Literatura Norteamericana - 4 - Prof. Surez AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE IN T E !

"#$% T&e econom' of t&e American co(onie% )e*en)e) initia((' on t&e e+*ort of c&ea* ra, materia(% to t&e metro*o(i%--cotton- .rain- to/acco- etc. To maintain a con%tant %u**(' of t&e%e materia(%- t&e American %ett(er% nee)e) (ot% of c&ea*- un%0i((e) (a/our. S(a1er' ,a% c(ear(' t&e 2uic0e%t %o(ution to t&i% *ro/(em. 3et,een !4!5 an) !"4$- a/out 4$$-$$$ African% ,ere tran%*orte) from 6e%t Africa to t&e Unite) State%. T&i% ,a% not an e+cee)in.(' (ar.e num/er com*are) ,it& t&e tota( At(antic %(a1e tra)e- ,&ic& carrie) aroun) 5.# mi((ion *eo*(e to t&e Ne, 6or()- mo%t of t&em to t&e %u.ar *(antation% of 3razi( an) t&e Cari//ean. 3(ac0% ,ere initia((' /rou.&t o1er to America /ecau%e t&e nati1e% cou() not en)ure t&e %trenuou% ,or0in. con)ition% in t&e *(antation%. T&e nati1e% %ti(( *ractice) %ur1i1a( economie% /a%e) on *rimar' a.ricu(ture or on &untin. to %ati%f' imme)iate nee)%- &ence for t&em t&e i)ea of ,or0 ,a% tie) to %ur1i1a(. In a))ition to t&i%man' nati1e *o*u(ation% ,ere ,i*e) out in on(' a fe, )eca)e% /' e*i)emic% of f(u- %'*&i(i%- an) %ma((*o+- i((ne%%e% a.ain%t ,&ic& t&e (oca(% &a) no /io(o.ica( )efen%e%. It ,a% %oon notice) t&at African /(ac0%- /rou.&t o1er initia((' /' S*aniar)% an) Portu.ue%e from t&e coa%ta( re.ion% of 6e%t Africa,ere more re%i%tant to )i%ea%e an) more amena/(e to ,or0 )i%ci*(ine. T&e fact% of t&e ca*turetran%*ort- an) %e((in. of African /(ac0 *eo*(e in America are notoriou%(' crue(. T&e tran%*ortation con)ition% from Africa ,ere %o in&uman t&at at (ea%t /et,een !7 an) 87 *er cent of t&o%e /rou.&t o1er )ie) )urin. t&e Mi))(e Pa%%a.e 9t&e tran%at(antic :ourne'; or )urin. t&e fir%t ,ee0% of (ife in t&e ne, continent. In !"$<- t&e Unite) State% .o1ernment /anne) %(a1e im*ort% /ut not )ome%tic %(a1er'. =e%*ite t&i% mea%ure- t&e num/er of American /(ac0% )i) not )imini%&. It 0e*t .ro,in. at more or (e%% t&e %ame rate a% t&e nati1e *o*u(ation. 93' t&e time of t&e ci1i( ,ar- t&e num/er of /(ac0% in t&e countr' ,a% a/out 4 mi((ion--a(( /ut a 1er' %ma(( num/er ,ere %(a1e%.; AFRICAN CULTURE =URIN> SLA?ER@ T&e African% /rou.&t to t&e Unite) State% ,ere often for/i))en to %*ea0 t&eir nati1e ton.ue%. T&o%e ,it& a common (an.ua.e ,ere %e*arate)A &ence mo%t %(a1e% &a) to re%ort to En.(i%& a% t&eir (in.ua franca. At time% t&e' ,ere not a((o,e) to *ractice t&eir fo(0(ore an) re(i.ion an) 2uite often t&e' ,ere force) to con1ert to C&ri%tianit' /' force. Bt&er time%- t&eir ori.ina( /e(ief% ,ere re%*ecte) an) e1en encoura.e) %ince it ,a% ea%ier to en%(a1e an) /ruta(ize a *eo*(e one cou() comforta/(' con%i)er C%a1a.eC an) C*a.an.C E1en ,&en t&e' ,ere un)er *re%%ure to for.et t&eir ori.ina( cu(ture%- %(a1e% ,ere not a((o,e) to ac2uire t&e cu(ture of t&eir ,&ite o**re%%or%. T&e' ,ere 0e*t- for t&e mo%t *art- i((iterate. Teac&in. %(a1e% to rea) an) ,rite ,a% *uni%&e) /' (a, a(( o1er t&e Sout& unti( after t&e Ci1i( 6ar. =e%*ite t&e%e *re%%ure%t&e %(a1e% mana.e) to *re%er1e muc& of t&eir ori.ina( cu(ture an) tra)ition%- an) to create %ome ne, one% in t&eir ne, mi(ieu. D 6&en force) to con1ert to C&ri%tianit'- t&e' *ractice) it in t&eir o,n ,a'- mi+in. it ,it& man' of t&eir rite% an) ori.ina( re(i.iou% *ractice%. In a))ition- un)er co1er of C&ri%tianit'- t&e' *re%er1e t&e memor' an) t&e cu(t of man' of t&eir African )eitie%. D T&e' fre2uent(' *re%er1e) an) en(ar.e) African tra)ition%- an) mi+e) t&em ,it& American tra)ition%. D 3ecau%e of t&eir force) i((iterac'- t&e' create) mo%t(' ora( cu(tura( form%E %on.% an) fo(0ta(e%. In t&eir mu%ic t&e' *re%er1e) man' of t&e African r&'t&mic an) tona( form% an) fu%e) t&em ,it& t&e ,e%tern mu%ica( tra)ition% t&e' ,ere e+*o%e) to in t&e *(antation%. T&e' a(%o )e1e(o*e) a ric& fo(0 ta(e tra)ition- in t&e form of c'c(e% t&at centre on %emi-(e.en)ar' c&aracter% or on anima(% 9(i0e in Ae%o*F% fa/(e%;. E%*ecia((' *o*u(ar ,ere t&e c'c(e% centre) on 3rFer Ra//it- Sta..er Lee- an) Go&n enr'. In !

t&e%e ta(e% /(ac0 tric0%ter-&eroe% 9or anima(% c(ear(' meant to re*re%ent /(ac0 c&aracter%- (i0e 3rFer Ra//it; mana.e to foo( t&eir *o,erfu( anta.oni%t% t&an0% to t&eir cunnin. an) %0i((. In a ,a' t&e%e ta(e% are a ce(e/ration of t&e a/i(it' of /(ac0% to en)ure an) %ur1i1e e1en un)er e+treme )e*ri1ation an) o**re%%ion. T&e%e %torie%- (i0e a(( fo(0 creation%- ,ere anon'mou% an) common(' %&are). D Mu%ic an) fo(0ta(e% %&o, t&at- )urin. %(a1er'- African-American cu(ture ,a% /a%e) on co((ecti1e(' ma)e- e*&emera( form% t&at ,ou() come a(i1e in t&e *roce%% of *erformance it%e(f. T&i% *erformati1e 2ua(it' %ti(( *er%i%t% in *o%t-%(a1er' cu(tureE t&in0 of t&e im*ortance t&at im*ro1i%ation an) co((ecti1e co-*ro)uction &a1e in /(ac0 mu%ic form% (i0e :azz or ra*. D A fun)amenta( contra)iction in t&e%e cu(tura( form% i% t&at t&e' &a) a% t&eir /a%i% an Ca(ienC (an.ua.e,&ic& ,a% im*o%e) /' force on a non-En.(i%& %*ea0in. *o*u(ation. 3ut (i0e it &a**ene) ,it& re(i.ion an) fo(0(ore- /(ac0% u%e) t&e (an.ua.e in creati1e- ori.ina( ,a'%- a)a*tin. it to t&eir *articu(ar e+*re%%i1e nee)%. T E PBETR@ BF P @LLIS 6 EATLE@ =e%*ite *ro&i/ition% on /(ac0 (iterac'- %ome /(ac0% )i) ,rite. An im*ortant e+am*(e of ear(' /(ac0 American (iterature i% P&'((i% 6&eat(e' 9!<#8-"4;- a %(a1e of a 3o%ton fami('. er Poems ,ere *u/(i%&e) in !<<8. T&e 1o(ume &a) a *refator' (etter %i.ne) /' ei.&teen Cof t&e mo%t re%*ecta/(e c&aracter% of 3o%tonC atte%tin. to t&e fact t&at 6&eat('- ,a% t&e rea( aut&or of t&e%e *oem% an) t&atHe1en t&ou.& %&e ,a% /(ac0-I %&e cou() rea((' rea) an) ,rite an) t&e *oem% ,ere rea((' &er ,or0. T&i% 0in) of aut&entication ,a% often attac&e) to ,ritin.% /' /(ac0 aut&or% at t&e time- %ince mo%t *eo*(e- in t&eir i.norance an) raci%m- /e(ie1e) t&at /(ac0% ,ere not a/(e to *erform inte((ectua( ta%0%. 6&eat(e'F% *oetr' c&aracteri%e% /' a %0i(fu( u%e of tra)itiona( metric *attern%. In &er *oem% t&e aut&or a**ear% intent on )efen)in. t&at /(ac0% &a1e a )e1e(o*e) et&ic an) mora( %en%e- an) t&erefore t&eir o**re%%ion i% un:u%tifia/(e. S&e *rote%t% occa%iona((' a.ain%t t&e t'rann' of t&e 3riti%& cro,n to,ar) t&e American co(onie% 9&er Poems came out on(' t&ree 'ear% /efore t&e Proc(amation of In)e*en)ence;- ,&ic& i% anot&er in)irect ,a' to )efen) free)om- a free)om )enie) to &er a% a /(ac0 *er%on. 6&eat(e'F% )efence of t&e re(i.iou% an) inte((ectua( a/i(itie% of /(ac0% a**ear% a% ,e(( in man' ot&er African American ,riter% of t&e time. Man' En(i.&tenment t&in0er% an) *&i(o%o*&er% )enie) /ot& t&e%e trait%. T&i% raci%m i% a fun)amenta( f(a, in En(i.&tenment *&i(o%o*&'- an) a**ear% in t&e fact t&at it% )efence of rationa(it' an) autonom' ,ere re%tricte) to ,&ite ma(e%. 6omen an) mem/er% of ot&er et&nic .rou*% ,ere con%i)ere) /' an) (ar.e )e*ri1e) of inte((ectua( an) ci1ic 1irtue%. T&i% a**ear%- for e+am*(e- in a t&in0er (i0e t&e 3riti%& E)mun) 3ur0e. 6&en c&aracteri%in. t&e ae%t&etic conce*t of Ht&e %u/(ime-I t&e a,e one e+*erience% in front of ,&at o1er,&e(m% oneF% %en%e% an) un)er%tan)in.- &e cite) a% an e+am*(e t&e %i.&t of a /(ac0 *er%on--it *ro)uce) in &im %uc& fee(in. of a/%o(ute ot&erne%% tin.e) ,it& &orror. E2ua(('- t&e Scotti%& em*irici%t =a1i) ume- in CBf Nationa( C&aracter%-C ma0e% %imi(ar(' )ero.ator' comment% a/out *eo*(e of African ori.in. AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE IN T E !"#$% T E ANTI-SLA?ER@ MB?EMENTS Nineteent&-centur' African American (iterature ,a% a re%*on%e to %(a1er' an) raci%m. It mu%t /e un)er%too) in t&e conte+t of t&e 1ariou% contem*orar' %tru..(e% a.ain%t /ot&. T&erefore- ,e mu%t fir%t fi.ure out &o, t&e %tru..(e a.ain%t %(a1er' too0 *(aceA ,&at ,ere it% .oa(% an) i)ea(%A an)- fina(('- ,&at 0in)% of ,ritin.% it .enerate). T&e main anti-%(a1er' mo1ement% in t&e nineteent& centur' ,ere t&e co(oni%ation mo1ement an) a/o(itioni%m. T&e co(onization mo1ement ,a% t&e more mo)erate of t&e t,o. It ,a% )efen)e) /' t&e Co(onization Societ'foun)e) in !"!4. It ,a% acti1e on /ot& %i)e% of t&e At(antic /ut &a) a (ar.er con%tituenc' in t&e Unite) 7

State%. It% main .oa( ,a% to *romote t&e return of free) African American% to Africa. T&e %ociet' rai%e) fun)% to /u' (an) an) &e(* *eo*(e tra1e( an) %ett(e )o,n t&ere to create free /(ac0 co(onie%. T&e 3riti%& co(on' of Sierra Leone- e%ta/(i%&e) in !<"<- an) t&e American co(on' of Li/eria ,ere t&e t,o main ac&ie1ement% of t&i% %ociet'. T&e acti1itie% of t&e co(onization %ociet' ,ere %u**orte) /' %ome /(ac0 i)eo(o.ue% an) inte((ectua(%. Co(onization .a1e man' /(ac0% a .oo) c&ance to .et a,a' from t&e cu(ture ,&ere t&e' &a) /een en%(a1e). In a))ition- it *ro1i)e) t&e African American communit' ,it& a %en%e of *ur*o%eE t&e a)1ancement of Africa /' African% t&em%e(1e%. Enric&e) ,it& tec&no(o.ica( an) %cientific e)ucation- t&e' mi.&t /e a/(e to intro)uce into t&e continent %ome of t&e a)1anta.e% of mo)ern 6e%tern %ocietie%. o,e1er- it mu%t a(%o /e %ai) t&at man' of t&e *romoter% of co(onization ,ere not )ri1en /' mere(' a(trui%tic .oa(%. Bne of t&e centra( a%%um*tion% or t&e co(onization mo1ement ,a% t&at /(ac0% )i) not fu((' /e(on. in Nort&ern An.(o-Sa+on nation%. T&e' ,ere a forei.n /o)' t&at &a) to /e re(ocate) to t&eir (an) of ori.inJa curiou% i)ea %ince man' /(ac0% &a) (i1e) in t&e US muc& (on.er t&an man' immi.rant ,&ite%. Co(onization ,a% a ,a' to com/at fear% of mi%ce.enation 9of mi+e) marria.e%A of t&e mi+ture of /(oo)%;. An) it ,a% a(%o a ,a' to *re1ent /(ac0 ,or0er% from com*etin. ,it& ,&ite one%. In a))ition- it ,a% a(%o )efen)e) /' %ector% of t&e ,&ite *o*u(ation ,&o ,ere afrai) t&at free) %(a1e% mi.&t turn out to /e )an.erou% an) )ifficu(t to contro(. Co(onization i)ea% ,ere e%*ecia((' *rominent in t&e !"7$% /ut e+*erience) %ome re1i1a( in (ater )eca)e% a% ,e((. T&e main anti-%(a1er' no1e( in t&e US- arriet 3eec&er Sto,eF% Uncle Toms Cabin- )oe% en) in a co(onization note- a% it %u..e%t% t&at t&e Hnatura(I .oa( of t&e free) %(a1e% i% to %tu)' in Euro*e- Cana)a- an) t&e US an) t&en %ett(e )o,n in Africa. In t&i% /oo0- co(onization i% a(%o turne) into a C&ri%tian mi%%ionE to.et&er ,it& 6e%tern tec&no(o.' an) %cience- /(ac0 co(onia(i%t% ,ou() intro)uce C&ri%tianit' into nati1e %ocietie%. A/o(itioni%m ,a% muc& more ra)ica( t&an t&e co(oni%ation mo1ement. Rat&er t&an %en) /(ac0% /ac0 to Africa- it %ou.&t to ma0e t&em fu(( citizen% in t&eir o,n countr'. It% main *erio) of inf(uence %*an% from t&e !"8$% to t&e !"4$%. It ,a% %tarte) /' a Sout&erner- E(i&u Em/ree- ,&o%e :ourna(- Emancipator- ,a% t&e fir%t a/o(itioni%t *erio)ica( in t&e US. o,e1er- t&e mo%t 1i%i/(e a/o(itioni%t ,a% a Nort&erner- 6i((iam L(o') >arri%on. e foun)e) an) e)ite) t&e mo%t ,i)e(' rea) :ourna( in t&e mo1ement- The Liberator- in !"8!. >arri%on *ractice) non-1io(ent *rote%t an) ci1i( )i%o/e)ience. e /urne) t&e con%titution of t&e US in *u/(ic /ecau%e it a((o,e) %ome %tate% to maintain %(a1er'. e con%i)ere) %(a1er' Ca (ea.ue ,it& )eat& an) a co1enant ,it& &e((.C In t&e fir%t e)itoria( of &i% *a*er &e ,roteE CI ,i(( /e a% &ar%& a% trut& an) a% uncom*romi%in. a% :u%tice.... I am in earne%t--I ,i(( not e2ui1ocate--I ,i(( not e+cu%e--an) I ,i(( /e &ear).C T&e *oint of t&i% mo1ement ,a% to fu(fi( t&e *romi%e of t&e American con%titution an) of t&e countr'K% re(i.iou% *a%t. A/o(itioni%t% attac0e) %(a1er' for t,o main rea%on%. It /etra'e) t&e ori.ina( Proc(amation of In)e*en)ence- ,&ic& .uarantee) H(ife- *ro*ert'- an) t&e *ur%uit of &a**ine%%I to a((. S(a1er' c(ear(' /etra'e) t&e%e *rinci*(e%. In a))ition- it ,a% un-C&ri%tian. In t&e intro)uction to a %(a1e narrati1e 9more on t&o%e /e(o,;- >arri%on ,roteE CRea)erL Are 'ou ,it& t&e man-%tea(er% in %'m*at&' an) *ur*o%e- or on t&e %i)e of t&eir )o,ntro))en 1ictim%M If ,it& t&e former- 'ou are t&e foe of >o) an) man. If ,it& t&e (atter- /e *re*are) to )o an) )are in t&eir /e&a(f.C ence t&e i)eo(o.' of t&e mo1ement ,a% a mi+ture of re(i.iou% an) *o(itica( *rinci*(e%. A/o(itioni%m *ro)uce) a/un)ant ,ritin.. T&i% too0 t&e form of to*ica( (iterature--t&at i%- ,ritten for t&e moment an) un)er t&e *re%%ure of current e1ent%. T&e main a/o(itioni%t .enre% ,ere %*eec&e%- *am*&(et%- ne,%*a*er e)itoria(%- ne,%*a*er artic(e%- e%%a'%- an) %(a1e narrati1e%. Man' of t&em ,ere *u/(i%&e) anon'mou%('. In a))ition to Liberator an) Emancipator- t,o ot&er im*ortant *a*er% ,ere Liberty Almanac an) The North Star. A/o(itioni%t ,ritin. &a% a :ourna(i%tic 2ua(it'. It i% %trai.&tfor,ar) an) often contain% reference% to current e1ent%. Since man' e)itoria(% an) e%%a'% ,ere fir%t concei1e) a% %*eec&e%- t&i% ,ritin. %&o,% t&e inf(uence of oratorica( form% an) &a% fre2uent re*etition%- *ara((e(i%m%- an) e+c(amator' a**ea(% to t&e rea)er. 9HB&- Rea)erL 6i(( 'ou not ri%e at once a.ain%t t&e e1i(% of /on)a.eNI; t&e ,or)in.- in a))ition- i% often 2uite em*&atic an) %u..e%t% *a%%ionate )e(i1er'. 8

A/o(itioni%t ,ritin. i% a(%o 2uite me(o)ramatic an) %entimenta(- in *art /ecau%e t&i% ,a% t&e ta%te of t&e )a' an) it ,a% /e%t to ,rite t&i% ,a' in or)er to attract rea)er%A /ut a(%o- of cour%e- /ecau%e %(a1er' it%e(f ,a% an e+treme(' me(o)ramatic in%titution ,&ic& *u%&e) *eo*(e into e+treme e+*erience%. Fami(ie% ,ere %e*arate)- ne1er 0no,in. ,&et&er t&e' ,ou() e1er %ee eac& ot&er a.ainA %(a1e% ,ere routine(' a/u%e) an) &umi(iate)- at time% *uni%&e) to )eat&. A/o(itioni%t ,riter% connecte) t&e anti-%(a1er' cau%e ,it& contem*orar' Euro*ean re1o(ution% an) nationa(i%t mo1ement%*articu(ar(' in Ire(an) an) Ea%tern Euro*e. 9At t&e time t&ere ,ere numerou% nationa(i%t re/e((ion% in Ea%tern Euro*e- ,&ere Pan-S(a1i%m- an i)ea t&at *ara((e(% Pan-Africani%m- &a) con%i)era/(e %tren.t&;. In t&i% ,a' American a/o(itioni%t% %&o,e) t&at t&eir fi.&t ,a% *art of a ,i)er *o(itica( front an) %u..e%te) t&at t&e emanci*ation of %u/:u.ate) *eo*(e% ,a% t&e %i.n of t&e time%. SLA?E NARRATI?ES T&e main an) mo%t ori.ina( .enre ,it&in a/o(itioni%t ,ritin. ,a% t&e %(a1e /io.ra*&'--or slave narrative--a(%o one of t&e main .enre% in African American (iterature. S(a1e narrati1e% ,ere auto/io.ra*&ie% ,ritten--at time% )ictate)--/' former %(a1e%. In a ,a'- t&e' are no1e(% of e)ucation t&at narrate &o, /(ac0 %(a1e% /ecame increa%in.(' a,are of t&e in:u%tice of t&eir %ituation an) mana.e) to e%ca*e to t&e Free %tate% or Cana)a an) to %tart t&eir (ife a.ain in free)om. T&e %(a1e narrati1e% ori.inate) in *(atform %*eec&e% )e(i1ere) /' former %(a1e% at anti-%(a1er' ra((ie% an) .at&erin.%. T&e%e te%timonie% norma((' too0 t&e form of auto/io.ra*&ica( account% )etai(in. t&e con)ition% of (ife in ca*ti1it' an) cu(minatin. ,it& t&e e%ca*e to t&e Nort&. T&e' ,ere u%e) a% (i1in. te%timon' of t&e /ruta(it' of %(a1er'. S*ea0er% ,ere often a%0e) to /are t&eir /ac0% an) %&o, %car% an) trace% of cor*ora( *uni%&ment. T&e a/i(it' of t&e%e account% to mo1e (i%tener% an) t&eir im*ortance a% anti-%(a1er' e1i)ence ma)e t&em e+treme(' *o*u(ar an) create) a )eman) for t&em. S(a1e narrati1e% ,ere %ometime% .&o%t-,ritten- or ,ritten in co((a/oration /et,een a former %(a1e an) a traine) a/o(itioni%t. 9Poet Go&n >reen(eaf 6&ittier ,a% t&e .&o%t-,riter of a num/er of t&em;. o,e1er- man' .ifte) former %(a1e% ,ere t&e %o(e aut&or% of t&eir narrati1e%. T&e ear(ie%t narrati1e% )ate from t&e (ate !" t& Centur'E %ome tit(e% are Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings and Surprising eliverance of !riton "ammon# a Negro $an 9!<4$;- The Narrative of the Lord%s &onderful ealings 'ith (ohn $arrant# A !lac) 9Lon)on- !<"#;- an) *nteresting Narrative of the Life of +laudah E,uiano# or -ustavus .assa 9Lon)on !<"5;. T&e /e%t 0no,n--an) /e%t--e+am*(e%- &o,e1er- ,ere ,ritten an) *u/(i%&e) in t&e !5t& centur'E 6i((iam 6e((% 3ro,n- The Narrative of &/ &/ !ro'n 9!"48;- Lin)a 3rent 9a(%o 0no,n a% arriet Gaco/%;- *ncidents in the Life of a Slave -irl 9!"#4; an) Fre)eric0 =ou.(a%%- The Narrative of the Life of 0redric) ouglass# &ritten by "imself 9!"4#;. T&eir /oo0% a**eare) *reface) ,it& affi)a1it% an) te%timonie% atte%tin. t&at in)ee) t&e%e former %(a1e% ,ere t&e aut&or% of t&e ,or0%. =ou.(a%% c(aime) aut&or%&i* an) re%*on%i/i(it' for &i% ,or0 in t&e 1er' tit(e of &i% narrati1e- ,&ic& %*ecifie%- C6ritten /' im%e(f.C T&i% ,a% a ri%0' mo1eA man' incre)u(ou% 9an) *ro-%(a1er'; rea)er% accu%e) =ou.(a%% of c&eatin.. T&e' %tate) t&at %omeone %o .ifte) cou()nKt *o%%i/(' &a1e /een a %(a1e. T&i% i% ,&' t&e /oo0 ,a% *u/(i%&e) ,it& a *reface /' 6i((iam L(o') >arri%on- ,&ere &e %tre%%e% t&e trut& of =ou.(a%%K% %tor' an) atte%t% to &i% %0i(( an) inte((i.ence. T&e %(a1e narrati1e% are fair(' %tan)ar) in form. T&e' are c&rono(o.ica( account% t&at %tart ,it& t&e /irt& of t&e *rota.oni%t an) en) u* ,it& t&e attainment of free)om. Mo%t often t&e free %(a1e /ecome% in turn an a/o(itioni%t acti1i%t- ea.er to &e(* ot&er% fo((o, &i% or &er route. Bf .reat im*ortance in t&e%e narrati1e% i% t&e *ro.re%%i1e *o(itica( a,arene%% of t&e *rota.oni%t- to.et&er ,it& t&e ac2ui%ition of (iterac'. For t&e %(a1e- ac2uirin. (iterac' ,a% tantamount to ac2uirin. *o,er- an) e1o(1in. from *a%%i1e to acti1e- from o/:ect to %u/:ect- from )i%*o%%e%%e) to *o%%e%%or of oneK% o,n %tor' an) )e%tin'. Learnin. to ,rite an) ,ritin. oneK% o,n (ife ,a% an act of %e(f-creation- a mean% to %ta.e *er%ona( i)entit'. In t&i% *roce%% of (earnin.- %(a1e% ,ere often &e(*e) /' out%i)er%E forei.n %ai(or%- ,omen- an) o)) *&i(ant&ro*i%t%Ja(( 4

mar.ina( in a raci%t %ociet'. In a))ition- t&e%e narrati1e% fre2uent(' )enounce) t&e co((u%ion of c&urc& an) %(a1er'- an) e+*o%e) t&e &'*ocri%' of t&o%e ,&o o,ne) or mi%treat %(a1e% 'et con%i)ere) t&em%e(1e% .oo) C&ri%tian%. 6&i(e t&e%e narrati1e% ,ere not concei1e) or circu(ate) *rimari(' a% (iterar' te+t%- t&e' contain a num/er of (iterar' inf(uence%E D T&e' ,ere inf(uence) /' Puritan confessional forms (i0e :ourna(%- confe%%ion%- an) auto/io.ra*&ie%. T&i% a**ear% e%*ecia((' in t&e ten)enc' to %e(f-ana('%i% an) %e(f-e+amination of oneF% )e%ire%- moti1e%etc /ut a(%o in t&eir re(i.iou% fee(in.- ,&ic& i% more noticea/(e in t&e ear(ier e+am*(e% of t&e .enre. D T&e' ,ere inf(uence) /' t&e Euro*ean picaresque novel in t&e fact t&at t&e *rota.oni%t% &a1e to re(' on t&eir ,it an) in.enuit' to %ur1i1e. D T&e' &a1e man' c&aracteri%tic% of t&e sentimental novelA %ome of t&e mo%t o/1iou% are t&e )etai(e) )e%cri*tion% of t&e fee(in.% cau%e) /' %e*aration%- *uni%&ment%- crue(t'- etc- /rou.&t a/out /' t&e ma%ter%. D T&e byzantine-adventure novel- ,it& it% une+*ecte) t,i%t% of fortune an) coinci)ence%- can a(%o /e con%i)ere) a (iterar' antece)ent for t&e %(a1e narrati1e%. AFRICAN-AMERICAN FICTIBN T&e %(a1e auto/io.ra*&' ,a% t&e mo%t *o*u(ar /ut not t&e on(' .enre cu(ti1ate) /' African American% ,riter% in t&e mi))(e of t&e nineteent& centur'. T&e !"#$% ,ere a time ,&en /(ac0 ,riter% /e.an to 1enture into fiction a% ,e((. T&e mo%t im*ortant tit(e% at t&e time ,ere Fre)eric0 =ou.(a%%F% The "eroic Slave 9!"#8;- 6i((iam 6e((% 3ro,nF% Clotel# or the Presidents aughter 9!"#8;- Martin =e(ane'F% !la)e# or the "uts of America- an) arriet 6i(%onF% +ur Nig 9!"#5;. E+ce*t for 6i(%onF% ,or0- ,&ic& fo((o,% /ut a(%o in1ert% man' of t&e con1ention% of t&e %(a1e narrati1e- t&e re%t )iffer con%i)era/(' from t&e %(a1e auto/io.ra*&ie%. =ou.(a%%F% an) =e(ane'F% ,or0% )e%cri/e %(a1e re/e((ion% an) &a1e muc& in common ,it& t&e a)1enture no1e(- ,&i(e Clotel an) +ur Nig are c(o%er to t&e %entimenta( no1e(. T&e%e aut&or% ma)e u%e of *o*u(ar .enre% an) fo((o,e) t&em rat&er c(o%e('Jun(i0efor e+am*(e- a,t&orne or Me(1i((e- ,&o ten)e) to re,or0 con%i)era/(' t&e *o*u(ar .enre% t&e' u%e). In a(( ca%e%- t&e main *oint of t&e%e narrati1e% i% *o(itica(. In fact- ,riter% (i0e =ou.(a%% an) 3ro,n ,ere /e%t 0no,n for t&eir *o(itica( ,ritin.% an) 3ro,n- in a))ition- ,rote a &i%tor' an) a commentar' of t&e aiti Re1o(ution tit(e) San omingo# *ts 1evolutions and *ts Patriots . Per&a*% /ecau%e of t&i% t&eir narrati1e% %er1e (ar.e(' a% i((u%tration% of a *articu(ar t&e%i%E t&at raci%m an) %(a1er' )e.ra)e o**re%%or% an) o**re%%e) a(i0e. An) /ecau%e t&e' %ee0 to communicate t&i% t&e%i% in une2ui1oca( ,a'%- t&eir narrati1e% are 2uite )irect. T&eir *ur*o%e i% to for,ar) a %tor' an) .et a *oint acro%%- rat&er t&an to /ui() u* com*(e+ meta*&orica( connection%. 96i(%on an) =e(ane' ,ere not ,e(( 0no,n *o(itica( ,riter% /ut t&eir fiction% are 2uite *o(itica( a% ,e((;. Accor)in. to %ome (iterar' &i%torian%- /' ,ritin. fiction- African American ,riter% re/e((e) a.ain%t t&e ro(e u%ua((' a%%i.ne) to t&em /' t&e a/o(itioni%t mo1ement. In t&e conte+t of t&e mo1ement- /(ac0 ,riter% ,ere u%ua((' e+*ecte) to .i1e te%timon' of t&eir e+*erience% un)er %(a1er' an)- at t&e %ame time- to (ea1e inter*retation or ima.inati1e e(a/oration 9in t&e form of fiction; to t&e /etter e)ucate) ,&ite% in t&e mo1ement. T&e raci%m im*(icit &ere irritate) man' /(ac0 ,riter%. 3ot& =ou.(a%% an) 3ro,n 2uarre((e) ,it& >arri%on an) e1entua((' (eft t&e mo1ement to continue t&eir anti-%(a1er' acti1i%m on t&eir o,n. 6&en t&e' ,rote fiction- t&e' ,ere in fact )emon%tratin. t&at t&e' &a) contro( o1er t&e meanin. of t&eir e+*erience% an) t&at t&e' cou() u%e materia( from t&eir o,n *er%ona( &i%torie% in more ,a'% t&an a% mere e1i)ence. 3I3LIB>RAP @ #

!. 6i((iam L. An)re,%- To Tell a 0ree Story2 The 0irst Century of Afro3American Autobiography 9Ur/anaE Uni1er%it' of I((inoi% Pre%%- !5"4; 7. =a1i)- C&ar(e% T. an) Uni1er%it' Pre%%- !5"#; enr' Loui% >ate%- Gr.- e)%. The Slave Narrative 9Ne, @or0E B+for)

8. Sun)2ui%t- Eric- To &a)e the Nations2 1ace in the $a)ing of American Literature 9Cam/ri).eE ar1ar) Uni1er%it' Pre%%- !558;- e%*. *art I HS(a1er'- Re1o(ution- Renai%%anceIE 7<-77!