Etymology of African American Literary Theory
African American Literary Theory is a framework for analyzing literature by African American writers.
- Nomenclature & Identity: Derives from the intersection of African American culture, history, and literature, signifying authors’ racial and cultural identity within the United States.
- Influences: Draws from literary traditions like African oral traditions, the Harlem Renaissance, B**ck Arts Movement, and the Civil Rights era.
- Themes & Goals: Explores race, identity, oppression, resistance, and cultural heritage in African American literature, illuminating the African American experience throughout history.
African American Literary Theory: Origin, Theorists, Works and Arguments
Origin of African American Literary Theory
- Emerged during the 20th century as African American writers gained prominence in American literature.
- Rooted in the need for critical frameworks that acknowledge the unique African American experience.
Prominent Theorists
- W.E.B. Du Bois: Known for his influential work The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois introduced the concept of double consciousness and explored the struggle for identity among African Americans.
- Langston Hughes: A celebrated poet, Hughes’s works, including The Negro Speaks of Rivers, emphasize cultural heritage, racial pride, and resilience.
- Toni Morrison: Renowned for her novels, especially Beloved, Morrison examined the enduring impact of slavery on African American identity and familial bonds.
- Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Notable for his essays and criticism, Gates has focused on African American literary history and cultural studies in works like The Signifying Monkey.
Key Works in African American Literary Theory
- Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk addresses issues of race, identity, and inequality within African American communities.
- Hughes’s poetry, such as The Negro Speaks of Rivers, explores the rich cultural heritage and resilience of African Americans.
- Morrison’s novel Beloved delves into the haunting legacy of slavery and its profound impact on African American families.
- Gates’s essays, found in The Signifying Monkey, delve into African American literary traditions, folklore, and their significance.
Core Arguments
- African American Literary Theory seeks to highlight the unique cultural and historical context of African American writers.
- It emphasizes themes of racial identity, oppression, resistance, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
- This critical framework challenges dominant narratives and fosters a deeper understanding of African American literary contributions to American literature.
Principles of African American Literary Theory
| Principle | Explanation | Example |
| Representation and Voice | Challenges traditional narratives, emphasizes authentic representation, and amplifies African American experiences. | In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the novel portrays the haunting legacy of slavery through the voice of African American characters. |
| Identity and Racial Consciousness | Explores complexities of African American identity, including race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, within the context of social categories. | In Langston Hughes’ poetry, he navigates the intersections of being African American and his identity as a poet and artist. |
| Resistance and Liberation | Examines how literature addresses and challenges systemic oppression, racial inequality, and social injustice. | Richard Wright’s Native Son portrays the protagonist’s resistance against racial injustice in 1930s Chicago. |
| Cultural and Historical Contexts | Highlights the significance of cultural and historical contexts, including the legacies of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, in interpreting literature. | Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God is deeply rooted in the cultural context of the Harlem Renaissance. |
| Intersectionality and Interdisciplinary Perspectives | Recognizes interconnectedness of social identities and employs interdisciplinary approaches. | In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, the intersectionality of race and gender is explored through the character Celie. |
| Community and Solidarity | Emphasizes communal aspects, explores unity, resilience, and cultural preservation within African American communities. | August Wilson’s The Pittsburgh Cycle portrays the African American community’s struggle and solidarity in different decades. |
Relevant Theoretical Frameworks and Concepts
Critical Race Theory and Its Application to African American Literature
- It shows an understanding of the role of race and racism in society and how it shapes African American literature.
- It shows how power structures and social hierarchies affect the production and reception of African American texts.
- It also examines how African American authors challenge and subvert dominant racial narratives through their literary works.
Postcolonial Theory and its Impact on African American Literary Theory and Literature
- It explores the connections between African American literature and the history of colonization and imperialism.
- It helps analyze how African American authors negotiate and resist the legacy of colonialism in their works
- It also helps examine themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and decolonization in African American literary texts
Feminist and Gender Theories within African American Literary Criticism
- It helps examine the intersection of race and gender in African American literature
- It helps analyzes how African American women writers explore issues of power, agency, and identity within their works
- It also seeks to investigate how African American women challenge and disrupt traditional gender roles and stereotypes through their writing
Intersectionality and the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Class
- It helps understand how multiple social categories intersect and shape the experiences of African Americans
- It helps analyze how race, gender, and class intersect and interact in African American literary texts
- It also seeks to explore the complexities and nuances of identity and social oppression within the African American community
African American Literary Criticism and Aesthetics
- It shows the politics of representation in African American literature.
- It questions the authenticity and the “B***k experience.”
- It also aestheticizes resistance and the use of language as a tool for empowerment.
- It also shows the role of folklore, spirituality, and cultural traditions in African American literature
Contemporary Developments and Debates
- African American speculative fiction and Afrofuturism
- Queer Theory and its intersection with African American Literature
- Global Perspectives on African American Literature and diasporic connections
- Discussions on the canon, inclusion, and diversity in African American literary studies
Suggested Readings about African American Literary Theory
- Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. Oxford UP, 2007.
- Gates Jr., Henry Louis. The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism. Oxford UP, 1989.
- Hughes, Langston. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Vintage, 1995.
- Morrison, Toni. Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination. Vintage, 1993.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Vintage, 2004.
- Walker, Alice. In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. Mariner Books, 2004.
- Wright, Richard. Native Son. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005.
- Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
- Wilson, August. The Pittsburgh Cycle. Theatre Communications Group, 2013.
- Wall, Cheryl A. Women of the Harlem Renaissance. Indiana UP, 1995.
