Discovering African American Literature
Rebekah Valcarcel
Eng/301
November 30th, 2015
Dr. Julie Kares

The art of storytelling invites readers into another world. Examining the literary conventions African American authors use allows readers to compare and contrast literary works. Harriet A. Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Terry McMillan’s The End and Maya Angelou’s Willie are significant literary pieces to discuss. It is important to consider factors such as historical, socio-political and cultural climate because these factors contribute and influence an author’s point of view as well as each author’s unique voice and message depending on the time period.
Harriet A. Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is a slave narrative. The literary conventions of the slave narrative define the work. Slave narratives echo biblical stories that often reflect persecuted groups attempting to escape to freedom. Jacobs’s piece details her struggle to escape her master from sexual abuse. Vivanco (2003), “The process from sin to rebirth in spiritual autobiographies is paralleled by the process from slavery to freedom in slave narratives. Slaves experience a change from chattel, enduring suffering, to man or woman living in the Promised Land, the North,” (para. 5). Further distinction of the slave narrative is how authors shape the story, often chronologically. Slave narratives illustrate an author’s personal experience though many share common themes of extreme violence/abuse and racial prejudice. Slave narratives are essentially autobiography, which offer an author’s own experience for readers to find meaning. Jacobs’s female voice sheds light on issues affecting slave women; sexual abuse and losing children to death or slave trade particularly. Jacobs’s narrative is a prime example of how different slave women were treated as opposed to men. Both were “property,” however men were viewed for the trade and work value while women were viewed as a “breeder;” one to make more slaves. Jacobs’s narrative also holds other significant characteristics like other slave narrative. James Olney describes slave narratives as following a clear set of conventions early on. Olney (n.d.), “The conventions for slave narratives were so early and so firmly established that one can imagine a sort of master outline drawn from the great narratives and guiding the lesser ones,” (p. 6). Jacobs’s narrative is edited by a white abolitionist, Lydia Marie Child, (Young, A., p.17). This is an important characteristic of the slave narrative because authors needed an endorsement by an editor/friend/abolitionist, (Olney, n.d.). Another convention of Jacobs’s narrative is her description of her treatment. “On the contrary, I had always been kindly treated, and tenderly cared for, until I came into the hand of Dr. Flint. I had never wished for freedom till then,” (Jacobs, H., p. 18). Authors describing their treatment while a slave is a convention of slave narratives. Additionally, Jacobs’s account of her escape and hiding offer a standard convention, in which the slave illustrates how serious it is to run away and how difficult escape can be. What is unique about Jacobs’s narrative is her detail of the small space in which she hid and how she spent her time inside it. Jacobs recounts the small shed attached to her grandmother’s house that came to be her home. “Some boards were laid across the joists at the top, and between these boards and the roof was a very small garret, never occupied by anything but rats and mice,” (Jacobs, H., p. 17). Jacobs describes how she would sleep and eat and how she could watch her children and wish to speak to them. “…presently two sweet little faces were looking up at me, as though they knew I was there, and were conscious of the joy they imparted. How I longed to tell them I was there,” (Jacobs, H., p.18).
Jacobs uses extraordinary imagery to paint a clear picture of the space in which she hid. “The air was stifling; the darkness total,” (Jacobs, H., p. 17). “I was tormented by hundreds of little red insects, fine as a needle’s point, that pierced through my skin, and produced an intolerable burning, (Jacobs, H., p. 19). “…winter came, the cold penetrated through the thin shingle roof…but with all my precautions, my shoulders and feet were frostbitten,” (Jacobs, H., p. 19). Though Jacobs’s narrative includes conventions of slave narratives her style and tone become her signature, differentiating her piece from others and placing it as particularly significant.
Terry McMillan’s The End is a fictional piece that takes place in Detroit, Michigan around 1975. McMillan illustrates for readers the unfulfilling life of Pobre, a married man in a bi-racial marriage with one daughter, who works for the Ford Motor Co. Pobre is plagued by a recent nightmare in which the world is ending. Pobre hates his job and McMillan draws out this emotion in her protagonist. McMillan’s theme is that of Pobre’s struggle with the monotony of his job, the condition of the world and what the future looks like. Fiction writing allows authors to execute keen imagination and craft an original story that is the author’s vision. According to Southeast Missouri State University n.d., the conventions of fiction writing include; “Plot, Setting, Character, Conflict, Symbol, and Point of View as well as Theme,” (The Elements of Fiction). Each author places individual importance upon conventions and crafts a story using any or all of those listed above. Plot is what pulls a reader in, setting is where and when a story takes place, characters are those involved in the story to any degree and writers develop each characters personality, conflict is the internal and external conflicts the characters go through, symbols stand for something that readers find meaning in and typically is more abstract then upfront, point of view is who tells the story and theme is what holds the message of the entire story.
McMillan’s fictional piece reflects each of the conventions of fictional writing. McMillan effortlessly composes this piece with simplistic language and content; an everyday story about an ordinary person. McMillan’s piece draws readers in with the first line, “It is seven a.m., Monday morning,” (McMillan, T., p. 322). Early Monday morning is significant to most people; the start of a new work/school week. This beginning line readers immediately relate to. McMillan’s strongest convention use is her character development of Pobre Blackstone. Readers are introduced to his disdain for work early on, his contempt for rich white people and the nightmare that is disturbing him. McMillan’s creates a short story that resonates the struggle within the mundane, the power of the government and the world’s uncertain future. “Pobre begins his daily ritual, his mind goes blank,” (McMillan, T., p. 324). “The people in power are capable of doing anything, especially things that do more harm for us than good,” (McMillan, T., pgs. 325-326). “I gotta start thinking about the future, our future, everybody’s future, I had this crazy ass dream last night about the world coming to an end, and shit, it’s been bugging me all day,” (McMillan, T., p. 326). McMillan’s story however simple is proven powerful with its main character and the overall tone of the piece. The End is a stellar example of fiction writing for readers to discover.
Maya Angelou’s poem Willie is a moving piece reflecting struggle yet triumph. Angelou captures a sense of beauty and awe in the world around, but also how it takes one to find the beauty in our human suffering. Poetry like no other form of writing takes many forms and affords writers many allowances, with the conventions of poetry varied. Maya Angelou uses rhyme throughout the short piece Willie. Angelou’s piece is a seven stanza piece using rhyme. DiYanni (2015), “A division or unit of a poem that is repeated in the same form--either with similar or identical patterns or rhyme and meter, or with variations from one stanza to another,” (Glossary of Poetic Terms). The first stanza, “Willie was a man without fame Hardly anybody knew his name. Crippled and limping, always walking lame, He said, “I keep on movin’ Movin’ just the same,” (Angelou, M., p. 415).
Angelou’s Willie illustrates an almost invisible person that suffers physical impairment and loneliness. Angelou imparts to readers Willie’s struggle but also his sense of perseverance. A striking convention that Angelou uses in her piece is that of personification. DiYanni (2015), “The endowment of inanimate objects or abstract concepts with animate or living qualities,” (Glossary of Poetic Terms). The third stanza, “I may cry and I will die, But my spirit is the soul of every spring. Watch for me and you will see That I’m present in the songs that children sing. The final stanza, “When the sun rises I am the time. When the children sing I am the Rhyme,” (Angelou, M., p. 416).
Each of the literary selections above are unique in terms of each authors tone, theme and individual voice. All three author’s pieces reflect each writer’s point of view; what each author believed to be most important to write about at the time. Each era is significant to the author, yet the pieces do not build from a particular past sentiment. Jacobs’s piece is a clear slave narrative, a sign of her era, while McMillan’s piece reflects a distinctive modern tone with imagery, and Angelou’s piece reflects an individual’s experience that could have occurred in any time era.
Literary conventions vary among the many forms of storytelling. Autobiography is typically detailed to invite readers into the author’s world, while fiction authors develop characters and move through conflicts of human nature, and lastly authors of poetry convey deep emotions using symbol and metaphor. Some conventions overlap, for all literature tells a story and the conventions are the vehicles for each author’s design.
The historical, socio-political and cultural climate of each piece is important to examine. It provides a reader with a backdrop of a writer’s influence and what the author finds important to include. Jacobs’s piece is a significant piece that depicts a time in early American history filled with conflict. Slavery and war were on the forefront of the nation’s issues and it literally tore America apart. McMillian’s piece is a modern account of the mid 1970’s, post-Vietnam War. The middle class was struggling and rich white Americans seemed to mock those with less. McMillan’s piece resonates the influence of the era as a time when few could get a change to “get ahead.” Angelou’s piece is without an influence of a time era. The poem details an individual’s struggle without any reference to historical, socio-political and cultural climates. In Angelou’s case, what she finds important is the trial and tribulation of an individual.

Literary conventions serve as a guide for writers to craft particular pieces. Whether a story is autobiographical, fiction or poetry authors invite readers to discover a truth, relate to conflict and revel in triumph.

References
DiYanni, R. (2015). McGraw Hill Online Learning Center. Retrieved from http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/poetic_glossary.html
Olney, J. (n.d.). Deceiving Memories. Retrieved from http://deceivingmemories.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/files/2011/08/olney_iwasborn.pdf
Southeast Missouri State University. (n.d. ). The Elements of Fiction. Retrieved from http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/hhecht/The%20Elements%20of%20Fiction.htm
Vivanco, S. S. (2003). Third Space: A Journal of Feminist Theory and Culture. Retrieved from http://journals.sfu.ca/thirdspace/index.php/journal/article/viewArticle/vivanco/113
Young, A. (1996). Maya Angelou. In African American Literature: A Brief Introduction And Anthology. New York, New York: Harper Collins.
Young, A. (1996). Harriet A. Jacobs. In African American Literature: A Brief Introduction And Anthology. New York, New York: Harper Collins.
Young, A. (1996). Terry McMillan. In African American Literature: A Brief Introduction And Anthology. New York, New York: Harper Collins.