Art is defined as the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance. Coinciding with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, allies have drawn attention towards the world of black art. Even more so because we are in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous aspiring black artists need all the support that they can get; which is why people are bringing the spotlight to this audience. According to detailed Cooperative Children’s Book Center statistics, only 29% of books about African/African American people were written by Black authors/illustrators. Often it is better to understand another person’s experiences best when seeing it and hearing from them, not an outside source. It’s because of this fact that the work of Black authoris is so important: their work is a window into a world that others cannot experience on their own.

The history of black literature dates all the way back to the 18th century. The Black Arts Movement  began in 1965 when poet Amiri Baraka established the Black Arts Repertory Theater in Harlem, New York, as a place for artistic communication. Harlem, New York is known as the ‘hotspot’ for black arts especially with it’s history of the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of African American culture, particularly in the creative arts, and the most influential movement in African American literary history.

Famous black authors and artists such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Alex Haley, Jacob Lawrence, James Baldwin, and others have had a huge impact on inspiring and opening doors for the next generation of African artists. 

“African American literature explores the issues of freedom and equality long denied to Africans in the United States, along with further themes such as African-American culture, racism, religion, slavery, art, a sense of home, segregation, migration, feminism, and more” –  Princeton University professor Albert J. Raboteau. Although Princeton University is not a HBCU (historically black college and university), it partners with HBCUs frequently for support. HBCUs have some of the best art programs in the United States. The best arts program in the United States is offered by HBCU Howard University in Washington D.C.

African American literature ranges from poems of freedom like “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou to fantasy world series like “The Belles” by Dhonielle Clayton. African American arts and literature are very diverse. Black authors frequently invite a widespread audience, not just fellow Africans. 

With the help of the public, Manchester can give black artists the attention that they deserve. Here at Manchester High School library. you can support black authors by picking up a book written by black authors such as Dhonille Clayton! As well as boosting black artist algorithms on social media. By adventuring through black arts, you can see the world through a black person’s point of view without the stereotypes established for centuries and support another person’s dream; all in the name of art. 

“Black art has always existed, It just hasn’t been looked for in the right places” –Romare Bearden.