African and African American Literature

The theme that is prominent in this week’s readings of African and African American literature is identity. Chinua Achebe’s “Chike’s School Days” and Bessie Head’s “The Deep River” portray to readers the significance of names and how identity and deeper meanings are conveyed through them. Senghor’s poems and James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” express to readers the internal battles of African Americans who felt confused on what their identities were.

The topic of African and African American literature can be taught through the theme of identity and identity confusion. This week’s readings expressed feelings of confusion, anger, and excitement that were directly tied to the character’s search for their identities. White missionaries who came to Africa during the time that the stories, “Chike’s School Days” and “The Deep River”, were written in created a cultural divide amongst the African people. Some were excited to learn about the English customs and cultures and openly adapted to “the white man’s way” as Achebe described in his story. Others felt their own African identities were being erased by the English, as portrayed in Senghor’s poem “To New York”.

This clash of African and American cultures and identity confusion can be seen in so much of pop culture as it has affected society on a global scale despite happening so many years ago. It would be interesting to have students think about the implications of white missionaries trying to convert Africans that we see in the modern world today. Videos, songs, plays, photos, etc. all portray the consequences of what happened so many years ago to the African people.