Zora Neale Hurston Civil Rights Activist

Kimberly Vasquez
Professor Cook
BLST 113
05/14/15
Final Exam
Zora Neal Hurston
African American Civil Rights Activist & Author
She is Best known for her work in “Their Eyes were watching God” (1937) and many other literary works.
When she moved to Harlem in the 1920’s that is when her writing career began and flourished. (after graduating college)
Historical Significance: Despite all her accomplishments, it was a struggle for her writing to get published and she struggled financially throughout her early career. Hurston overcame this and even received backlash for her strong criticism of the board decision in Brown V. Board. She was a strong woman that voiced her opinion and stood by it.
Arna Bontemp
African-American poet, novelist, and

an important member of the Harlem Renaissance.
His most distinguished work of the decade was, “The Story of the Negro”(1948).
Bontemps novels, children books, and poems were written during the 1930’s-1970’s.
He thrived as a writer in Harlem, New York but later moved to the South.
Historical Significance: His contributions to the Harlem Renaissance all of his fine works of literature are what makes a legacy of that time.

Also as head librarian at Fisk University, he was put in charge of expanding the world’s largest collection of African American cultural items.
Langston Hughes
Famous African American poet
Wrote novels, short stories, plays, but best known for his poetry and his engagement with the world of Jazz. One of the first to innovate and write Jazz poetry.
His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920’s.
Langston wanted to tell the story of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, which included both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language.
Historical Significance: Langston Hughes was an inspiration to many during the Harlem Renaissance and he paved the way for future artist and their success in arts. He was a social activist and believed in the Black Power Movement to a certain extent. We should value his legacy and what he contributed with his writings.
Richard Wright
Arguably the most influential African American writer of the 20th

century.
His early books were what made him famous and it includes, “Native Sun”(1940), “Uncle Tom’s Children”(1930) and lastly “Black Boy”(1945).
Moved to New York City, where he had a better chance of getting published than any other place in the U.S. and also joined the Federal Writers Project.
Historical Significance: His best-seller books were an influence to so many black writers during the time. He went from having absolutely nothing to become someone in this world. His book Native Sun is still talk about to this day, with a cunning plot and it also challenges its readers with a mixed emotion towards the protagonist Bigger Thomas.
Ralph Ellison
African American writer & scholar.
Best known for his award-winning novel, “Invisible Man”(1952).
He lived in the North throughout his writing career
Ellison felt his writing should “tell us about the unity of American Experience beyond all considerations of class, of race, and of religion”.
Historical Significance: Ralph Ellison was ahead of his time and against all the literary and political atmosphere of blacks and whites in America. His views would gain full respect until the 1980’s, but at least he had a vision that would be followed through in the future and that is very impressive.
James Baldwin
African American writer (essayist, playwright,novelist) and Civil Rights Activist.
His works of art that he is known for are, “Notes of a Native Sun”, “Another Country”, and “The Fire Next Time”.
He lived in New York City, and later moved to Paris, France during his writing career.
Baldwin emerged as one of the leading voices in the Civil Rights Movement for his compelling work and he was also open about his homosexuality.
Historical Significance: James Baldwin is not remembered as much as the many other Civil Rights Activists during the time, but that is only because of all the negativity that people thought of him because of his honesty in what he felt and believed in. His writings and speaking out about the injustice in America are monumental enough and he accomplished success and a lot of controversy through his literary works of art.
Robert Hayden
African American Poet and Professor
Became of the nation’s foremost african american poets and some of his famous works are the, “Middle Passage” and “Frederick Douglass”.
He taught at Fisk University for more than 20 years, over his years of teachings he continued to write and publish poetry.
Hayden addressed many political themes and the history of slavery and emancipation were also evident in his recurring themes.
Historical Significance: Robert Hayden is still one of the most celebrated african american poets of his day and his poems will poems will always be recognized at such stature.
Chicago Renaissance
A creative movement that consisted of African-American writers and poets.
Many of the best works of the renaissance were literary non-fiction, especially autobiography.
Some of the well known members were Richard Wright, Arna Bontemp, Margaret Walker, Gwendolyn Brooks, and many others
The Black Chicago Renaissance existed during the early 1950’s to the mid 1980’s
Historical Significance: The Great Migration was what drove the renaissance and it brought half a million African Americans from the South to Chicago. The move to Chicago was a journey out of bondage into freedom, and it inspired the literature of the Black Chicago Renaissance. It was empowering to everyone in the city and it drove writers to persevere with their writing.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Highly Regarded African American poet
First African American to win a pulitzer prize for her work of her book, “Annie Allen” (1949)
She was part of the Black Chicago Renaissance and resided only in Chicago’s south side till’ her death
He work included ballads, sonnets, free verse, and using musical rhythms from the content of the inner-city Chicago.
Historical Significance: Gwendolyn Brooks works of arts became so successful that she was distinguished and recognized for them with honors and awards. She led the renaissance and its futures writers to go follow their passion by inspiring them with all the possible success one can have no matter the color of your skin.
Black Arts Movement
Politically motivated African American poets, artists, dramatists, musicians, and writers who emerged during the Black Power Movement.
There was a new emphasis for black artists to create black art for black people in order to channel black consciousness and achieve freedom from their past.
Black Arts occurred during the 1960-1975.
They were moved by the ongoing injustices to be politically active in their art and the member talked about all aspects of Post-Civil Rights era life. Wrote about the failings of America to create a just system.
Historical significance: It is significant because Black Arts initiated, supported, and promoted change. Black Arts and Black Power both worked side by side to the African American desire for self-determination and nationhood. It left behind many stirring pieces of literature, poetry and theatre.
Nikki Giovanni
African American poet and Civil Rights Activist
Established herself as one of the leading poetic voices and was a major force in the Black Art Movement.
Helped define the African American voice of the 1960’s,70’s, and beyond.
She established Cincinnati’s first Black Art festival in 1967 and published her first book of poems “Black Feeling”, “Black Talk” in 1968.
Historical significance: Her poems were influenced by the Civil Rights and Black Power movement. She provided a strong African-American perspective on topics ranging from race and social issues to Children’s Literature and for that won numerous awards.
Alice Walker
African American Author, Civil Rights Activist and Women’s Rights Activist
A pulitzer prize-winning novelist and poet, most famous for her work “The Color Purple”
She was an active participant in the Civil RIghts Movement, and emerged as a prominent voice in the Black Feminist movement.
Walker is still alive and continuing her work as a political activist.
Historical Significance: Alice Walker is not only an incredible writer, but was involved in the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi which shows her strength as an activist. An inspiration that is still around to this day and is still pursuing her work. In her work she shows how the treatment of women and violence is cruel and has helped women everywhere because of it.
Toni Morrison
African American Novelist
Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-Winning american novelist, her best known novels are “The Bluest Eye”, “Song of Solomon”, and “Beloved”.
Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed black characters.
Now in her 80’s, Morrison continues to be one of literature’s great storytellers.
H.S. : Toni Morrison has a way of writing that intrigues her readers with a fusion of themes involving history, mystery and longing. Definitely an intelligent woman that has persevered and has won nearly every book prize possible, plus an honorary degree.
Amiri Baraka
African American dramatist, novelist, poet and Civil Rights Activist.
He became involved in the Black Nationalist poetry and literature scene, also identified himself as Marxist
The assassination of Malcolm X was a turning point in his life
“The Music: Reflection on Jazz and Blues”, “The Book of Morik”, and “New Music, New Poetry” were some of his famous works.
H.S. : He is one of the poets that have revolutionized the art. Not only that but he is among the few influential political activists who have spent their lives fighting for African American rights. His work of arts cause controversy and spark to his readers.
Edward Kamau Brathwaite
Caribbean poet and scholar/educator
Co-founder of the Caribbean Artists Movement, author of numerous collections of poetry like, “The Arrivants(1973)”, “Masks”(1968), “Islands”(1969)
He lives in Barbados and New York city and has split his time to both places.
Brathwaite composes poems that skillfully analyze the themes of postcolonial, historical and personal interest.
H.S.

: Brathwaite through his poetry reexamines the history of Black Diaspora and how the culture needs to come together in Caribbean life. He shows racial pride and how to overcome prejudice and malice, as a leader for his country and people.
Jamaica Kincaid
From Antigua in the West Indies, Renowned Writer from there.
Her most know literary works are, “Annie John”, “At the Bottom of the River”, and “The Autobiography of My Mother”, plus many more.
Kincaid left Antigua to New York and later started her career as writer during the late 1970’s
Her writing is handled with sharp emotion as she identifies herself with a “partially remembered, partially dreamed reality” style.
Themes that she uses are issues of race, gender, colonialism, adolescent angst, loss.
H.S. : Kincaid’s writing is captivating as she writes about complex emotions and exposes harming issues in a simple matter. She still continues to influence people and is a professor at Harvard University for creative writing.
Walter Rodney
A prominent Guyanese writer, scholar, political activist, and historian
developed into an intellectual scholar and is recognized as one of the caribbean’s most brilliant minds.
Rodney’s most influential book was “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”(1972). Also he joined the Working People’s Alliance.( Leading figure in the resistance

movement)
Between 1974-1979 is when his work as an activist was prominently shown. Gave public and private talks all over the country.
H.S. : Walter Rodney was an intellectual leader that wanted to give his people a new political consciousness in the country. Sadly he was assassinated in 1980, but his legacy still lives on and his selfless commitment to the struggles for the liberation of working people in Guyana.
Edwidge Danticat
Haiti-Born writer
Famous author of “Breath, Eyes, Memory”, “Krik? Krak!”, and “The Dew Breakers”. She has won many honors and prizes for her work
She is a writer of the 21st century and lives in the U.S.
Danticat is a strong advocate for issues affecting Haitians abroad and at home.
H.S. : Edwidge Danticat is one of the finest and most courageous writer living today. She explore many themes like national identity, mother-daughter relationships and diasporic politics. She is not afraid to speak up.