Cheryl A. Wall Books

Focusing on the significance of the essay form in African American literature, this study highlights the influential works of writers like W. E. B. Du Bois, James Baldwin, and Alice Walker. It acknowledges their landmark essays, while also shedding light on the often-overlooked essay contributions of other notable authors such as Ralph Ellison and Zora Neale Hurston. Cheryl A. Wall presents a comprehensive exploration of the African American essay as a unique literary genre, emphasizing its impact and the richness it adds to the broader literary landscape.

This Very Short Introduction offers an overview of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural awakening among African Americans between the two world wars. Cheryl A. Wall brings readers to the Harlem of 1920s to identify the cultural themes and issues that engaged writers, musicians, and visual artists alike.

The technique of "worrying the line," used by blues musicians to enhance their songs, is explored in relation to the writing of African American women in the twentieth century. Cheryl A. Wall illustrates how these authors employ similar methods to disrupt and enrich narrative forms, impacting both African American and broader American literary traditions. Through this lens, the book highlights the innovative contributions of these writers and their ability to emphasize, clarify, and challenge conventional storytelling.

The lives and work of women in the Harlem Renaissance - Jessie Redmon Fauset, Nella Larsen, Zora Neale Hurston, and others - situated in the traditions of African-American and American writing. číst celé