A unique & vital guide that summarizes, explains, & evaluates the greatest works of African-American literature--including articles on writings from James Baldwin, W. E. B. Dubois, Langston Hughes, Malcom X, Toni Morrison, & many more. The newest book in the successful masterpieces of. Series, masterpieces of African-American literature features critical descriptions of the greatest writings of African-Americans. The book has individual articles on 148 titles from every genre - novels, essays, plays & poems, including Frederick Douglass' slave narrative, Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Richard Wright's Native Son, Ntozake Shange's for Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, & the poetry of Amiri Baraka. Each article contains the all important facts & dates of authorship along with analyses of characters, settings, themes, & plots. The only reference of its kind, masterpieces of African-American literature is an important guide to African-American history & culture as portrayed through literature. Frank N. Magill is the editor of masterpieces of world philosophy, & masterpieces of world literature. A panel of distinguished scholars contributed the bulk of the articles. This companion volume to Masterpieces of World Literature (1989) highlights the literary achievements of African-American authors from the 18th century to the present with individual articles on 149 major works of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. Each article contains the important facts and dates of authorship along with analyses of characters, settings, themes, and plots.