ARRT Bootcamp African-American Fiction

Adult Reading Round Table
Genre Boot Camp • African-American Fiction

African-American Fiction
DEFINITION: Like other multicultural fiction, African American literature includes many variations in tone, style, plotting and pace. African American fiction appears in every genre and, in the case of hip-hop or urban lit, has created its own. African American literature explores the role of African Americans within American society. What distinguishes African American fiction from other fiction that may feature African American characters is the authenticity of the experiences as African Americans and the inclusion of cultural (e.g., music, food, dress), spiritual, social and political details that are unique to the African American experience.

Classic Authors: James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Donald Goines, Zora Neale Hurston, Iceberg Slim, Sister Souljah

CHARACTERISTICS: African American literature spans many genres, from mystery to romance to literary fiction, but a common thread is the portrayal of the unique experiences of growing up black in America. Stories focus on black communities and families. While racism and minority status may be important themes in some books, others make little reference to the surrounding white culture. The important commonality is African Americans telling their own stories about their lives and culture.

APPEAL: When the many types of African American fiction are grouped together, the main appeal factor is that African Americans take center stage in these books. The diversity of the literature reflects the diversity of the African American community, so there is a broad spectrum of books within the genre, but all revolve around black characters telling their stories.

READERS: Literary fiction of this genre has a broad mainstream appeal; anyone who reads literary fiction would be open to reading Nobel-prize winning author Toni Morrison. Some authors of popular fiction, like Terry McMillan or Walter Mosley, also have broad appeal. However, the main readership is other African Americans. As this entire genre grows and deepens, the readership has grown as well and many library patrons now ask for the African American section of fiction, much like mystery readers often expect a separate mystery section. The popularity of the Zane books spotlighted the African American market with her bestselling titles and spawned a re-interest in black authors. Urban fiction, one the fastest growing segments of the genre, appeals mainly to teens and younger adults both male and female.

SUBGENRES: The hottest subgenre is Urban Fiction, which can actually be considered a genre on its own. These stories are usually set in the world of drugs and gangs, with accompanying violence and street language. Other important subgenres are romance, mystery, literary, and contemporary. These subgenres have the same appeal factors as the genres they represent, but with an emphasis on African American characters and experiences. Zane and authors like her (Noire, Geneva Holliday) may be considered to be in a separate, “erotica” genre.

TOP AUTHORS: Urban fiction: Nikki Turner; Literary: Toni Morrison; Mystery: Walter Mosley; Romance: Mary B. Morrison; Contemporary: Terry McMillan

TRENDS: Urban fiction is still driving sales and so far shows no signs of slowing down. Some of the early writers of this genre, like Nikki Turner, are turning their sales power into publishing deals for finding and publishing other authors. Recent titles from Omar Tyree, already a best-selling author, reflect the dominance of the urban fiction trend. These books are rarely (if ever?) published in hardcover and may not be reviewed in regular library reviewing journals. Librarians wanting to build an urban fiction section will need to seek out these titles.

WEBSITES:
QBR The Black Book Review       http://www.qbr.com/
African American Literature Book Club      http://aalbc.com/
R.A.W. Sistaz Black Book Reviews    http://www.blackbookreviews.net/
MystNoir: African American Mysteries    http://www.mystnoir.com/

Articles in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_american_literature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_fiction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_writers

REFERENCE BOOKS: African American Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests. Edited by Alma Dawson and Connie Van Fleet, published in 2004. This is a good print source for popular African American fiction. The Handbook of African American Literature is too scholarly for building a public library collection.

PUBLISHERS: Triple Crown Publications is a prominent publisher of Urban Fiction.

MAGAZINES: Black Issues Book Review; Essence Bestseller List

ORGANIZATIONS: Harlem Book Fair; Black Caucus of the American Library Association

AWARDS: BCALA Literary Awards; Harlem Book Fair’s Wheatley Book Awards

Prepared by Susanna Clower
September 2007

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This page was last updated on 03/03/2010.

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