Chapter 12 &15Chapter 12 &15Jewish and Black LiteratureJewish and Black Literature

From From An Outline of American An Outline of American LiteratureLiterature by Peter B. High by Peter B. High

A street on the Lower East Side

The Depression era and Proletarian The Depression era and Proletarian Writers in the 1930s Writers in the 1930s

a period of social anger and self-criticism, a period of social anger and self-criticism, “Leftist” flavor (p.161)“Leftist” flavor (p.161)

1. a new kind of social realism and naturalism1. a new kind of social realism and naturalism

2. showed the struggle of ordinary people2. showed the struggle of ordinary people

3. Marxist Proletarian Literature movement3. Marxist Proletarian Literature movement

4. the magazine of the era was the pro-Marxist 4. the magazine of the era was the pro-Marxist Partisan ReviewPartisan Review

Michael Gold (1896-1967)Michael Gold (1896-1967)

editor of the Communicst paper editor of the Communicst paper The New MassesThe New Masses, a le, a leading force in this movementading force in this movement

Jews without MoneyJews without Money (1930) (1930)1. a autobiographical novel of social realism1. a autobiographical novel of social realism2. a model for other “Proletarian” writers2. a model for other “Proletarian” writers3. Edward Dahlberg’s 3. Edward Dahlberg’s Bottom DogsBottom Dogs (1930) and Jack Co (1930) and Jack Co

nroy’s nroy’s DisinheritedDisinherited (1933) (1933)4. the start of the “Jewish-American” novel – describes t4. the start of the “Jewish-American” novel – describes t

he failure of the “American Dream” for those who hahe failure of the “American Dream” for those who had left Europe looking for a new and better life d left Europe looking for a new and better life

Henry Roth (1907-1995)Henry Roth (1907-1995)

Call It SleepCall It Sleep (1935) – (1935) – mixes Marxist and mixes Marxist and Freudian theory Freudian theory (p.162)(p.162)

Jewish mythology and Jewish mythology and a stream-of-a stream-of-consciousness writing consciousness writing stylestyle

James T. Farrell (1904-1979)James T. Farrell (1904-1979) Note on Literary CriticismNote on Literary Criticism (1936), reveals his (1936), reveals his

own view is Marxist, but “not oversimplified sown view is Marxist, but “not oversimplified sort”ort”

““Stud Lonigan” trilogyStud Lonigan” trilogy1. 1. Young LoniganYoung Lonigan (1932) (1932)2. 2. The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan (1934)(1934)3. 3. Judgment Day Judgment Day (1935)(1935)4. middle-class Irish-Catholic families in Chicago4. middle-class Irish-Catholic families in Chicago5. spiritual poverty, the “black dullness” of such l5. spiritual poverty, the “black dullness” of such l

ifeife6. using stream-of-consciousness techniques6. using stream-of-consciousness techniques

John Steinbeck (1902-1968)John Steinbeck (1902-1968)

in the 1930s, his characters were “naturalistic” in the in the 1930s, his characters were “naturalistic” in the classical meaning of the word, driven by forces in theclassical meaning of the word, driven by forces in themselves and in society (p.163)mselves and in society (p.163)

fear, hunger, sex, and the disasters of nature and the efear, hunger, sex, and the disasters of nature and the evils of Capitalismvils of Capitalism

took naturalistic way of looking at things with a deep took naturalistic way of looking at things with a deep sympathy for people and the human conditionsympathy for people and the human condition

Painted large portraits of the “national spirit” by comPainted large portraits of the “national spirit” by combining myth of “westering” (the movement to the wesbining myth of “westering” (the movement to the west) with his naturalismt) with his naturalism

John Steinbeck (1902-1968)John Steinbeck (1902-1968)

The Long ValleyThe Long Valley (1938) – a collection of short stories (1938) – a collection of short stories set in the Salinas Valley set in the Salinas Valley

The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath (1939) – social injustice, daily (1939) – social injustice, daily heroism of ordinary peopleheroism of ordinary people

East of EdenEast of Eden (1952) – a modern story based on the (1952) – a modern story based on the Bible story about the brothers Cain and AbelBible story about the brothers Cain and Abel

Travel with CharleyTravel with Charley (1962) – the unity of all living (1962) – the unity of all living creatures, his own personal transcendentalismcreatures, his own personal transcendentalism

Received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962Received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962

James T. Farrell (1904-1979)James T. Farrell (1904-1979)

A World I Never MadeA World I Never Made (1936) – p.162 (1936) – p.162

1. new trilogy with a new hero, Danny O’Neil1. new trilogy with a new hero, Danny O’Neil

2. describes the spiritual poverty of Irish-2. describes the spiritual poverty of Irish-Catholic families (the emotional religion, the Catholic families (the emotional religion, the new child every year, the money worries and new child every year, the money worries and the heavy drinking)the heavy drinking)

3. a documentary realism, like reading the true 3. a documentary realism, like reading the true story behind the newspaper articles of the era story behind the newspaper articles of the era

The 20th-century Black WriterThe 20th-century Black Writer

the Struggle of Black Americans the Struggle of Black Americans A. Abraham Lincoln had ended the A. Abraham Lincoln had ended the

slavery of blacks in 1863 (p.211)slavery of blacks in 1863 (p.211)1. government laws kept black 1. government laws kept black

Americans in a low social position Americans in a low social position in the Southin the South

2. Ku Klux Klan, used violence 2. Ku Klux Klan, used violence against blacksagainst blacks

Slave quarters on a South Carolina plantation, 1860

Advertisement for the sale of slaves

Harlem in New YorkHarlem in New York

3. the migration to 3. the migration to the North around the North around the turn of the the turn of the centurycentury

4. in New York, 4. in New York, black artists and black artists and writers began writers began their struggle for their struggle for social justice for social justice for their peopletheir people

http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/551/36.html

During the 1920's and 1930's an important movement During the 1920's and 1930's an important movement was started for African Americans.  Blacks from was started for African Americans.  Blacks from different parts of the country migrated to Harlem, different parts of the country migrated to Harlem, New York to be part of this cultural and exploratory New York to be part of this cultural and exploratory movement known as the Harlem Renaissance.  This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance.  This movement, also known as the New Negro Movement movement, also known as the New Negro Movement and the Cultural Awakening, raised important black and the Cultural Awakening, raised important black issues through various forms of art.  Concerns such as issues through various forms of art.  Concerns such as racial consciousness and racial integrity were racial consciousness and racial integrity were expressed through music (mostly jazz and blues), expressed through music (mostly jazz and blues), painting, drama and literature.  By the time the 1930's painting, drama and literature.  By the time the 1930's came around, more than 200,000 African Americans came around, more than 200,000 African Americans had come to Harlem from various parts of the had come to Harlem from various parts of the country.  This was an increase of more than 185,000 country.  This was an increase of more than 185,000 blacks since 1914.  blacks since 1914. 

Jazz Age and the Harlem RenaissanceJazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance

Great leaders like Great leaders like W. E. B. W. E. B. DuDu Bois Bois and Alain Locke and Alain Locke emerged during this time.  These men served as mentemerged during this time.  These men served as mentors and were an inspiration to aspiring writers and artiors and were an inspiration to aspiring writers and artists.  They were in large part responsible for this new fsts.  They were in large part responsible for this new found enlightenment for the black people and urged edound enlightenment for the black people and urged educated blacks to preach black pride while emphasizinucated blacks to preach black pride while emphasizing African culture. g African culture.

Jazz, a musical form created by Southern blacks, becaJazz, a musical form created by Southern blacks, became popular among white cultureme popular among white culture

Musicians such as Musicians such as Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington  and Louis Armstr  and Louis Armstrong contributed to the music of the renaissance ong contributed to the music of the renaissance

Jazz Age and the Harlem RenaissanceJazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance

black writers in Harlem, a northern part of Neblack writers in Harlem, a northern part of New York city, began the Harlem Renaissancew York city, began the Harlem Renaissance

influenced by the experimental styles of Europinfluenced by the experimental styles of European and American literatureean and American literature

talk about the experience of black people in Atalk about the experience of black people in American societymerican society

Great writers and poets such as Countee Cullen,Great writers and poets such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claud Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay and Jean Toomer were breaking acroe McKay and Jean Toomer were breaking across the color line through writing. ss the color line through writing.

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)

The Souls of Black FolkThe Souls of Black Folk (1903) (1903)

1. describes the effects of white American racial 1. describes the effects of white American racial prejudice on the minds of blacksprejudice on the minds of blacks

2. special culture of American blacks which 2. special culture of American blacks which unites them into a single “nation”unites them into a single “nation”

3. black cultural nationalism3. black cultural nationalism

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)

Double Consciousness –Double Consciousness –““It is a particular sensation, this double-consciouIt is a particular sensation, this double-consciou

sness, this sense of always looking at one’s selsness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of other . . . One feels his twf through the eyes of other . . . One feels his twoness – An American; a Negro two souls, two oness – An American; a Negro two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciloed strivings, two warthoughts, two unreconciloed strivings, two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keep it from being torn asunder.”ength alone keep it from being torn asunder.”

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)

The Quest of the Silver FleeceThe Quest of the Silver Fleece (1911) and (1911) and Dark PrincDark Princess ess (1928)(1928)

became interested in Africa in the 1930sbecame interested in Africa in the 1930s

1. Africa is the spiritual and cultural home of all blacks1. Africa is the spiritual and cultural home of all blacks

2. “Black Flame” trilogy (1957-1961) – Manuel Mansar2. “Black Flame” trilogy (1957-1961) – Manuel Mansart describes the history of American blacks through the t describes the history of American blacks through the first sixty years of the 20th century first sixty years of the 20th century

Jean Toomer Jean Toomer (1894-1967)(1894-1967)

CaneCane (1923) – the most famous work of the (1923) – the most famous work of the movement (p.212)movement (p.212)

combines poetry with short storiescombines poetry with short stories First section – women in the South and a First section – women in the South and a

natural beauty in themnatural beauty in them Second section – set in Washington D. C., Second section – set in Washington D. C.,

blacks in the city can’t feel comfortable and blacks in the city can’t feel comfortable and freefree

Langston Hughes Langston Hughes (1902-1967)(1902-1967)

his poetry experiments with the jazz and blues his poetry experiments with the jazz and blues rhythms of black musicrhythms of black music

““Dream Variations” (1922)Dream Variations” (1922)

1. produces the images of fast-moving jazz 1. produces the images of fast-moving jazz music than its rhythmsmusic than its rhythms

2. celebrates the joy of motion2. celebrates the joy of motion

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

““I, Too” (1925)I, Too” (1925)1. a protest poem1. a protest poem2. attack white society for its racial hatred2. attack white society for its racial hatred3. adds to Walt Whitman’s songs of America3. adds to Walt Whitman’s songs of America

““Harlem” (1951)Harlem” (1951)1. express more anger1. express more anger2. wants racial justice and warns white that there might 2. wants racial justice and warns white that there might

be an explosion of black violencebe an explosion of black violence

Countee Cullen (1903-1946)Countee Cullen (1903-1946)

wants to be more than a black poet, a poet for wants to be more than a black poet, a poet for all mankind (p.214)all mankind (p.214)

““Yet Do I Marvel” (1925)Yet Do I Marvel” (1925)

1. love, beauty , and the shortness of life are the 1. love, beauty , and the shortness of life are the themesthemes

2. the pain of being black in America2. the pain of being black in America

Richard Wright (1908-1960)Richard Wright (1908-1960)

a writer of realisma writer of realism Uncle Tom’s ChildrenUncle Tom’s Children (1938) -- gives detailed description of the (1938) -- gives detailed description of the

violence in Southern white societyviolence in Southern white society

Black BoyBlack Boy (1945), (1945), Native SonNative Son (1940) (1940)1. uses naturalist techniques to describe the social and 1. uses naturalist techniques to describe the social and

psychological pressure on his black heropsychological pressure on his black hero2. the violence in a black man caused by the harsh social situation2. the violence in a black man caused by the harsh social situation3. fear of the white world causes confusion which leads to crimes3. fear of the white world causes confusion which leads to crimes4. the suffering humanity, human nature is basically good; the 4. the suffering humanity, human nature is basically good; the

society is really bad.society is really bad.

The Man Who Lived UndergroundThe Man Who Lived Underground (1945) – creates a new (1945) – creates a new metaphor for the way blacks are invisible in American societymetaphor for the way blacks are invisible in American society

Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison (1914-)(1914-)

Invisible ManInvisible Man (1952) (1952)1. the most famous novel in black American literature1. the most famous novel in black American literature2. hero is a nameless black individuals who lives 2. hero is a nameless black individuals who lives

undergroundunderground3. “invisible” because the people around him “see only 3. “invisible” because the people around him “see only

my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination.” imagination.”

4. whites can’t see blacks as individuals people, only 4. whites can’t see blacks as individuals people, only see their wrong idea of what a black issee their wrong idea of what a black is

5. “The Royal Battle” (p.215) 5. “The Royal Battle” (p.215)

Ralph Ellison was a midwesterner, born in OklaRalph Ellison was a midwesterner, born in Oklahoma, who studied at Tuskegee Institute in the homa, who studied at Tuskegee Institute in the southern United States. He had one of the stransouthern United States. He had one of the strangest careers in American letters -- consisting of gest careers in American letters -- consisting of one highly acclaimed book, and nothing more. one highly acclaimed book, and nothing more. The novel is The novel is Invisible ManInvisible Man (1952), the story of (1952), the story of a black man who lives a subterranean existence a black man who lives a subterranean existence in a hole brightly illuminated by electricity stolin a hole brightly illuminated by electricity stolen from a utility company. The book recounts hen from a utility company. The book recounts his grotesque, disenchanting experiences. When is grotesque, disenchanting experiences. When he wins a scholarship to a black college, he is hhe wins a scholarship to a black college, he is humiliated by whites; when he gets to the college,umiliated by whites; when he gets to the college, he witnesses the black president spurning black he witnesses the black president spurning black American concerns. Life is corrupt outside colleAmerican concerns. Life is corrupt outside college, too. For example, even religion is no consolge, too. For example, even religion is no consolation: A preacher turns out to be a criminal. The ation: A preacher turns out to be a criminal. The novel indicts society for failing to provide its citnovel indicts society for failing to provide its citizens -- black and white -- with viable ideals anizens -- black and white -- with viable ideals and institutions for realizing them. It embodies a pd institutions for realizing them. It embodies a powerful racial theme because the "invisible maowerful racial theme because the "invisible man" is invisible not in himself but because others, n" is invisible not in himself but because others, blinded by prejudice, cannot see blinded by prejudice, cannot see

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From:http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/LIT/ellison.htm

James Baldwin (1924-)James Baldwin (1924-) Go Tell It on the MountainGo Tell It on the Mountain (1953) – (1953) –

story about religion in Harlem (p.217)story about religion in Harlem (p.217)1.a boy deeply troubled by religious 1.a boy deeply troubled by religious

thoughts, how race, sex, and religion thoughts, how race, sex, and religion influence the lives of people in a small influence the lives of people in a small Harlem churchHarlem church

2. religion creates strong emotions in these 2. religion creates strong emotions in these people but they also destroy their people but they also destroy their ability to see the real worldability to see the real world

3. 3. Another Country Another Country (1962) – describes the (1962) – describes the moral confusion and race hatred of moral confusion and race hatred of American citiesAmerican cities