African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Alain Locke
A biography of African-American writer Alain Locke, chief interpreter of the Harlem Renaissance, the video [5:30] "Ossie Davis: Dr. Alain Leroy Locke's Influence," and links to three of his books.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Alex Haley
This site provides a concise biography of Haley, the video [12:28] "Alex Haley Interview Roots (Merv Griffin Show 1977)" and links to six of his books.
Yale University
Examining African American Culture Through the Use of Children's Literature
This curriculum unit is designed for third grade students to address the issue of diversity during many different core areas via the use of African-American children's literature. The unit incorporates a variety of children's books, both...
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Paul Laurence Dunbar
This site focuses on Paul Laurence Dunbar including a biography that includes a poem in dialect "Negro Love Song" illustrating how well the author used this format. It also includes links to eight of his books.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: At Home With Multicultural Adolescent Literature
List of "Must read," multicultural literature for the adolescent reader. The books are categorized by the culture that they represent and by reading level. An excellent resource for teachers and students alike.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Toni Morrison
A detailed biography on the works of African American writer and 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Toni Morrison. Contains information on the themes and subject matters of her most famous books while also giving some information on...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Poetry of Liberation: Amiri Baraka
Poet and playwright Amiri Baraka is featured in this brief biography for his radical views and contributions during the Black Arts Movement in America. See "Amiri Baraka Activities" for related resources.
Cengage Learning
Studying Francis Ellen Watkins Harper
This Houghton Mifflin site prepared by Elizabeth Ammons is a study site about Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, the 19th century African American author.
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Language and Ideas
From Johnson's Dictionary to letter-writing, newspapers and coffee-house culture: explore how different forms and mediums helped to develop and circulate language and ideas during the long 18th century.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: The Tech: Article on Alex Haley
This Washington Post article from The Tech on Alex Haley offers a personal glimpse into Haley's life as a writer and how his writing connected him to his family.
PBS
Pbs: Africans in America: David Walker (1796 1830)
At this site from PBS you can read about the life of David Walker. Born in the late 18th century as a free black, he was most known for his pamplet, entitled "Appeal," which advocated slave revolt.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Toni Morrison
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides a biography of Toni Morrison, noted novelist. The entry focuses on the black American experience.
Scholastic
Scholastic: The Land by Mildred D. Taylor
This resource provides a description and a discussion guide for the book The Land by Mildred D. Taylor. This book was presented with the Coretta Scott King Award in 2002.
Other
Wittenberg University: Major Figures of the Harlem Renaissance
Brief overview, followed by biographical sketches of people making this time memorable.
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: 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.
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."