was discovered.      She wrote this poem, “His Excellency George Washington”, as a freed slave.  Although she never became as well known as Federick Douglas for her antislavery literature, there are published letters to the newspapers penned by her, making the case for freed Slaves.

The Harlem Renaissance changed the landscape of African American literature forever.  It was the first time that the writings and art appealed to a wider audience than African Americans.   The entire United States began to take notice of the art and music coming out of Harlem, New York.   Artists lured the public into swaying to a new rhythm  called Jazz,  while literature and plays that threw away the old stereotypes  of African American characters and replaced them with complex characters who expressed the human experience in profound ways.   Out of the Harlem Renaissance came men and women who dared to change the narrative of the poor black folks to richness of a vibrant culture found in the African American community.   Langston Hughes, poet and playwright  was at the center of Harlem Renaissance.  Hughes talent allowed him to become the first black American to earn his living solely from his writing and public lectures. His works appealed to the average black person.   He put their struggles, their stories in a clear perspective that they accept and appreciated his candor about the struggles of their community.   Arguably his most famous contribution to poetry is “Harlem”  or as some called it the Dream deferred poem.   This poems powerfully articulates the frustration and the hope that African American community know all too well.  It’s the cross between hoping for a better world but realizing the road to get there is a long one.  Sometimes, the dreams are “deferred” until the time is right for them to become a reality.   Quite literally Hughes works spoke about and to the common folks.

it is without a doubt the the success of Lorraine Hansberry as a playwright and writer has direct ties and is influenced by the Harlem Renaissance. She is the first African American playwright to have her work featured on Broadway.  A Raisin In the Sun, tells the tale of  an African American struggle with segregation in Chicago.  Hansberry’s play was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1959, which made her the first African American writer to win this prestigious award.

In 1963 Children’s literature saw a dramatic and much needed change. Snowy Day, written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats  won the much coveted   Caldecott Medal that year.    It’s a perfect story of a child reveling in joys of a perfect snowy day.  The author broke the color barrier in Children’s literature with the introduction of Peter, the main character, who is an African American child.  The universal theme that all children, regardless of cultural background, love the freedom and the promise of a snowy day.  Can we go sledding?  Making footprints in the snow?  Snowball fights?  The possibilities are endless. The story is timeless.    Keats later wrote other books for children that demonstrated to readers the common thread of life we all share, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.

These are just a few of the trailblazers that could be recognized for Black History Month in the way of a bulletin board display or even handouts for patrons.   The list of contributions from writers, artists, playwrights is extensive but the handful mentioned here just the tip of the iceberg.  Plenty of information can be found on all of these artists and authors.   Some libraries have special collections devoted to African American Literature. Most metropolitan public libraries system such as Detroit Public Library will have an extensive collection which is worth going to check out to discover or rediscover the works mentioned here and perhaps, discover a few new gems.   Let the celebrations begin!  As always,  celebrating with this librarian always begins with a good book.