African American Literature in the 21st Century and in the Context of American Literary History

Abstract： This paper is composed of two parts， respectively prepared by Prof. Jerry Ward， Jr. on Oct 6， 2021， for an online lecture to the faculty members and graduates of Central China Normal University， and on May 22， 2019， as a contribution to our journal of Foreign Language and Literature Research. Prof. Ward provides rich insights into the African American literature in the 21st century by exploring continuity and change， and the key features of the ongoing production， especially by referring to five 21st-century writers. Meanwhile Prof. Ward revisits the literary history of USA and casts new light on African American literature from the perspectives of ethos and ethnos. Thus this paper demonstrates some thought-provoking explorations into the major issues the studies of African American literature is confronted in the new century.

Key  words： African American literary; major features; literary history of USA; ethos; ethnos

Author： Jerry W. Ward， Jr.， a Richard Wright scholar， taught for 32 years （1970-2002） at Tougaloo College and for a decade （2002-2012） at Dillard University. He is the author of THE KATRINA PAPERS： A Journal of Trauma and Recovery （2008）， The China Lectures （2014）， Fractal Song： Poems （2016） and Blogs and Other Writing （2018）. He edited Trouble the Water： 250 Years of African-American Poetry （1997） and co-edited Redefining American Literary History （1990）， Black Southern Voices （1992）， The Richard Wright Encyclopedia （2008） and The Cambridge History of African American Literature （2011）. He lives and writes in New Orleans， Louisiana.

标题：21世纪和美国文学史双重语境中的美国非裔文学

内容摘要：本文由杰瑞·沃德教授于2021年10月6日为华中师范大学在线讲座文稿和他为《外国语文研究》杂志撰写于2019年5月22日的短文组成。（剩余25822字）