African-American Literature





Folktales
- Folktales help to better understand the African-American community. African-American folktales carry the oral tradition of storytelling about natural events and biblical legends.

        Hamilton, Virginia.  Her Stories; African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales.       
Entire collection of all female tales.   The book contains fantasy, legends, and narratives of the struggles of real women. Some of the tales are hundreds of years old. 

        McKissack, Patricia. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural.   New York: Knopf, 1992.
This collection contains ten original ghost stories with African American themes ranging from the time of Slavery to the Civil Rights Era.  The book can be used to better understand the culture of African-Americans.  It enables the reader to compare and contrast the similarities and differences the African-American culture has on storytelling.

        Lester, Julius.  Black folktales.  New York, Grove Press, 1992.  Contains a variety of stories to explain natural phenomenons, like: how God made the butterflies, why apes look like people, why men have to work, how the snake got his rattles, and other great mysteries.  This book also contains traditional African-American folktales that were based out of both Africa and America.  These folktales help to explain the theories and ideas of past cultural beliefs.



Bibliographies

        McKissack, Patricia. African-American Inventors. Millbrook Press, 1994.
Patricia and Fredrick McKissack explain what patents are, how the U.S. patent system works, and they introduce the innovators and their patented devices in chronological order.  This book helps to show famous African-American influences, and their impact on the way we live today.

        Hayden, Robert C.  7 African-American scientists.  Frederick, Md.: Twenty-First Century Books, 1992.
Examines the lives and achievements of seven black Americans who left their mark through scientific work, from Benjamin Banneker to Matthew Henson. 

        McKissack, Patricia.  Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman.  New York : Scholastic, 1992.
Sojourner was illiterate. She had to dictate her autobiography, but she spoke dramatically and sincerely from first-hand experience.  She spoke out for all who were oppressed, both slaves and women. Sojourner Truth is famous for her “Ain’t I a woman,” speech, and this book gives insight into this powerful woman.


Realistic Fiction


        Hayes, Sarah. Eat Up, Gemma. New York: Mulberry Books, 1994.
Baby Gemma refuses to eat, throwing her breakfast on the floor and squashing her grapes, until her brother gets an inspired idea. Great book to introduce young children to other cultures, and allow children to make connections between the similarities.

        Willis Hudson, Cheryl. Bright Eyes, Brown Skin.  Orange, NJ : Just Us Books, 1990.
Four African-American children enjoy a day at Kindergarten as they compare their differences.  A great book for young African-American children that highlights their uniqueness and makes them feel special. 

        Buckley, Helen E.  Grandfather and I.   New York:  Lothrop Lee & Shepard,  March 1994.
Shows the special relationship between a grandson and his grandfather.  This is another great book to show the similarities of children of other cultures.  This book also represents people of different ages.

        Cummings, Pat.  Angel Baby. New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 2000.
In her mother's eyes, Amanda Lynne's baby brother is a perfect angel, but to Amanda the baby doesn't always seem so angelic.  This book can be used to have students to relate to problems similar in their lives.

        Flournoy, Valerie.  Tanya's Reunion. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1995.
When she and her grandmother go to help with preparations for a big family reunion, Tanya learns about the history of the farm in Virginia where Grandma grew up.  Informational book on historical aspects as well as social customs.

        Carr, Jan.  Dark Day, Light Night. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1995.
Manda's Aunt Ruby helps her to deal with some angry feelings by making lists of all the things that they like in the world.  Allows students to make connections between themselves and another culture, and enables students to find alternative methods to dealing with anger.




Novels

        Taylor, Mildred. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.  Santa Barbara: Cornerstone Books, 1989.  A black family living in the South during the 1930s is faced with prejudice and discrimination, which the children do not understand.  This book allows readers to experience an African –American family through their struggles during the depression.  


        Taylor, Mildred. The Gold Cadillac.  New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1987.
Lois and Wilma are proud of their father’s brand-new gold Cadillac, and excited that the family will be driving in it all the way from Ohio to Mississippi. But as they travel deeper into the rural South, there are no admiring glances for the shiny new car—only suspicion and anger for the black man behind the wheel.   This book addresses racism and stereotyping. 
 

        Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. New York:  Delacorte, 1999.
Ten-year-old Bud lives in an abusive foster home during the depression.  Bud runs away and sets out to find the man he thinks is his father.--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.  Newbery Medal Book.  This book contains historical information of the depression, and allows students to experience a different type of life from a boy's perspective.  

        Woodson, Jacqueline.  If You Come Softly.  New York: Putnam's, 1998.
Fifteen-year-old Jeremiah and Ellie are both students at a private school in New York. They fall in love and fight to cope with other people’s reactions to their relationship.  This story addresses interracial dating, and the obstacles that can occur. 

        Willaims-Garcia, Rita.  Blue Tights.  New York: Bantam, 1988.
Fifteen-year-old Joyce, unsure of herself and not quite comfortable with her maturing body, tries to find a place to belong and a way to express herself through dance.  Young females of all cultures can relate to this book.  It also shows dance as a creative outlet.

        Fenner, Carol.  Yolonda’s Genius.  New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1995.
After moving from Chicago to Grand River, Michigan, fifth grader Yolonda, big and strong for her age, determines to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius.  This book contains specific details about Chicago, and its popular events.  It also demonstrates music as an intellectual talent .
Non-Fiction


        Haskins, Jim. The Harlem Renaissance.  Brookfield, Conn. : Millbrook Press, 1996.
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Books in the Social Studies. An account of the artistic and intellectual revolution in Black America during the Harlem Renaissance. 



        Westridge Young Writers Workshop.  Kids Explore America's African-American Heritage. New York, N.Y. : Distributed by W.W. Norton, 1993. Written by children for children, this book is intended to help Americans of all ages enjoy and appreciate a unique part of their heritage. 80 students, under the direction of 25 teachers, have collaborated to produce a kids'-eye view of America's African-American culture: History, food, celebrations, art, dance, music, stories, heroes and heroines.


Poetry


        Giovanni, Nikki. Spin a Soft Black Song; Poems for Children.  Rev. Ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 1985. . Recounts feelings of Black children about their neighborhoods, American society and themselves.

        Greenfield, Eloise. Night on Neighborhood Street. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1991. Collection of poems exploring the sounds, sights and emotions enlivening a black neighborhood.

        Miller, E. Ethelbert. In Search of Color Everywhere; A Collection of African-American Poetry. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1994.   


Reference Books

        Rand, Donna.  Black Books Galore: Guide to Great African American Children's Books.  New York : Wiley, 1998.

        Toussaint, Pamela. Great Books for African-American Children.  New York: Plume, 1999.

        Givens, Archie.  Strong Souls Singing: African American Books for Our Daughters and Our Sisters.  New York: Norton & Co., 1998.

        Muse, Daphne. “The World She Dreamed, Generations She Shared, Visions She Wrote: A Tribute to Virginia Hamilton.” 1936-2002. New Advocate. v15 n3 p171-73 Sum 2002.

        Andrews, W. L. The Oxford Companion to African American Literature. New York: Oxford University Press. 1997.

        Valade, R. M. and Kasinee, D., editors. The Schomberg Center Guide to Black Literature: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present. New York: Gale Research. 1996.
Websites

http://www.brandonmassey.com/ -
great website for African American author Brandon Massey.  Ability to register to receive e-mails on suspense tails and tips for aspiring writers, and e-mails on short stories.

http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/ethnicstudies/africanamerican/black_lit_main.html- contains history of African American Literature.

http://www.geocities.com/afam_literature/- contains information about various occurrences in history which inspire African American Literature.  This website also contains information on a variety of African American texts for the high school level.

http://www.bookspot.com/features/afamliterature.htm -  contains a variety of links to other websites about African American women publishers, African American Literature, African American writers, African American book clubs, African American texts on the web. 

http://wpl.lib.ri.us/bibbhis.htm - contains a variety of information and links for Black History Month.
By: Christa Renshaw