Black Lives Matter: 5 African-American authors whose works you should be reading in this historic era
After the death of George Floyd, a wind of progressive change spurred on by the rage of unfair treatment and injustice against the black community is blowing across the world. As the protests demanding justice for a brethren of the black community who perished under police brutality and racism gained momentum, it metamorphosed into a nation-wide movement that loudly chanted 'BLACK LIVES MATTER'. Millions of people across the country defied social distancing guidelines amid a life-threatening pandemic and swarmed the streets for a fight of a lifetime. Wanting their voices to be heard and aiming to cajole leaders and governments into ending police brutality and discrimination once and for all, they brought to spotlight over 150 years of racial violence meted against African Americans.
These trying times and while there is no complete guidebook to understanding racism and its ugly history now would also be a great opportunity to diversify your reading list with works from some of the greatest laureates of the black community. Historically, African-American literature centers around cultural identity, their position in the society, slavery, equality, and themes of liberation. They could help non-Black people understand the history behind the current movement and provide help in charting a way forward toward a better future.
The first works of black literature were published in the 18th century when the US was just starting to remerge a post-independence. The newly recognized citizens had well-defined rights and freedoms and were also owners of slaves. Over time, many black authors emerged from within the community making significant contributions to the ever-expanding African-American culture. Literature became a safe space. It gave them a platform for their voices to be heard.
While you don't exactly have to wait for a global revolution to start reading books by black authors, right now is as good a time as any other. Reading the works of some of the most noteworthy writers of now and the past would be a great way to not only enhance your literary knowledge but also give you significant insight into the cause that we are fighting for. Here is our list of five black authors whose books left a significant impression on many, but may have not made it into your English-lit syllabus:
Octavia Butler
Born in 1947, Butler was a shy, dyslexic girl and grew up in an era that practiced segregation and conformity, spending most of her time reading in the local library. Her most notable works include 'Kindred' and 'Patternmaster'. She strived to destroy genre assumptions about writers and readers, which were so prominent at that time that in 1987, when she was finalizing her novel, 'Dawn', her publisher insisted putting two women on the book cover, despite the main character in the book being black. She also challenged gender identity in her works, fully incorporating her interests in hybridity and the human race and even touched upon topics like climate change. Nicknamed the "great dame of science fiction", not only did Butler establish herself as a celebrated black science-fiction author, but she is also arguably one of the most successful American science-fiction authors. She began writing as a teenager, and by the time she was in her 20s, she had started selling her first science-fiction stories. In 1995, Butler became the first science-fiction novelist to become a recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant. Her novels have also won her the Hugo Award and Nebula Award.
Gayl Jones
Jones is possibly among one of the most underrated black authors. She is one of the most unique and powerful voices in literature and became the spokeswoman for black women in America. Jones's love for writing fiction began at a tender age and by the time she was seven, she had started writing her own. She attended a school that had a predominantly white student population but stood out most for her excellent writing ability. She had always been captivated by African American literature. Jones published her first novel 'Corregidora' in 1975 which focused on the tragically beautiful life of a blues singer, who is struggling with the legacy of abuse, rape, and slavery that marred her family history. Famed novelist Toni Morrison, who read Jones's work told the New York Times Magazine in a 2015 interview that “… no novel about any black woman could ever be the same after this.” Her works tell a candid and painful truth about the past and present. Among her other notable works are 'Mosquito' (1999), 'The Healing' (1999- nominated for the National Book Award) and 'Eva's Man'
Martha Southgate
Southgate gained national recognition for her 2007 essay from the New York Times Book review, 'Writers Like Me', where she highlighted the condition of black literature. The essay is featured in the anthology Best African-American Essays 2009. She also received considerable notice for her 2006 novel, 'Third Girl from the Left' which also won her Best Novel of the Year Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. The book revolves around Angela, a young black woman from Oklahoma who runs away to California where she participates in blaxploitation films. It incorporates a multigenerational plot, spanning from the 1921 Tulsa Riots, to modern-day Southern California. She has also authored 'The Fall of Rome', 'Another Way to Dance' and 'The Taste of Salt'.
Chester Himes
Chester Himes championed the literary genre of noir. Considered the Harlem Rennaisance genius, Himes's books affected his encounters with racism. As an expatriate residing in Paries, he published a multitude of black detective novels based in New York City's Harlem locale. Himes was biracial but had a rough upbringing. His light-skinned mother dominated over his dark-skinned father, which fuelled a deep resentment and molded his racial outlook. He began writing fiction when he was jailed in the Ohio State Penitentiary for armed robbery, between 1929 and 1936. Many of his stories appeared in Esquire and other American Magazines.
He published his first novel 'If He Hollers Let Him Go' in 1945. It focused on the fear, anger, and humiliation faced by black employees while at work in a racist defense plant during World War II. His second novel 'Lonely Crusade', about racism in the labor movement, was published in 1947. 'Cast the First Stone' (1952), his other published work depicted prison life while The Third Generation (1954), centered around family life. His book, 'A Rage in Harlem' is available as an audiobook on the Audible app and is narrator by actor, Samuel L Jackson.
Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed recognized by his satirical and ironic take on subjects as race and social constructions that marginalize and discriminate against people of color. Considered one of America's most significant literary figures, he has published over 30 books of poetry, prose, plays, and essays. His works challenged literary tradition, as he tends to take a more innovative and modern approach in his writing. His works aim to uplift the neglected and pressed sections of the society. He is perhaps best known for his fictional works which embody surrealism, satire as well as political and racial commentary. His most popular novels include 'Mumbo Jumbo' (1972), 'The Terrible Twos' (1982), 'Japanese by Spring' (1993) and 'Juice!' (2011). Despite the laurels his award-winning works have brought him, he remains one of the most underrated but ingenious authors of all time.