The Autobiography THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE The Autobiography

The Autobiography THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

The Autobiography � Purpose � to celebrate and sing the self �Strong evocation of the human spirit �Inform and educate �Create voice �Protest against an unjust system �Autobiographers are conscious of their lives as representatives of their times �They confirm that life is worth living.

Main Tasks of Autobiography � To depict the individual in the circumstances of one’s times � To show to what extent the society stood in one’s way � To show the individual overcame it

The Ethnic Autobiography Slave Narrative (early autobiography) � Sought to awaken the conscience of a nation � Attitudes and activities of Early Americans � Persuade the Public of its inhumanity � Considered cultural writings � Blend dramatic individualism with social and moral protest � Reveals an intimate part of American history � � 1950 s: literary genre—historical nonfiction 1980 s: models of identity

Characteristics of the Self The Subject is the Self: ○ Examine the self ○ Articulate events ○ Celebrate experiences that are unique to the self ○ Explain situation to society ○ Reflection of era ○ Justify one’s life

General Characteristics � “Good faith effort to tell truth” � honesty and modesty � No footnotes/bibliography � Rely on memory � Tell a story � Reading one’s life backward � Character building � Psychological development � Society’s effect on the self

Some Autobiographies � Richard Wright, Black Boy � James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son � Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings � Langston Hughes, The Big Sea � Yan Phou Lee, When I Was a Boy in China � Joy Kogawa, Obasan � Mary Helen Ponce, Hoyt Street � Richard Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory

Literary Chronology African American role in literary history Passive to Active role Identity: Negro to Afro American to Black to African American � Used the English language as a weapon for literary expression � Poetry, oral narratives, folktales � � � ○ 1746: Lucy Terry, a slave, is first American Negro poet who wrote a ballad, Bars Fight. Oral to print (1855) ○ 1760: Jupiter Hammon, slave, first to be published ○ 1773: Phillis Wheatley, slave, first African American woman to be published.

1780 -1865 � Steady flow of literature during these times � Autobiography (most important form) ○ 1850: Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave � Expository writing 1788: ○ 1788: Othello, “An Essay on Slavery” � Newspaper ○ 1827 Freedom’s Journal (New York City) 1890 s marked the master of literary achievements and literary criticism (see handout)

Twentieth century attitudes � Climate of indifference ○ Neglect ○ Rejection � Unheard, Unknown, Unread � For example: � 1968: Boston—unlawful to teach Langston Hughes “Ballad of the Landlord” ○ Too disturbing ○ Too realistic ○ Too angry ○ grew out of conditions in New York City’s Harlem in the 1930’s. In graphic terms it describes the escalation of anger and frustration that tenants experienced trying to get landlords to make basic repairs. Structured like an old time blues song

“Ballad of the Landlord” 1957 � Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don't you 'member I told you about it Way last week? Landlord, landlord, These steps is broken down. When you come up yourself It's a wonder you don't fall down. Ten Bucks you say I owe you? Ten Bucks you say is due? Well, that's Ten Bucks more'n I'l pay you Till you fix this house up new. What? You gonna get eviction orders? You gonna cut off my heat? You gonna take my furniture and Throw it in the street? Um-huh! You talking high and mighty. Talk on-till you get through. You ain't gonna be able to say a word If I land my fist on you. Police! Come and get this man! He's trying to ruin the government And overturn the land! Copper's whistle! Patrol bell! Arrest. Precinct Station. Iron cell. Headlines in press: MAN THREATENS LANDLORD TENANT HELD NO BAIL JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!

Purposes for African American Literature � Illumination � Creative of Black experience power � Psychologically � Insight Uplifting into hearts and minds

Readings � Baldwin “Autobiographical Notes” � Cisneros, � These “Ghosts and Voices” are found under Additional Readings on blog site (see link in module)