An author or poet’s hopes, fears, memories and dreams are revealed in his or her work, and, often, periods of great struggle and oppression fuel the fire of a great story. Oftentimes, writers inadvertently document history and the makings of a culture with their art, such as these great African-American authors and poets.
Maya Angelou
1928-2014
Angelou’s powerful autobiographies and poems tell the story of a resilient woman who survived everything from racism and poverty to sexual abuse and identity struggles. Many of her poems are regarded as the anthems of African Americans, and she received many honors and accolades, including more than 50 honorary degrees. Her literary style is often compared to the blues, because she speaks with honesty, effortless metaphors and a natural rhythm.
Alice Walker
1944-present
Her most famous work, “The Color Purple,” was adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985. This powerful story depicted the difficult life of an abused African-American woman and the challenges she overcomes in marriage, sisterhood and friendship. Walker is a prominent activist in the African-American community and credits the time she met Martin Luther King Jr. for her motivation to defend African-American civil rights.
Langston Hughes
1902-1967
Hughes was one of the first “jazz poets” of the Harlem Renaissance. His unique writing style reflects what he called the “low-life”: the real lives of black people in the lowest socioeconomic class. The authenticity of his poetry and novels greatly influenced the style of other African-American writers, who sought to detail life amidst racism and oppression with grace. In his 1923 poem “My People,” Hughes said, “Beautiful, also, is the sun / Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.”
Nikki Giovanni
1942-present
Recently named one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 “Living Legends,” Giovanni first gained fame in the 1960s as part of the Black Arts Movement. Her book “Love Poems” (1997) was written in memory of Tupac Shakur, and much of her poetry pertains to black manhood and black folk culture. She touches on themes of domestic violence, alcoholism and other issues that surrounded her upbringing in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Jamaica Kincaid
1949-present
Kincaid visited NSU as the 2012 Convocation Keynote speaker, reading an excerpt from her book “Annie John.” Kincaid was an English professor at Harvard University for many years and has won several book awards for her work. Her literary voice is deeply rooted in her experiences as a child in Antigua, and books like “Annie John” echo her personal experiences with exploring her sexuality, maintaining family ties and finding her own identity.
Richard Wright
1908-1960
Some critics say that Wright’s work helped change race relations in America in the twentieth century. His controversial approach to racism has resulted in many of his books being banned in American schools, including “Black Boy” and “Native Son.” He also addressed both American and international politics as a publicly open Communist in a time of socialist fears.
Zora Neale Hurston
1891-1960
This author and anthropologist was one of the first females to contribute to the Harlem Renaissance. Of her four novels, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is the most famous, centered on an African-American woman’s coming of age amidst racial tensions in central Florida. Hurston was a strong feminist, conservative and former Zeta Phi Beta sorority member. Her controversial views on equality for all races, which are expressed in many of her works, excluded preferential treatment for African Americans.
These accomplished African-American writers have collectively created a wealth of prose depicting their lives and unforgettable times in our country’s history, sharing lessons that all races and generations can learn from.
