African American children’s books have a rich history and tradition of storytelling. Many authors and illustrators have created works that highlight the lives of African Americans. Some African American writers have even created children’s books based on their own experiences. Whether you are a first-time reader or you are a seasoned reader, there is a book for your child.
Early African American children’s literature
Early African American children’s literature is often overlooked by scholars. The 1890 novel, Clarence and Corinne, is often cited as the first African American children’s novel. However, since the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement, the focus on Black children’s education has increased. In 1954, the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision Brown v. Board of Education brought national attention to Black children’s education. Until this point, children’s literature often reflected racism.
Early African American children’s literature featured numerous authors and genres previously reserved for adults. Some of these authors included well-known adult authors. Their works featured a variety of genres and themes, including biographies and histories. Some works included an anthology of poems and stories by celebrated poets, such as Langston Hughes. Other works were written by children such as June Jordan and Davida Adedjouma.
Influence of African American folklore on early African American children’s literature
Early African American children’s literature largely ignored the concept of the book as the sole form of storytelling, favoring rather a periodical print culture and literary forms such as the poem. They also focused on modes of address that directly addressed children as potential readers. Scholars have extended their understanding of the history of African American children’s literature back to the 18th century.
Throughout early African American children’s literature, there african american children’s books is evidence that African American folklore is interwoven with the genre of oral storytelling. These stories often depict familiar themes and are based on African traditions.
Relating early African American children’s literature to Black child readerships
The relationship between early African American children’s literature and Black child readerships has a long history. Many African American authors and educators have been concerned with bringing more African American children’s literature to the public, but there have also been many barriers to the growth of African American children’s literature. Alice Dunbar-Nelson discusses the importance of African American children’s literature in her essay “Negro Literature for Negro Pupils.”
In addition to publishing books, African American writers published periodicals for children. Between 1912 and 1934, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) published the Children’s Number, an annual periodical for African American children. This periodical featured stories, poems, illustrations, photographs, sociological essays, and journalistic coverage, and is widely considered the beginning of African American children’s literature.
Legacy of image in early African American children’s literature
Early African American children’s literature has often struggled to make a positive contribution to racial equality. These texts confront issues of racial injustice and racism that are difficult for young readers to navigate. For example, some stories feature characters who are uncomfortable with their race, while others deal with the difficulties faced by Black children who do not conform to the norms of white culture.
Despite such struggles, African American writers continued to write for children. The Harlem Renaissance saw the birth of new literary forms that were able to speak to the struggles of the community. Children’s literature during this period addressed tensions between educational achievement and social uplift, political activism, and economic disenfranchisement. Katharine Capshaw argues that early African American children’s literature reflected the ideologies of early Black activists.