Shahzada Yaqoot ENG-355
BLOG WEEK 5
Theme of the week. African and African American literature
Music, literature, and arts have been a niche that many black musicians, artists, and performers have enjoyed in American society throughout the 20th century. Sports has been another area of excellence for African Americans, but in the context of this blog, we will discuss arts and literature. Countries in the continent of Africa, and North America, have produced many outstanding writers and poets. These poets were the spokespersons, described the hardships of the African race in Europe and America. These writers Knew their limitations in writing about white supremacy, thus resorted to expressing their criticism and written views implied through the novels, short stories, plays, and poems.
These writers criticized existential social disparity while inspiring the African race to compete and advance in life. Poets and authors reminded Africans of their life of freedom and autonomy in their home countries. They encouraged them to gather courage, abilities, and resources to unite and fight for their equality rights.
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-African-American-literature-important/answer/Andrew-Weill
Classroom Activity: Research and write a 750 words essay on “the Harlem Renaissance.”
The Harlem Renaisannce
One such movement was the Harlem renaissance that promoted music, art, fashion, literature, and intellectual development among African Americans in Harlem, Manhattan, and New York from 1920 to 1930. Harlem Renaisannce was also knwn as the first Negro moement.
Harlem 1920 t0 1930
Classroom Activity: Research and write a 750 words essay on “the Harlem Renaissance.”
In the History of the United States, the race has always played an important role. The 19th and 20th-century authors became the voice for the African Americans who were enduring the hardships of slavery. Through their short stories and poems, they paint pictures of the black race’s dire conditions over the centuries. With enlightening and industrialization of America, writers and poems used various platforms to motivate young African Americans to get education and skills and seek upward social mobility. One such writer was Paul Laurence Dunbar. The many Novels, short stories, essays, and poems he wrote gave him international fame. His works are considered an right representation of the Black life in the early days of America.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/paul-laurence-dunbar
Classroom Activity:
Research the work of Paul Lawerence Dunbar poem “Lyrics of lowly life” (1896) and write an essay of 500 words elaborating on the following verses:
The Poets Song. By Paul Laurence Dunbar.
“There are no ears to hear my lays
No lips to lift a word of praise
But still, with faith unfaltering
I live ad laugh and love and sing
What matters you unheeding throng
They cannot feel my spirit’s spell
Since life is sweet and love is long
I sing my song, and all is well. (Paul Laurence Dunbar 1896)
Maya Angelou
Another best-acclaimed author was Maya Angelo. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928; She was a gifted writer and an acknowledged spokesman for African Americans and women. She was a strong proponent of moral standards that she instilled in her audience through her poems focused on women’s strength, beauty, human values, and social justice. Her poem, “I know why the caged bird sings, (Maya Angelo) is an impressive depiction of how she saw her people’s hopelessness:
“A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.
But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped, and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.” (Maya Angelo
https://poets.org/poet/maya-angelou
Classroom Activity:
Draw a comparison between the works of Paul Laurance Dunbar and Maya- Angelou. Do you believe the writing of Paul Laurance Dunbar influenced her?
James Baldwin was born on August 21, essay writer, biographer. He was a great observer and a spokesman for his people and became famous for writing about social, economic, and racial disparities and injustices. His short story “Notes of a native son” depicts his ability to write and express the lifestyle of a black family that struggled to survive yet had a lot of pride and arrogance to refuse the help of others.
https://www.biography.com/writer/james-baldwin
Classroom Activity:
Read two more works of James Baldwin, Which one is considered to resemble his autobiography?.
Lepold Sedar Senghor was almost twenty years senior to James Baldwin. What conceptual similariets do we see betweenthe writing of the two writers.
James Baldwin was born on August 21, essay writer, biographer. He was a great observer and a spokesman for his people and became famous for writing about social, economic, and racial disparities and injustices. His short story “Notes of a native son” depicts his ability to write and express the lifestyle of a black family that struggled to survive yet had a lot of pride and arrogance to refuse the help of others.
https://www.biography.com/writer/james-baldwin
Classroom Activity:
Read two more works of James Baldwin, Which one is considered to resemble his autobiography?.
Lepold Sedar Senghor was almost twenty years senior to James Baldwin. What conceptual similariets do we see betweenthe writing of the two writers.
Shahzada Yaqoot 
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