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African-American Children ’ s Literature. Dr. Gwen Tarbox, Spring 2010. African-American children ’ s literature developed in response to a specific set of historical realities, including: Slavery The Jim Crow Era The Civil Rights Movement Focus on Multiculturalism. Historical Background. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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African-African-
American
Amer
ican
ChildrenChildren’
’s s
Literatu
reLite
rature
Dr. Gwen
Tarbox,
Spring
Dr. Gwen
Tarbox,
Spring
20102010
Historical
Historical
Background
Background
African-African-
American
Amer
ican
childrenchildren
’’s s
literatu
re
literatu
re
develope
d in
develope
d in
response
to a
response
to a
specific
set
specific
set
of histo
rical
of histo
rical
realitie
s,
realitie
s,
includin
g:incl
uding:
SlaverySlavery
The Jim
Crow
The Jim
Crow
EraEra
The Civi
l The
Civil
Rights Rights
MovementMovement
Focus on
Focu
s on
Multicul
tura
Multicul
tura
lismlism
Colonial
Colonial
Beginnings
Beginnings
In the early 17
In the early 17thth century, a
century, a
number of British corporations
number of British corporations
established plantation farms in
established plantation farms in
Virginia. In order to entice
Virginia. In order to entice
European workers, the
European workers, the
corporations set up indentured
corporations set up indentured
servant programs in which a
servant programs in which a
young person would be
young person would be
transported to a plantation from
transported to a plantation from
England or the Netherlands,
England or the Netherlands,
would work for 7 years, and then
would work for 7 years, and then
would be given his/her freedom.
would be given his/her freedom.
Even with a rigorous indentured
Even with a rigorous indentured
servant program, the
servant program, the
corporations realized that they
corporations realized that they
needed a larger labor force.
needed a larger labor force.
Some attempts were made to
Some attempts were made to
enslave Native Americans, but
enslave Native Americans, but
they resisted.
they resisted. Next, the corporations brought
Next, the corporations brought
over a number of Africans as
over a number of Africans as
indentured servants. The first
indentured servants. The first
Africans to make landfall in the
Africans to make landfall in the
US arrived in 1611 as passengers
US arrived in 1611 as passengers
on a Dutch sailing vessel.
on a Dutch sailing vessel.
The
The
Establishment
Establishment
of Slavery
of Slavery
By the 1
620, Bri
tish
By the 1
620, Bri
tish
corporat
ions beg
an
corporat
ions beg
an
engaging
in the
engaging
in the
transpor
t of
transpor
t of
enslaved
African
s to
enslaved
African
s to
the colo
nies. T
here
the colo
nies. T
here
were two
popular
were two
popular
economic
models
for
economic
models
for
utilizin
g slave
utilizin
g slave
labor: labor:
In the f
irst, yo
ung
In the f
irst, yo
ung
males we
re
males we
re
transpor
ted to a
transpor
ted to a
plantati
on and
plantati
on and
worked u
ntil the
y
worked u
ntil the
y
died. T
hen, mor
e
died. T
hen, mor
e
young me
n were
young me
n were
brought
in their
brought
in their
place.place.
In the s
econd, b
oth
In the s
econd, b
oth
young me
n and yo
ung
young me
n and yo
ung
women we
re
women we
re
transpor
ted to a
transpor
ted to a
plantati
on to wo
rk.
plantati
on to wo
rk.
Future s
laves we
re
Future s
laves we
re
acquired
by
acquired
by
conveyin
g slave
conveyin
g slave
status o
n the
status o
n the
children
of slav
es.
children
of slav
es.
This sys
tem cost
This sys
tem cost
less and
provide
d a
less and
provide
d a
more rel
iable su
pply
more rel
iable su
pply
of slave
s. It w
as
of slave
s. It w
as
the syst
em favor
ed
the syst
em favor
ed
in the U
S.in t
he US.
The Slave
The Slave
Trade: The
Trade: The
Tight Packers
Tight Packers
The Middle
The Middle
Passage
Passage
The term The term ““Middle
Middle PassagePassage”” refers to the
refers to the
movement of the slave
movement of the slave
ships from Africa to
ships from Africa to
their destinations in
their destinations in
South America, the
South America, the
Caribbean, and the
Caribbean, and the
American colonies.
American colonies. Many slaves died
Many slaves died during the sea voyages
during the sea voyages
due to exposure,
due to exposure, illness, and poor
illness, and poor treatment.treatment.
Legislation
Legislation
Creates a
Creates a
Slave System
Slave System
Although slavery was not an
Although slavery was not an
official system in the colonies
official system in the colonies
during the 17
during the 17 thth century, British
century, British
corporations and their
corporations and their
representatives in the colonies
representatives in the colonies
encouraged colonial
encouraged colonial
legislatures to pass laws that
legislatures to pass laws that
would enhance their ability to
would enhance their ability to
place children into slavery.
place children into slavery.
Most of the laws passed during
Most of the laws passed during
the years 1619-1705 focused on
the years 1619-1705 focused on
slave women. Contrary to
slave women. Contrary to
European or most African
European or most African
practices, laws were passed
practices, laws were passed
that traced a child
that traced a child’’s lineage s lineage
through his/her mother. Thus,
through his/her mother. Thus,
by 1662 in the Virginia colony,
by 1662 in the Virginia colony,
a child born to a slave woman
a child born to a slave woman
became a slave, regardless of
became a slave, regardless of
the status of the father.
the status of the father.
The Slave
The Slave
System
System
Spreads
Spreads
Slave Slave
auctions
were
auctions
were
commonpl
ace
commonpl
ace
in the in the
northern
nort
hern
colonies
, as
colonies
, as
well.well.
This ima
ge is
This ima
ge is
from a s
lave
from a s
lave
auction
that
auction
that
took pla
ce in
took pla
ce in
New Amst
erdam
New Amst
erdam
(New Yor
k) in
(New Yor
k) in
1643.1643.
A Missed
A Missed
Chance
Chance
During t
he
During t
he
Revoluti
onary Wa
r
Revoluti
onary Wa
r
period,
a number
period,
a number
of peopl
e of p
eople
advocate
d for th
e
advocate
d for th
e
end of t
he
end of t
he
slavery.
In thi
s
slavery.
In thi
s
letter,
Abigail
letter,
Abigail
Adams di
scusses
Adams di
scusses
her anti
-slavery
her anti
-slavery
views wi
th her
views wi
th her
husband,
John
husband,
John
Adams, w
riting
Adams, w
riting
““[we] fi
ght
[we] fig
ht
ourselve
s for
ourselve
s for
what we
are dail
y
what we
are dail
y
taking a
nd
taking a
nd
plunderi
ng from
plunderi
ng from
those wh
o have a
s
those wh
o have a
s
good a r
ight.
good a r
ight.””
The Slave
The Slave
Codes
Codes
A number
of Slav
e
A number
of Slav
e
Codes, p
assed
Codes, p
assed
between
1705 and
between
1705 and
1830, re
stricted
1830, re
stricted
the acti
ons of
the acti
ons of
slaves t
o preven
t
slaves t
o preven
t
insurrec
tion.
insurrec
tion.
These co
des
These co
des
included
a ban o
n
included
a ban o
n
teaching
slaves
to
teaching
slaves
to
read, al
lowing
read, al
lowing
slaves t
o slav
es to
congrega
te, and
on
congrega
te, and
on
allowing
slaves
to
allowing
slaves
to
marry ea
ch other
.
marry ea
ch other
.
Slaves w
ere
Slaves w
ere
labeled labeled
““real real
estateestate”” a
nd could
and cou
ld
be kille
d withou
t
be kille
d withou
t
penalty.penalty.
Abolition
Abolition
The abol
ition of
The abol
ition of
slavery
in
slavery
in
Britain
in 1807
Britain
in 1807
inspired
insp
ired
American
Amer
ican
abolitio
nists to
abolitio
nists to
work fev
erishly
work fev
erishly
for the
end of
for the
end of
slavery.slavery.
One stra
tegy
One stra
tegy
they use
d was
they use
d was
the publ
ication
the publ
ication
of slave
of s
lave
narrativ
es
narrativ
es
designed
to
designed
to
acquaint
acqu
aint
citizens
with
citizens
with
the real
ities of
the real
ities of
the slav
e the
slave
system.system.
The Civil War
The Civil War
During t
he first
During t
he first
half of
the 19
half of
the 19
thth
century,
many
century,
many
Northern
Nort
hern
abolitio
nists ma
y
abolitio
nists ma
y
have org
anized
have org
anized
against
slavery,
against
slavery,
but more
but
more
Northern
ers –
Northern
ers –
especial
ly
especial
ly
business
people
–
business
people
–
saw how
Southern
saw how
Southern
money, e
arned fr
om
money, e
arned fr
om
the the ““freefree
”” labor
of lab
or of
slaves –
was
slaves –
was
financin
g the
financin
g the
growing growing
internat
ional
internat
ional
presence
of the
presence
of the
US. The
y were
US. The
y were
hesitant
to figh
t.
hesitant
to figh
t.
By 1861,
By 1
861,
though, though,
sentimen
t on
sentimen
t on
both sid
es of
both sid
es of
the the ““slav
ery slavery
questionquestion”
” led led
to a fou
r year
to a fou
r year
war.war.
In 1865,
In 1
865,
Presiden
t Pres
ident
Abraham Abraham
Lincoln
freed
Lincoln
freed
the slav
es by
the slav
es by
issuing
the
issuing
the
Emancipa
tion
Emancipa
tion
Proclama
tion.
Proclama
tion.
Reconstructio
Reconstructionn
During t
he short
-
During t
he short
-
lived lived
Reconstr
uction
Reconstr
uction
period, period,
Northern
ers came
Northern
ers came
into the
former
into the
former
Confeder
ate
Confeder
ate
states a
nd tried
states a
nd tried
to smoot
h the
to smoot
h the
transiti
on from
a
transiti
on from
a
slave to
a wage
slave to
a wage
economy.economy.
Schools
to teach
Schools
to teach
former s
laves
former s
laves
were est
ablished
,
were est
ablished
,
and some
African
-
and some
African
-
American
s were
American
s were
elected
to
elected
to
federal
and stat
e
federal
and stat
e
offices.
Hiram
offices.
Hiram
Revels w
as the
Revels w
as the
first el
ected
first el
ected
African-
American
African-
American
Senator
in 1870.
Senator
in 1870.
HIRAM REVELS, 1870
The Jim Crow
The Jim Crow
Era
Era
Although
laws
Although
laws
were on
the book
s
were on
the book
s
to allow
African
-
to allow
African
-
American
s equal
American
s equal
treatmen
t under
treatmen
t under
the law,
the
law,
includin
g the
includin
g the
right to
vote
right to
vote
(after t
he
(after t
he
passage
of the
passage
of the
1515thth Ame
ndment t
o
Amendme
nt to
the the
Constitu
tion), i
n
Constitu
tion), i
n
reality reality
undergro
und
undergro
und
organiza
tions
organiza
tions
such as
the KKK
such as
the KKK
sprung u
p to
sprung u
p to
thwart p
rogress.
thwart p
rogress.
Between
1870 and
Between
1870 and
1930, ov
er 3,000
1930, ov
er 3,000
African-
American
African-
American
men, wom
en and
men, wom
en and
children
were
children
were
lynched
in order
lynched
in order
to intim
idate
to intim
idate
African-African-
American
s in the
American
s in the
South in
to a
South in
to a
quasi-sl
ave
quasi-sl
ave
existenc
e,
existenc
e,
includin
g the
includin
g the
separati
on of
separati
on of
schools
and
schools
and
public s
ervices.
public s
ervices.
The Great
The Great
Migration
Migration
Many Afr
ican-
Many Afr
ican-
American
s fled
American
s fled
North in
order
North in
order
to earn
a fair
to earn
a fair
wage and
to
wage and
to
afford t
heir
afford t
heir
children
a
children
a
decent decent
educatio
n.educ
ation.
Some Afr
ican-
Some Afr
ican-
American
s sent
American
s sent
the wage
s they
the wage
s they
made in
the
made in
the
North ho
me to
North ho
me to
family i
n fami
ly in
South.South.
Sharecropping
Sharecropping
The The
sharecro
pping
sharecro
pping
system p
aid poor
system p
aid poor
field la
borers a
field la
borers a
yearly yearly
sustenan
ce wage.
sustenan
ce wage.
During
the
During
the
year, th
ey would
year, th
ey would
charge i
tems at
charge i
tems at
a store.
When
a store.
When
the crop
came
the crop
came
in, anyt
hing
in, anyt
hing
they owe
d would
they owe
d would
be taken
out of
be taken
out of
their wa
ges.
their wa
ges.
Most peo
ple
Most peo
ple
ended up
the
ended up
the
year owi
ng their
year owi
ng their
employer
, thus
employer
, thus
they wer
e stuck
they wer
e stuck
on the l
and.
on the l
and.
Strategies:
Strategies:
Assimiliation
Assimiliation
As Afric
an-
As Afric
an-
American
s strain
ed
American
s strain
ed
under th
e unequa
l
under th
e unequa
l
and inju
st post-
and inju
st post-
Civil Wa
r climat
e,
Civil Wa
r climat
e,
some of
their
some of
their
leaders
argued
leaders
argued
that the
y should
that the
y should
be patie
nt, slow
ly
be patie
nt, slow
ly
develop
a middle
develop
a middle
class, a
nd
class, a
nd
eventual
ly
eventual
ly
convince
the
convince
the
majority
culture
majority
culture
that the
y that
they
““deserve
d dese
rved ““
rights.
rights.
The majo
r The
major
proponen
t for
proponen
t for
assimili
ation wa
s
assimili
ation wa
s
Booker T
. Book
er T.
Washingt
onWash
ington
Strategies:
Strategies:
Agitation
Agitation
Other Af
rican-
Other Af
rican-
American
s argued
American
s argued
that the
y alread
y
that the
y alread
y
deserved
the sam
e
deserved
the sam
e
rights a
s any
rights a
s any
other US
citizen
,
other US
citizen
,
and they
took
and they
took
more agg
ressive
more agg
ressive
means of
mean
s of
agitatin
g for
agitatin
g for
these ri
ghts,
these ri
ghts,
includin
g the
includin
g the
founding
of the
founding
of the
NAACP, w
hose
NAACP, w
hose
founder
was
founder
was
W.E.B. D
uBois, a
n
W.E.B. D
uBois, a
n
intellec
tual
intellec
tual
opponent
of
opponent
of
Washingt
on.
Washingt
on.
Strategies:
Strategies:
Immigration
Immigration
Back to
Back to
Africa
Africa
By the 1
910s,
By the 1
910s,
another
group of
another
group of
African-
American
African-
American
thinkers
, thin
kers,
discoura
ged by
discoura
ged by
lynching
and the
lynching
and the
slow pro
gress
slow pro
gress
towards
equality
,
towards
equality
,
proposed
prop
osed
immigrat
ing back
immigrat
ing back
to Afric
a, where
to Afric
a, where
they cou
ld start
they cou
ld start
a new co
untry.
a new co
untry.
Liberia
had been
Liberia
had been
set up i
n the
set up i
n the
1800s un
der this
1800s un
der this
premise.
This
premise.
This
groupgroup’’s l
eader
s leader
was Marc
us
was Marc
us
Garvey.Garvey.
The Civil
The Civil
Rights
Rights
Movement
Movement
While mo
st
While mo
st
African-African-
American
s made
American
s made
slow pro
gress in
slow pro
gress in
their pe
rsonal
their pe
rsonal
struggle
for
struggle
for
equality
, others
equality
, others
took adv
antage
took adv
antage
of what of what
educatio
n they
educatio
n they
could ge
t and
could ge
t and
began bu
ilding
began bu
ilding
up a pro
test
up a pro
test
movement
within
movement
within
the blac
k the
black
churches
.
churches
.
Leaders
included
Leaders
included
Martin L
uther
Martin L
uther
King Jr
and Rosa
King Jr
and Rosa
Parks.Parks.
Multicultural
Multicultural
ism
ism
Although
the
Although
the
Civil Ri
ghts
Civil Ri
ghts
movement
was a
movement
was a
violent
time in
violent
time in
our nati
onour
nation’’s s
history,
it
history,
it
resulted
in vast
resulted
in vast
societal
change,
societal
change,
beginnin
g with
beginnin
g with
the pass
age of
the pass
age of
the New
Society
the New
Society
legislat
ion in
legislat
ion in
the 1960
s. By
the 1960
s. By
the 1970
s,
the 1970
s,
multicul
turalism
multicul
turalism
was intr
oduced
was intr
oduced
into the
schools
into the
schools
and cont
inues to
and cont
inues to
impact impact
educatio
n.educ
ation.
African-
African-
American
American
Literature
Literature
Early li
terary
Early li
terary
effortsefforts
Phillis
Wheatle
Phillis
Wheatle
yy’’s poetr
ys po
etry
Slave na
rratives
Slave na
rratives
Spiritua
l Spir
itual
autobiog
raphies
autobiog
raphies
Post Civ
il-War
Post Civ
il-War
effortsefforts
Social U
plift
Social U
plift
novelsnovels
Dialect
vs. so-
Dialect
vs. so-
called S
tandard
called S
tandard
EnglishEnglish
Issues o
f Issu
es of
passing
and the
passing
and the
color li
necolo
r line
The Harlem
The Harlem
Renaissance
Renaissance
Prior to
the
Prior to
the
1930s, A
frican-
1930s, A
frican-
American
authors
American
authors
had to p
rove
had to p
rove
their their
authenti
city as
authenti
city as
writers,
had to
writers,
had to
please C
aucasian
please C
aucasian
publishe
rs, and
publishe
rs, and
had to a
ssume a
had to a
ssume a
primaril
y prim
arily
Caucasia
n Cauc
asian
audience
.audi
ence.
However,
by the
However,
by the
1920s, m
any
1920s, m
any
African-African-
American
s had
American
s had
migrated
to
migrated
to
Harlem.Harlem.
Intellec
tuals
Intellec
tuals
such as
DuBois,
such as
DuBois,
Jessie F
auset,
Jessie F
auset,
Alain Lo
cke, and
Alain Lo
cke, and
Langston
Hughes
Langston
Hughes
advocate
d for a
advocate
d for a
renaissa
nce in
renaissa
nce in
African-
American
African-
American
culture.
They
culture.
They
were abl
e to
were abl
e to
publish
their
publish
their
own work
, often
own work
, often
free fro
m free
from
editing
by
editing
by
mainstre
am
mainstre
am
publishi
ng
publishi
ng
houses.
Thus
houses.
Thus
was born
The
was born
The
Harlem Harlem
Renaissa
nce.
Renaissa
nce.
Vast Literary
Vast Literary
Output
Output
In addit
ion to
In addit
ion to
the poet
s,
the poet
s,
playwrig
hts, and
playwrig
hts, and
novelist
s who
novelist
s who
wrote du
ring the
wrote du
ring the
Harlem Harlem
Renaissa
nce,
Renaissa
nce,
newspape
r and
newspape
r and
magazine
writers
magazine
writers
also flo
urished,
also flo
urished,
contribu
ting
contribu
ting
stories
and news
stories
and news
to such to such
periodic
als as
periodic
als as
The Cris
isThe
Crisis, ,
edited b
y DuBois
edited b
y DuBois
and Faus
et.
and Faus
et.
But What
But What
About
About
Children
Children’’s
s
Literature?
Literature?
Depictio
ns of
Depictio
ns of
African-African-
American
Amer
ican
children
chil
dren
occurred
in
occurred
in
many Cau
casian
many Cau
casian
publicat
ions
publicat
ions
during t
he 19
during t
he 19thth
and 20and 20t
hth
century.
cent
ury.
Almost a
ll of
Almost a
ll of
these these
depictio
ns
depictio
ns
relied o
n reli
ed on
stereoty
pes
stereoty
pes
and were
and
were
demeanin
g.deme
aning.
Pioneers of
Pioneers of
African-
African-
American
American
Children
Children’’s
s
Lit
Lit
By the 1
870s, a
By the 1
870s, a
number o
f Africa
n-
number o
f Africa
n-
American
women
American
women
began wr
iting
began wr
iting
fiction
that
fiction
that
either p
resented
either p
resented
African-
American
African-
American
children
in a
children
in a
positive
light o
r
positive
light o
r
created created “
“race race
neutralneutral””
portraya
ls
portray
als
of child
ren.
of child
ren.
These pi
oners
These pi
oners
included
Amelia
E.
included
Amelia
E.
Johnson
and
Johnson
and
Pauline
Hopkins.
Pauline
Hopkins.
Sunday S
chool
Sunday S
chool
newspape
rs were
newspape
rs were
another
popular
another
popular
early ve
nue for
early ve
nue for
African-
American
African-
American
childrenchildren’
’s s
literatu
re.
literatu
re.
During t
he Harle
m
During t
he Harle
m
Renaissa
nce,
Renaissa
nce,
Augusta
B. Baker
,
Augusta
B. Baker
,
who was
a who
was a
libraria
n in the
libraria
n in the
New York
Public
New York
Public
Library
system,
Library
system,
set up a
special
set up a
special
reading
room
reading
room
devoted
to texts
devoted
to texts
that por
trayed
that por
trayed
African-
American
African-
American
children
in a
children
in a
positive
light.
positive
light.
In 1919,
Jessie
In 1919,
Jessie
Fauset p
ublished
Fauset p
ublished
The Brow
nies Boo
k
The Brow
nies Boo
k, ,
a year l
ong
a year l
ong
magazine
that
magazine
that
featured
African
-
featured
African
-
American
Amer
ican
childrenchildren
’’s s
literatu
re.
literatu
re.
Arna Bontemps
Arna Bontemps
One of t
he key
One of t
he key
figures
in the
figures
in the
Harlem Harlem
Renaissa
nce was
Renaissa
nce was
Arna Bon
temps,
Arna Bon
temps,
who wrot
e who
wrote
childrenchildren
’’s s
books at
the
books at
the
suggesti
on of
suggesti
on of
Augusta
Baker.
Augusta
Baker.
These in
cluded
These in
cluded
the extr
emely
the extr
emely
popular popular
Popo Popo
and Fifi
na,
and Fifi
na,
which he
wrote
which he
wrote
along wi
th poet
along wi
th poet
Langston
Lang
ston
Hughes.Hughes.
Council on
Council on
Interracial
Interracial
Books for
Books for
Children
Children
Founded
in
Founded
in
1965, th
e 1965
, the
Council
on
Council
on
Interrac
ial
Interrac
ial
Books fo
r Book
s for
Children
not
Children
not
only pro
moted
only pro
moted
positive
posi
tive
portraya
ls of
portraya
ls of
children
of
children
of
all all back
grounds,
backgrou
nds,
they als
o gave
they als
o gave
out priz
es and
out priz
es and
fellowsh
ips to
fellowsh
ips to
young au
thors.
young au
thors.
Winners
of
Winners
of
their pr
izes
their pr
izes
included
incl
uded
Virginia
Virg
inia
Hamilton
, Hami
lton,
Walter D
ean
Walter D
ean
Myers, a
nd
Myers, a
nd
Mildred
Taylor
Mildred
Taylor
The CIBC
also
The CIBC
also
created created
The The
Bulletin
of
Bulletin
of
Interrac
ial Book
s
Interrac
ial Book
s
for Chil
dren
for Chil
dren, ,
which ad
vocated
which ad
vocated
for text
s that
for text
s that
avoid se
xism and
avoid se
xism and
racism.racism.
In the 1
970s, th
e
In the 1
970s, th
e
CIBC too
k on the
CIBC too
k on the
classic classic
To Kill
A To K
ill A
Mockingb
ird
Mockingb
ird, ,
noting t
hat it
noting t
hat it
presente
d Africa
n-
presente
d Africa
n-
American
s in a
American
s in a
stereoty
pical wa
y
stereoty
pical wa
y
and made
and
made ““sav
iorssaviors””
out of C
aucasian
s.
out of C
aucasian
s.
This so
rt of
This so
rt of
careful
analysis
careful
analysis
influenc
ed
influenc
ed
subseque
nt
subseque
nt
publishe
rs of
publishe
rs of
childrenchildren
’’s lit.
to s li
t. to
avoid avoid
stereoty
ping.
stereoty
ping.
The Coretta
The Coretta
Scott King
Scott King
Book Award
Book Award
Establis
hed in
Establis
hed in
1970 by
the
1970 by
the
American
Library
American
Library
Associat
ion to
Associat
ion to
honor th
e hono
r the
contribu
tions of
contribu
tions of
Coretta
Scott
Coretta
Scott
King, th
e Corett
a
King, th
e Corett
a
Scott Ki
ng Book
Scott Ki
ng Book
Award is
given
Award is
given
annually
to a
annually
to a
text tha
t text
that
““promote
s prom
otes
understa
nding an
d
understa
nding an
d
apprecia
tion of
apprecia
tion of
the cult
ure of
the cult
ure of
all peop
les and
all peop
les and
their their
contribu
tion to
contribu
tion to
the real
ization
the real
ization
of the A
merican
of the A
merican
dream.dream.””
Key
Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
Authors
Authors
Virginia
Virg
inia
Hamilton
(1936-
Hamilton
(1936-
2002)2002)
Wrote ov
er 30
Wrote ov
er 30
childrenchildren’
’s and s and
adolesce
nt
adolesce
nt
literatu
re novel
s
literatu
re novel
s
Focused
on
Focused
on
universa
l coming
universa
l coming
of age i
ssues
of age i
ssues
Wrote my
steries,
Wrote my
steries,
science
fiction,
science
fiction,
as well
as
as well
as
realisti
c fictio
n
realisti
c fictio
n
Won a Ma
cArthur
Won a Ma
cArthur
Genius G
rant;
Genius G
rant;
several
Coretta
several
Coretta
Scott Ki
ng Book
Scott Ki
ng Book
Awards,
and a
Awards,
and a
Laura In
galls
Laura In
galls
Wilder L
ifetime
Wilder L
ifetime
Achievem
ent Awar
d
Achievem
ent Awar
d
Key
Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
Authors
Authors
Walter D
ean
Walter D
ean
Myers (1
937-)
Myers (1
937-)
The most
The
most
prolific
and
prolific
and
award-wi
nning
award-wi
nning
writer o
f writ
er of
childrenchildren’
’s and s and
adolesce
nt
adolesce
nt
literatu
re in
literatu
re in
the cont
emporary
the cont
emporary
eraera
Focalize
s his
Focalize
s his
texts th
rough
texts th
rough
typicall
y typi
cally
bright,
but
bright,
but
troubled
young
troubled
young
men and
women
men and
women
Writes i
n every
Writes i
n every
format,
from the
format,
from the
short st
ory to
short st
ory to
the scre
enplay
the scre
enplay
to the n
ovel
to the n
ovel
Key
Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
Authors
Authors
Jacqueli
ne
Jacqueli
ne
Woodson
(1964-)
Woodson
(1964-)
As a mem
ber of
As a mem
ber of
the the ““you
ngeryounger””
generati
on of
generati
on of
African-
American
African-
American
childrenchildren
’’s s
writers,
Woodson
writers,
Woodson
writes p
rimarily
writes p
rimarily
about about
contempo
rary
contempo
rary
issues i
nvolving
issues i
nvolving
AIDs, ge
nder
AIDs, ge
nder
identity
, and
identity
, and
homeless
ness.
homeless
ness.
Her book
s have
Her book
s have
won mult
iple
won mult
iple
awards, awards,
includin
g the
includin
g the
Coretta
Scott
Coretta
Scott
King Boo
k Award.
King Boo
k Award.
In 2002
, she
In 2002
, she
was a no
minee
was a no
minee
for the
National
for the
National
Book Awa
rd.
Book Awa
rd.
Key
Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
Authors
Authors
Sharon F
lake
Sharon F
lake
(1963-)(1963-)
A contem
porary o
f
A contem
porary o
f
Woodson,
Flake a
lso
Woodson,
Flake a
lso
deals wi
th
deals wi
th
contempo
rary
contempo
rary
teenage
issues,
teenage
issues,
includin
g incl
uding
homeless
ness and
homeless
ness and
street v
iolence.
street v
iolence.
Flake wr
ites fro
m
Flake wr
ites fro
m
the view
point of
the view
point of
both mal
e and
both mal
e and
female female
protagon
ists; in
protagon
ists; in
fact, he
r recent
fact, he
r recent
text, text, Ba
ng!Bang!, h
as , has
been pra
ised for
been pra
ised for
its real
istic
its real
istic
depictio
n of iss
ues
depictio
n of iss
ues
facing A
frican-
facing A
frican-
American
fathers
American
fathers
and sons
.and
sons.
Key
Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
Authors
Authors
Christop
her Paul
Christop
her Paul
Curtis (
1963-)
Curtis (
1963-)
A native
of
A native
of
Flint, M
ichigan
Flint, M
ichigan
(yeah!),
Curtis
(yeah!),
Curtis
sets his
novels
sets his
novels
in his h
ometown
in his h
ometown
or surro
unding
or surro
unding
communit
ies. A
communit
ies. A
winner o
f the
winner o
f the
Coretta
Scott
Coretta
Scott
King Boo
k Award,
King Boo
k Award,
the Newb
ury
the Newb
ury
Award, a
nd many
Award, a
nd many
others,
Curtis
others,
Curtis
is known
for
is known
for
injectin
g humor
injectin
g humor
and grit
ty
and grit
ty
realism
into his
realism
into his
narrativ
es.
narrativ
es.
Key Key
Contemporary
Contemporary
AuthorsAuthors Mild
red Tayl
or
Mildred
Taylor
(1943-)(1943-)
Along wi
th
Along wi
th
Walter D
ean
Walter D
ean
Myers an
d Myer
s and
Virginia
Virg
inia
Hamilton
, Hami
lton,
Mildred
Taylor
Mildred
Taylor
was a pi
oneer in
was a pi
oneer in
contempo
rary
contempo
rary
African-
American
African-
American
childrenchildren
’’s s
literatu
re.
literatu
re.
Her Loga
n Her
Logan
Chronicl
es are
Chronicl
es are
among th
e first
among th
e first
books th
at
books th
at
include
clear,
include
clear,
direct direct
discussi
ons
discussi
ons
about Am
erica
about Am
erica’’s s
racist p
ast, as
racist p
ast, as
well as well as
realisti
c and
realisti
c and
complex complex
depictio
ns of
depictio
ns of
African-
American
African-
American
characte
rs and
characte
rs and
lives.lives.
The Logan
The Logan
Chronicles
Chronicles
The Logan
The Logan
Chronicles
Chronicles
Early Readers
Early Readers