Other
Wittenberg University: Major Figures of the Harlem Renaissance
Brief overview, followed by biographical sketches of people making this time memorable.
Grade Saver
Grade Saver: Biography of Ralph Ellison
This site from Classic Notes provides a summary on Ralph Ellison (1914-1994 ) and his accomplishments as an author. The article that is presented is medium size in length and provides links throughout for additional information on the...
Curated OER
Maya Angelou: Greatness Through Literature
This very brief article on African American author Maya Angelou, lists her accomplishments as a writer. Included are names of awards she has won during her career.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Virginia Hamilton's Interview Transcript
This is a transcript of an interview between students and the celebrated children's writer, Virginia Hamilton.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Virginia Hamilton's Biography
A biography of award winning novelist Virginia Hamilton.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Fences
Fences written by the African American author August Wilson is analyzed in detail in this informative site. Read about the characters, themes and quotations in the play.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Goivanni's Room
As an African American writer who wrote about a romantic relationship with another man, Giovanni's Room created a great deal of controversy when it was published in 1956.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: King of the Bingo Game
Ralph Ellison is one of the most well known African-American writers. This story focuses on a southern black man attempting to win a bingo game to save the woman he has fallen in love with. This site explores the motivations behind the...
Shmoop University
Shmoop: The Piano Lesson
This Pulitizer Prize winning play explores looking at the past of many African Americans. Read about the characters and their motivations.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Song of Solomon
This story of the African-American experience is examined in detail in this fascinating and informative site. Read about the characters, themes and important quotations from the novel and discover the impact this novel has had.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Sula
The second of Toni Morrison's novels, Sula tells the story of the friendship between two African-American women. This site looks in detail at this friendship as it examines plot, character and themes found in the novel.
Smithsonian Institution
Anacostia Museum: The Renaissance: Black Art of the Twenties
Provides an informative description of the "Black Arts of the Twenties," which was better known as the Harlem Renaissance. Learn about the culture, art, music, and writings of this period.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Harper Lee
Learn more about the life and work of Harper Lee when you visit this informative site. This site provides links to activities, vocabulary lessons, newspaper articles and more focused on the book "To Kill A Mockingbird."
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...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Wole Soyinka
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright and political activist who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. He sometimes wrote of modern West Africa in a...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Mari Evans
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Mari Evans, an African American author of poetry, children's literature, and plays.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
Professor Kate Rushin describes the Harlem Renaissance as a large social and cultural movement fueled by many factors in this video from A Walk Through Harlem.
Scholastic
Scholastic Discussion Guides: Dear America
Good for classrooms and book groups, this site offers background, summary, discussion topics and questions, as well as activities. There's also an interview with the author.