Trudier Harris Book order

A biography of Native Son’s Bigger Thomas that examines his continued relevance in the debates over Black men and the violence of racism

Written by Professor Trudier Harris who explores the differences between Northern and Southern maids and between "mammy" and "militant." She touches on nearly all Black American writers of the twentieth century, but gives extended discussion of works by Charles Chesnutt, Kristin Hunter, Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, Ann Petry, William Melin Kelley, Alice Childresss, John A. Williams, Douglas Turner Ward, Barbara Woods, Ted Shine, and Ed Bullins.

Examines how representations of Martin Luther King Jr's character and persona in works of African American literature have evolved and reflect the changing values and mores of African American culture.

Focuses on the issue of stereotypes of Black women

This book studies fictional homespaces in African American literature from those set in the time of slavery to modern urban configurations of the homespace. The author examines the factors that influence homespaces in African American literature and analyzes why African American writers often portray troubling and dysfunctional homespaces.

The exploration of the South as a complex rite of passage for black writers forms the core of this scholarly work. Trudier Harris examines the dual feelings of love and hate that authors like Baldwin and Gaines express towards the South, viewing it as essential to their identity as African American writers. By analyzing a range of works from various genres and time periods, Harris highlights themes of slavery, migration, and violence, illustrating how engagement with Southern history and memory is a defining trait of African American literature.

Contemporary African American dramatists such as Amiri Baraka, James Baldwin, August Wilson, and Suzan-Lori Parks as well as Lorraine Hansberry, Alice Childress, and Pearl Cleage find their creative inspiration in historical events from slavery to the civil rights movement. From the Emmett Till-inspired character in Baldwin’s Blues for Mister Charlie to Parks’s recreation of Lincoln and Booth, these playwrights show that history is the mirror that shapes the identities of African American writers and characters.

Focusing on the rich tradition of storytelling in Southern literature, Trudier Harris explores the narratives of three influential African American writers from the twentieth century. She draws from her personal experiences of front-porch storytelling, highlighting how these authors embody the essence of oral tradition and its impact on their literary contributions. The book examines the interplay between community, culture, and the power of shared stories in shaping Southern identity.