Toni Morrison: The bluest eye and Sula Essay submitted by Eric Penrod African- American folklore is arguably the basis for most African- American literature. In a country where as late as the 1860's there were laws prohibiting the teaching of slaves, it was necessary for the oral tradition to c...

Much of what is learned and taught today stems from the African culture. As always many different cultures take claims for things that Africans created or long before most even thought of it. Yet in still proper credit is never given to "our" ancestors for many reasons. One being that...

Paul Laurence Dunbar's Past Had a Lasting Effect on his Future Paul Laurence Dunbar, the son of two former slaves, absorbed his mother's wisdom and stories told by his father. As one of the last of a generation to interact with actual slaves, he was able to use his father's story ...

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Jimmy Crack Corn; Frankie and Johnny; String of Pearls; Blue Moon; Jingle Bell Rock; and Dirty Pop: none of these songs would be here today without influence from African-American culture. Some people have a hard time listening to "black music," meaning Jazz, B...

Langston Hughes: A Poet Supreme Rachael N. Rivas Black poetry is poetry that (1) is grounded in the black experience; (2) utilizes black music as a structural or emulative model; and (3) "consciously" transforms the prevailing standards of poetry through and inconoclastic and innovative use of langu...

Langston Hughes: A Poet Supreme Black poetry is poetry that (1) is grounded in the black experience; (2) utilizes black music as a structural or emulative model; and (3) "consciously" transforms the prevailing standards of poetry through and inconoclastic and innovative use of language. No poet bet...