African American

Question 1

Harlem renaissance

Answer 1

1920s/30s
After the Great Migration at the end of 19th century, many African Americans arrive in urban areas such as Harlem, and these areas become prosperous with jazz music, blues etc. Black americans received educational opportunities and there was blossoming of black culture and creative arts.

Question 2

American Civil War

Answer 2

1861-65
Abraham Lincoln released emancipation proclamation in 1863, war ended in 1865 with 13th amendment which fully abolished slavery.

Question 3

Black Arts Movement

Answer 3

1965-mid 70s roughly.
Aim was to express black pride and create new cultural institutions. Overlap with civil rights, black power, and black seperatism/nationalism.

Question 4

Black Separatism

Answer 4

To create separate black identity for all african diaspora across the world, outside of eurocentric white society.

Question 4

W.E.B du Bois

Answer 4

Double consciousness - struggle to adapt to dominant white society whilst upholding black identity and value.

Question 5

Amiri Baraka

Answer 5

Originally more assimilated individual, white first wife etc. Changed his name and became more radical black separatist. Believed dramatic arts should be weapon for black liberation, wrote for black community not for whites.

Question 6

Tragic Mulatto Trope

Answer 6

Stereotypical mixed race character who struggles to find place within either white or black communities, usually ends up depressed/suicidal

Question 7

Langston Hughes

Answer 7

1902-67
Proud of folk heritage and made spirituals, jazz and blues basis of his poetry
Portrayed humour , wit, endurance and faith of his people

Question 8

Blues poem

Answer 8

One of most popular forms of American poetry
Stems from oral tradition of storytelling and musical blues
Themes : struggle, despair, sex, heartbreak, hope, despair,

Question 9

An Agony As now (1964)
Context/Themes

Answer 9

Amiri Baraka
Themes:
Self hatred - alienation from his black identity. Conflict between assimilated self and black self.
Context - Amiri originally Leroi Jones, assimilated, married white woman etc, alienated from black communities as assimilated man, but also marginalised from white society as black man - devastating impact on his person hood

Question 10

As Agony As Now
Language /Techniques

Answer 10

“wretched women” (black men marrying white women)
Shift from 1st to 3rd person, from a person to a thing
His assimilated self - he does not recognise
‘Metallic’ – mechanic , cold, detached . “Slits”, like slits in a helmet or mask - metaphor relating to his white self. Inverts oreo metaphor – inverted symbolism. He presents as white because he has assimilated but denying black self inside.
“Enclosure”
Middle part - nobody knows what means, hallucinatory, godlike.
Suddenly switch to natural imagery – contrast with mechanic/metallic imagery. Flesh vs soul.
Emancipation is not over.

Question 11

The Weary Blues

Answer 11

Langston Hughes
Mix of heartbreak and hopes
Quotes Blueman’s song
Not written in AAVE primarily (as Hughes didn’t speak it), although the blueman’s song is
The lyrical I - representative of all african americans
Powerful validation of self as observer
Hopelessness but not desperation

Question 12

Double Consciousness

Answer 12

The sense of looking at one self through the lens of others

Question 13

Blues poets

Answer 13

Sterling A. Brown, James Weldon Johnson
Langston Hughes