African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Wallace Thurman
This site includes the author's credits as an editor and playwright, a biography, and links to three of his books.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Langston Hughes: Hughes's Life and Career
Lengthy, detailed biography of Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, from the Oxford Companion to African American Literature.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Becoming Visible: Ralph Ellison
Author Ralph Ellison is presented in this biography for his contributions to African American literature. See "Ralph Ellison Activities" for further information.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Shay Youngblood
This site includes a brief biography of Shay YoungBlood, a video clip [5:34] of "Shay Youngblood reading from Black Girl in Paris at the Dent" and links to three of her works.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Southern Renaissance: Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston is featured in this biography highlighting her literary contributions which focused on African Americans as whole people, celebrating their heritage, in an era when black authors tended to write about their...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley, an African-American slave, is featured for her neoclassical poetry of pre-nineteenth century America. Click on "Phillis Wheatley Activities" for more resources.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Charles W. Chesnutt
This resource focuses on realist author Charles W. Chesnutt and his manner of portraying African American characters in the South during the late nineteenth century. See "Charles W. Chesnutt Activities" for related resources.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: The Search for Identity: Toni Cade Bambara
Toni Cade Bambara is featured in this brief biography for her ability to combine and advocate for both feminism and black minorities through her literature. See "Toni Cade Bambara Activities" for related resources.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: The Search for Identity: Alice Walker
Alice Walker is highlighted in this brief biography for her acclaimed contributions to literature, relating the struggles and triumphs of African Americans throughout history. Click on "Alice Walker Activities" for related materials.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Langston Hughes
This site gives a short biography of Langston Hughes's life, a "Mini Bio: Langston Hughes" video [3:33] and links to 20 of his books.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Lorraine Hansberry
This site focuses on Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun, including a short biography, "The Lorraine Hansbury: Mini -Documentary" video [10:38], and links to four of her books.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Joel Chandler Harris
Creator of Uncle Remus and other African American folklore tales, journalist Joel Chandler Harris is featured as a revolutionary writer regarding oppression and prejudices. For more resources click the "Joel Chandler Harris Activities" tab.
Other
World Views: African Literature: Voices From 'Another' Africa
A chapter which looks at the development of African literature. Lists many sources for studying and reading African literature.
Black Past
Black Past: Phillis Wheatley
This on-line encyclopedia article gives information about Phillis Wheatley, the Boston slave who surprised colonial America with her poetry. She was the first African-American woman to have her work published.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
Three detailed lesson plans for high school students studying Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." Provides plenty of resources, such as links, lesson extensions, and more.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Howard W. Odum
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Howard W. Odum, an American sociologist who was a specialist in the social problems of the southern United States and a pioneer of sociological education in the South. He worked to replace...