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