Great African American Authors

Gr 9 Up—African American literature has a long history, which, like all literature, reflects the times in which it was created, here growing out of "suffering, oppression, and slavery." Host Alphonse Keasley introduces authors and selected works in eight chronologically and historically organized programs, on three discs. The first segment (covering 1761–1901) begins with influences on early writers, then moves onto short, engaging overviews of the authors, their backgrounds, and their writings. Included are Jupiter Hammon, the first published African American writer; Phillis Wheatley; Frederick Douglass; Paul Laurence Dunbar; and Booker T. Washington. Keasley repeats the basic introduction for each logically divided and defined group of writers (program two: 1902–1924; three: 1925–1937; four: 1938–1953; five: 1954–1967; six: 1968–1982; seven: 1982–1993; and eight: 1993 to the present). Varied visuals include period photographs, dramatic readings, movie clips, interviews or videos of the more contemporary writers, and discussions with experts from several academic institutions. The result is a well-paced, engaging, and segmented program for easy classroom use. Overall, this is a useful overview and a brief exploration of these writers' influences and impact, as well as an examination of what it means to be an American writer of African descent.—Maria Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library