A writer can do what a weapon cannot. If we talk about the Black Lives Matter Movement, and civil war in America the contribution for African-American Writers cannot be ignored. If we read their books then we will always find the story of their struggle, hope, resilience. In this blog we will talk about top 10 African American writers, their works, achievements and their story. We will also look upon their struggles and how slavery effected them.
1. James Baldwin
James Balwin, also known as James Arthur Baldwin. He was born on August 2, 1924, at Harlem Hospital in New York City. He was one of the well-known African American writers and a civil rights activist. He is known for essays, poems, plays, and novels. In 1953, one of his novels, “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” was listed among TIME’s top 100 English language novels. He died on December 1, 1987, at the age of 63.
2. Langston Hughes
Hughes’s full name is James Mercer Langton Hughes. He was born on February 1, 1901, in the U.S. State of Missouri. Along with writing, he also worked as a social activist and columnist. Hughes finished his graduation with a B.A. from Lincoln University. The New York Publisher noticed his talent in “The Crisis” Magazine. When the Civil Rights Movement peaked from 1942 to 1962, Hughes wrote a weekly opinion column for the top Black Newspaper. He died on May 22, 1967, at the age of 66.
3. Maya Angelou
Maya (or Marguerite Anne Johnson) was born on April 14, 1928, in Missouri, U.S., and apart from being a writer, she was also a civil rights activist. She wrote 3 books for essays, 7 autobiographies, books for poetry, and a long list of plays and dramas. Talking about her achievements, she has received many awards and honours, like the National Medal for Arts and 3 Grammys for spoken word albums. Her first autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, became famous, giving her international recognition. She died on May 28, 2014, at the age of 86.
4. Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley Peter was the first African-American Author who published her book for poetry. Wheatley was born in 1753 in West Africa. She was kidnapped at the age of 7 or 8 and later was bought by the Wheatly Family in North America. She learned reading and writing and was supported by the Wheatly family to be a writer. She died at the early age of 31 on December 5, 1784, because of poverty.
5. Alice Walker
Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker was born on February 9. 1944. She was African American social activist, novelist, short story writer, and political activist. She created history in 1982 after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and became first black to do so. She got this award for her novel “The Color Purple”. Apart from wide collections of poetry and essays, 12 non-fiction works, and 17 short stories and novels. She is still an active writer.
6. Toni Morrison
Chole Anthony Wofford Morrison was born in February 18, 1931. She was American Novelist and editor. Morrison work includes The Bluest eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, Beloved, and many more. She got many awards like Presidential Medal of Freedom, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Nobel Prize in Literature, National Humanities Medal, and many more. She died in August 5, 2019 at the age of 88.
7. Federick Douglass
Federick Augustus Washington Bailey was born in Februrary 14, 1818 at Maryland. U.S. apart from bein a writer Douglass was also Abolitionist, Suffragist, Author, Editor, and Diplomat. He also became first African-American who was nominated for the post of Vice-Prsident. He wrote 3 autobiographies that describes the experience of an enslaved person in America. Later on it became best seller making Douglass the most important leader in African-American civil right movement. He died on February 20, 1895 at the age of 77.
8. William Wells Brown
William Wells Brown was born in slavery in 1814 (March 15, 1814) in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.. at the early age of 19, he ran away to Ohio away from slavery in 1834. He worked as an abolitionist, writer, historian, and comedian. One of his novels named “Clotel” (Published in 1853) became the first published novel by an African American in London. He became so famous that a public school in Lexington was named after him. He died on November 6 1884, at the age of 70.
9. Ann Petry
Ann Petry was born on October 12, 1908, in Old Saybrook, CT, US. She became passionate about writing when her teacher commented on her essay: “You can be a great writer if you want”. She graduated with a Phg. From the University of Connecticut in 1931. She is well known for her work in the bestseller novel “The Narrows” released in 1953. She died on April 27, 1997, at the age of 88.
10. Octavia Butler
Octavia Estelle Butler was a famous Science Fiction writer. She was born June 22, 1947, in Pasadena, California. Butler was raised by her widow’s mother and was a timid kid. She started her career as a writer when she was a teenager. Butler completed her graduation from California State University. After some time, he became famous all over America. She received many awards, like Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and many more. She died on February 24, 2006, at the age of 58.
Conclusion
These were the top African American writers everyone should know. Lets celebrate their work and their contribution to the world of literacy. Most of them are not with us now but are alive through their words and work they have. Lets keep it alive and promote their strories to the upcoming generation.
