Slavery, Freedom and African-American Literature

Freedom is a powerful word, embodying all of the yearnings of the human heart and soul, yet only those who have been deprived of freedom, and ultimately gained it through life-changing struggle, could ever fully realize its value. The modern struggle for freedom is epitomized by the trials and tribulations of the African-American people as a whole. Indeed, no better record of this struggle exists than the classic works of African-American literature, which stand as historic records, folklore, and a lasting lesson of both the exhilaration of freedom and the senseless human tragedy of slavery. In this research, many of the pivotal works of African-American literature will be discussed in an effort to explore the compelling themes of slavery and freedom.

African-American Literary Tradition, Slavery and Freedom

When one takes a scholarly look at the African-American literary tradition, there is no truer statement than the finding that this literature not only existed because of the life-altering experiences of slavery and freedom losses but also in spite of it.