Struggles of African American through Literature
Allen D, Green
Eng 125 Introduction to Literature
Michelle Beckworth
January 11, 2010
Literature traces the development of African American writers. Alice Walker, Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry were early pioneers in the field of literature. Their literacy works of art contained themes highlighting the pivotal struggle of African Americans. The three selections in the text illustrate African Americans fighting against social injustice “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes and “Raisin in the Sun by
Lorraine Hansberry. All of these writers paved the road for future African American writers.
“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker portrays the struggle of a very poor African American family in the deep in south. Walker uses this story to teach a heartwarming lesson on true inheritance; what it is and who can receive it. Two old hand stitched quilts handed down through many generations become the center of conflict in this story. Walker uses the quilts to symbolize true inheritance.
Walker compares a quilt to a person’s world view. For example, it is made up of events and circumstances which influence a people respond to the world. “Everyday Use” is a story of two very different worlds colliding. The Mama is the narrator of the story. She guides us into the conflict between her two different daughters.
The main characters are the Mama, Dee the oldest daughter and Maggie the youngest daughter. The Family was so poor their house resided in a cow pasture. Tragically, hit the family one night in the form of a divesting fire. As a result, of the fire Maggie sustained devasting life changing burns. The fire damaged muscles in her face and down her left arm. For example, the terrible damage made it difficult for Maggie to ever learn to read.
Mama found a way for Dee to go to college. Their church raised money to send her to school. A...