Defining African-American Literature

[spaceman04]

At least the urban fiction genre is getting more people into reading and turning off the tv.

[tld221]

Originally posted by spaceman04
At least the urban fiction genre is getting more people into reading and turning off the tv.

true, but whats it worth when the writing is crappy? it is getting people to read, etc. but whats the point when the writing is bad? not even tolerably bad, but just off. writing a novel the way you talk is not as literarily stimulating as i'd like to get with.

granted, i read mcmillian and EJD in HS, but when im looking at my 11-14 y/o female students reading "a project chick" and "the sisters of APF," thats something that turns my stomach. but cant be that bad if they mama, sisters and aunties are reading it on their way to work, right?

i wrote a paper on this last semester. i got a very nice A on it from the prof. heres the link if anyone cares to read it .

my paper on black pop lit

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by tld221
i wrote a paper on this last semester. i got a very nice A on it from the prof. heres the link if anyone cares to read it .

my paper on black pop lit

Interesting that you considered Push to be "pop fiction."

[tld221]

thanks for pointing that out--I know its a true story. i think i was referring to Push as pop fiction b/c of the similar fashion it was being passed around.

im disturbed that my professor didnt point out the contradiction.

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by tld221
thanks for pointing that out--I know its a true story. i think i was referring to Push as pop fiction b/c of the similar fashion it was being passed around.

im disturbed that my professor didnt point out the contradiction.

Well, I didn't mean that it wasn't fiction, because technically that's what it is. And I do see your point about its distribution being the same as the other pop fiction works you cited. That might be because Push took place in New York, as well. It never really took off here in DC.

I think I would categorize Push as literary fiction, though. It reminds me very much of The Color Purple. They are both books that sort of "slipped through the cracks" and stole our hearts. Both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

It all raises interesting questions though.....stuff I'll be thinking about tonight as I write.

Thanks for posting your link.

[NUPE4LIFE]

I was watching Bro. Tavis Smiley's show the other day and he had on Dr. Ian Smith a medical correspondant for the 'Today Show'. He has written a fictional book called the 'Blackbird Papers'. I just started reading it, it's good so far. It's a murder mystery. If you're tired of the "urban fiction" pick this book up and give it a try.

[chrini]

Originally posted by Senusret I


It's possible that street fiction is a fad and in a few years it will fade out. Who knows.

Originally posted by LADY_1908



PS....Don't even get me started on African American theatre vs. Mama Plays

We just have to take the initiative and let our kids (who are at the age of where they want to read novels, paint pictures, write songs, poetry, and short stories) know that there is a wide spectrum of African American Arts and expose them to all aspects.
Surely by now we would think Pimping, Hoochies, Bling Bling and Rims would have played out in videos by now.

[Little32]

They are doing an interesting series on this very topic on the show that Sway hosts on MTV.

[tld221]

Originally posted by Little32
They are doing an interesting series on this very topic on the show that Sway hosts on MTV.

off topic: i LOVE sway!
am i the only one who thinks hes hot?