Black Writers of the 20th Century Essay - 975 Words

Literature has played an important role in society throughout history, the written word being a powerful tool in communicating ideas. This became even more important during the 20th century, when many people were trying to persuade others or share their emotions and histories. The black movements in the United States made use of this tool, many authors coming out and becoming part of the fabric of society. Three authors in particular, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, and Richard Wright became some of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century, owing to their own history and life experiences to give life and meaning to their works. Ralph Ellison is one of the more influential writers of the early 20th century in North†¦show more content†¦Not having a stable life, he moved around a lot as a child, taking many different jobs in an effort to help his family make ends meet. By the time he was 13, he was getting interested in literature and began writing his ow n stories. His first story appeared in a local magazine within a year, giving Wright his first publication as an author and opening him up to the world of writing in the early 20th century. The most well-known of the three black authors, Langston Hughes is mentioned as an influence on many other authors, including Ralph Ellison and Richard Wright, among others. Born in Joplin, Missouri on 1 February 1902, Hughes was unfortunate to see in life to see so much separation and strife in his family. His parents were divorced when he was still very young, causing him to live with his grandmother until he was 13, at which point he went on to Lincoln, Illinois to live with his mother, and then eventually moved on to Cleveland, Ohio. By 1924, he relocated to Washington D.C. Where he became an important part of the Harlem Renaissance. He began his college education at Columbia University, took a hiatus where he wrote a book of poetry, then completed his remaining three years at Lincoln Univers ity in Pennsylvania. Hughes would later go on to become a very well-known author and poet. Though the three authors were all from different backgrounds, they all had similarShow MoreRelatedNative Writers And Intellectuals Presented The Time1362 Words   |  6 PagesRaquel Spencer Antebellum black writers and intellectuals presented the time as one that not only required defending the people’s rights to merely exist as citizens in America but also desperately called for proving that blacks were even a part of the human race. With scientific racism emerging out of the 18th century enlightenment, European influences on racial classification had permeated the minds of white slavery advocates and intellectuals. 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