Essays and Research Papers on African-American Literature

This 5 page report discusses writer James Baldwin (1924-1987) Notes of a Native Son and the ways in which it blends the most fundamental issues of race with the heartache of one father and son’s relationship. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page essay that critically examines Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Chaim Potok's My Name is Asher Lev. Both narrative deal with growing up in a non-dominate culture. Central to Angelou's text is how her upbringing prepared her to resist racial stereotyping and prejudice. On the other hand, the ...

A 6 page research paper that discusses Moody's autobiography. The writer argues that Anne's experience during her childhood and the Civil Rights movement offers a means of comprehending black experiences that led to one of the most significant social movement of the century. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page paper which discusses various elements in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.” No additional sources cited.

A 10 page paper which examines the internal and external forces in the search for identity in a new culture as seen in the Alex Haley’s “Roots” and Linda Crew’s “Children of the River.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the ambiguous endings in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” and the “The Gilded Six-Bits.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the two short stories “Mother and Child” and “Father and Son” by Langston Hughes. Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

A 5 page paper which examines the development of the relationship between Sula and Nel in Toni Morrison’s novel “Sula.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which provides a summary of the literary criticism, considers who the evidence supports the essay’s interpretation, and evaluates the strengths and shortcomings of the essay’s interpretation of Ellison’s landmark novel on racism. No additional sources are used.

A 7 page research paper/essay that analyzes the postcolonial and post modern critiques offered by Caryl Phillips' Crossing the River. The writer summarizes the plot while pointing out how the novel reflects an ethnohistorical reading of some of society's fundamental ideas. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page analysis of the short story “A New Day” by Charles Wright. Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

A 7 page paper which provides a general overview as well as an evaluation of the text’s significance and then discusses the past, current and recurring issues in the areas of political leadership, education, work, civil rights, religion, family and social class. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 3 page paper which analyzes the character of Dee in Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use.” No additional sources cited.

A 10 page comparison of the philosophies of two of America’s most respected scholars. While Elshtain advocates working within the system to effect change, West advocates more aggressive measures which share many similarities with Marxism. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page paper which examines the role these issues play in the novel and how they relate to the theme. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

5 pages in length. Time is the administrator of all existence, and it is with this immense thought that one can readily associate postcolonial fiction with the notion of perception and awareness. The role and expression of these literary creations may give the appearance of being abstract and unrelated to the realism that ...

4 pages in length. Perhaps these particular peoples were not ready to be free of what were deemed as religious constraints to which they so readily adhered. Perhaps the European's believed that it was not necessary for the village of Umuofia to secure its heritage by way of political, governmental and familial implications. ...

A 6 page essay that discusses how Ann Petry in her novel The Street pictures one woman's struggle against the racist society of the New York in the 1940s. The writer argues that the resistance of the protagonist against the white establishment is particularly clear when contrasted against the actions of other characters. No additional ...

5 pages in length. As two of the most outspoken and unforgettable figures in black history, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass both sought to bring about cultural, social and gender change to an otherwise intolerant white society. Their literary efforts, forever bound and protected by time, have chronicled the struggles inherent to black Americans since ...

This 4 page report discusses the similarities that exist between the novel’s primary characters -- Nel Wright and Sula Peace -- despite their many apparent differences. Bibliography lists only the primary source.

This 5 page paper provides a comparison between these two stories with similar themes. Various elements are compared and contrasted. Some quotes are included. No additional sources cited.

10 pages in length. The absence of cultural identity equates to the loss of self in Tony Morrison's "Tar Baby," a conflict with which her two main characters openly grapple. In an attempt to reflect how black-on-black prejudice can be just as damning as any other, the author puts pen to paper in ...

A 5 page overview of this short story by internationally renown novelist Chinua Achebe. The author asserts that this story is much more than pleasurable reading. Indeed, it details the cultural clash which has occurred since colonialism infiltrated Nigeria. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

A 2.5 page paper which compares and contrast the novel and son of this autobiographical tale. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the theme and influence of the white man in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart.” No additional sources cited.