The History Of African American Authors From 21 Black Street

Posted by Kevin Elliott on October 14, 2009

Beginning in the 60′s with the civil rights movement, African American authors were rising in the market. Before America was a nation there were African Americans authors when published black writers were slaves and abolitionists.

The first African American to become famous in the writer community was Phillis Wheatley. When she first arrived and was sold to the Wheatleys in Boston she did not speak any English. Her owners taught her the English language and she did well. As a slave, in 1773, she published many poems on different topics. Almost another hundred years went by before another African American was published… Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was published in 1845. This book was published after Douglass escaped slavery for the second time. Before long the American Civil War started. This era gave way to the new educational freedom for African Americans.

At the turn of the 20th century, African American book clubs were formed and a new black culture where books were shared in the informal book clubs. There was a debate between Booker T Washington and W.E.B. DuBois on how African Americans can better themselves.

With the turn of the 21st century brought another kind of revolution to the publishing world. From child targeted to adult eBooks, ingenuous metaphors on culture and race identity. The Internet has somewhat revolutionized publishing when it comes to niche markets, most notably African American authors. From African American book clubs to eBooks has been its own journey. Take a look at its history to get a true understanding of this impact.

In the 20th century, progress in education led to cultural awareness across the black community in America. Because the authors were abolitionists and slaves, early African American literature was either political or spiritual. However, Phillis Wheatley’s poetry was the first published book by an African American.

Even though it is a difficult economy the African American eBook market is still booming. This is because the African American authors are seeking to be published and are searching the Internet black book business.

Any search shows that poets, fiction, novels, advice, history and adult eBooks are plentiful which means African American Literature is not just a book case in your local library.

Comments

One Response to “The History Of African American Authors From 21 Black Street”