Slave Narrative and Black Autobiography - Richard Wright's "Black Boy" and James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography The slave narrative maintains a unique station in modern literature. Unlike any other body of literature, it provides us with a first-hand account of institutional racially-motivated human bondage in an ostensibly democratic society. As a reflection on the author, these narratives were the first expression of humanity by a group of people in a society where

Internal Struggle for Identity and Equality in African-American Literature The story of the African-American journey through America's history is one of heartbreaking desperation and victimization, but also one of amazing inspiration and victory. Any story of the journey that fails to include these seemingly diametric components of the African-American journey is incomplete. However, African-American culture reflects both the progress of the African-American community, its external struggle to achieve equality, and

This is understandable. However, the way the two writers tell their stories is quite different, somehow. Prince's is told from a woman's point-of-view that is more sensitive, more emotional, and "female." She worries more about others, and becomes very emotionally attached to some of her families. Equiano is emotional too, and not afraid to talk about his emotions, but many of his descriptions are less emotional and more full

Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself" by Harriet Jacobs. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself" "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs seems too horrific to be true. One feels that it is a fictional account rather than an autobiography. Jacobs's life was one of unmentionable cruelty and sorrow. It is also one of great courage and sacrifice. Written under

The effect this had on many slaves was to make them determined to gain their freedom at all costs. Family relationships, something most people take for granted, were not considered in the lives of slaves. Two of the narratives note, "At the close of that year I was sold to a Thomas Stanton, and had to be separated from my wife and one daughter, who was about one-month-old" (Smith 13).

Reception, Perception and Deception: The Genesis of Slavery Progress has a way of making itself known to the world, even in a situation where there exists resistance. Considering Olaudah Equiano's "The Interesting Narrative, the issue of slavery throughout the colonial world was as much about assimilation as it was oppression. The conflict between cultures is shown in the nature of the cultural assumptions each makes concerning the other. The British are