African american authors biography

Additional titles, like her first novel, 's The Bluest Eyeas well as 's Sula were but a few of Morrison's works that made a lasting mark on the record of the African American experience. After selling more than one million copies, his collection of essays, Nobody Knows My Nameearned him a spot on the bestsellers list. The Harlem-born writer, who was highly adept at tackling issues of race, sexuality and spirituality, had several of his pieces adapted for the big screen.

Waiting to ExhaleTerry McMillan's breakout female-centric third novel that she published inspent several months on The New York Times bestseller list, and, bysold more than three million copies. Marcus Garvey. The 13 Most Memorable Inauguration Performances. Martin Luther King Jr. Nikki Giovanni. Malcolm X. Kamala Harris. Donald Glover. Here are some of the best-selling Black authors whose voices have both shaped and defined literary history: Maya Angelou Getty Images Maya Angelou gestures while speaking in a chair during an interview at her home in Getty Images Chinua AchebeNigerian novelist, poet and critic.

Low-life was a key focus of their art. They cared about portraying realism through laughter, struggle, joy, and music. And ugly, too… We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves. The Weary Blues was considered the best poem of the year in the Urban League magazine, where it was published in It tells the story of a blues black piano player in Harlem.

In The Weary BluesLangston Hughes channels the power and beauty of black art through music as well as addresses the oppression and injustice that black people endured at that time. It portrays African-American life in Kansas, talking a lot about class, religion, and the community. Was a novelist, essayist, poet, and playwright. He is widely considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

James Baldwin essays in Notes of a Native Son explore racial and social issues as well as the experience of being Black in America. He was born the eldest son and had never known his biological father.

African american authors biography: Maya Angelou · Zora

His stepfather had never given him care and love while he was growing up. However, Baldwin grew under the mentorship of Beauford Delaney, who was a prominent artist at the time and urged young James to explore himself through creativity. Baldwin was homosexual, and that, in addition to being black, had him face abuse and discrimination. Disappointed by oppression and racism, he moved to France and pursued his writing career, becoming one of the most influential black writers of the 20th century.

Saxon Memorial Award. James Baldwin addresses the issues of substance abuse, suffering, and salvation. Through family bonds between Sonny and his brother, the author also shows how the power of art can bridge gaps in relationships and bring people closer. The Fire Next Time is another book by Baldwin, which has two essays. The first is dealing with race and American History, and the second is drawn from the experiences of Baldwin as Christian and Islamic ideas of people living in Harlem.

Was an American author, screenwriter, actress, dancer, poet, and civil rights activist. It included an autobiographical piece authored by Maya Angelou, Graduation. It conveys what it was like to gain education during the times of racial segregation as a black person. As a civil rights movement activist, Angelou traveled with Malcolm X and helped him in his political efforts.

After she was arrested in the States, Malcolm X was assassinated. Nothing stopped her from continuing her work with the civil rights movement. She helped raise money for Martin Luther King Jr. Many of Maya Angelou books became best-sellers and got nominated for dozens of awards, including a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. Angelou was also the first Black woman who wrote a screenplay for a major film called Georgia, Georgia.

She eventually directed her own film in called Down in the Delta. In the poem Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou challenges stereotypical assumptions of what a woman should look african american authors biography. The poet refers to the concepts of body image and femininity, trying to redefine them for herself and other women. It is a coming-of-age story that talks about her early years.

The book addresses the issues of rape, trauma, racism, and literacy. It was nominated for a National Book Award and got a film adaptation of the same name. Is an acclaimed novelist, essayist, and poet. Much like everybody else on this list, she is also known for her activism and influence on black literature. Walker grew up poor in a family of eight children.

Her mother worked as a maid to support them. Walker published her first short story in and became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement after graduation. She participated in the March on Washington and was one of the many African American Writers to detail the march. Alice Walker quotes about race and identity inspired activists to go through challenging times.

Alice Walker raises the issues of spirituality, race, gender, and self-discovery. In the short story Everyday Use, Alice Walker depicts black heritage. The story is set in the Deep South, where Mama lives with her two daughters. The girls have contrasting personalities and different views on their identity and cultural background. Was an American novelist who had won both the Nobel and the Pulitzer Prize.

She was also an editor and a professor. Toni Morrison poems are known for their epicness, exquisite language, and richly detailed African-American characters. Morrison was the second oldest of four children, and her parents got her into reading, music, and folklore from an early age. Her father worked as a welder and supported his family with several other jobs, while her mother was a domestic worker.

Morrison graduated high school with Honors and attended Howard University, where she continued pursuing literature. Toni Morrison books got numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in and the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in This story revolves around the girl having a deep inferiority complex due to her mannerisms and dark skin, which fuels the desire for blue eyes.

In her first published short story, Recitatif, Toni Morrison challenges stereotypes that surround the issue of racial identity. F [ edit ]. G [ edit ]. H [ edit ]. I [ edit ].

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African american authors biography: Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick

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