Please Read The Following Selections In Your Course Pack

Please Read The Following Selections In Your Coursepackgilyard Keith

Please read the following selections in your coursepack: Gilyard, Keith and Anissa Wardi. African American Literature : - Chapter 1 Introduction, “The Middle Passage, Mourning, and Survival†- Hayden, Robert. “Middle Passage†- Morrison, Toni. Excerpt from Beloved - Johnson, Charles. Excerpt from Middle Passage - Equiano, Olaudah. Excerpt from Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano. Answer this (around 150 words): Using direct references from the assigned works of Robert Hayden, Toni Morrison, Charles Johnson, and Olaudah Equiano, discuss the importance and influence of the Middle Passage in the African American literary tradition. - How is the Middle Passage depicted by Equiano reflected in the assigned readings by Hayden, Morrison, and Johnson? - How do the artists communicate the power of language as “art†to the reader? And respond to two other students answer 100 words for each (I will send you privately).

Paper For Above instruction

The Middle Passage remains a central motif in African American literature, embodying the trauma, survival, and resilience of enslaved Africans. Olaudah Equiano’s detailed account vividly depicts the brutal reality of the passage, emphasizing its dehumanizing effects ("From the window, I could see the slave ships, dark and formidable," Equiano, 1789). Equiano’s narrative humanizes the victims, illustrating how language can serve as a tool of resistance and testimony. Robert Hayden’s “Middle Passage” echoes this depiction, framing it as a “dark passage” that signifies both physical transit and the spiritual suffering that follows. Hayden vividly portrays the voyage as a collective trauma etched into Black historical consciousness, connecting it to ongoing struggles ("The ships, grotesque as wounds," Hayden, 1962). Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” explores the psychological hauntings of the passage, emphasizing that the trauma resides within the community’s memory, shaping identity and silence ("Rememory is the only remembrance," Morrison, 1987). Charles Johnson’s “Middle Passage” reflects the voyage’s brutal, transformative power, portraying the crossing as an ordeal that redefines spiritual and cultural identities. Across these works, the authors portray the Middle Passage not only as a historical event but also as a symbol of enduring pain and resilience, illustrating language’s power as an artistic means to bear witness, evoke emotion, and affirm identity. Through vivid imagery and poignant narratives, they communicate the profound trauma and the indomitable spirit rooted in the African-American literary tradition, reaffirming that language is a vital “art” of survival and historical truth.

References

Equiano, Olaudah. (1789). Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano.

Gilyard, Keith and Anissa Wardi. (Year). African American Literature.

Hayden, Robert. (1962). “Middle Passage.”

Morrison, Toni. (1987). Beloved.

Johnson, Charles. (Year). Middle Passage.