Southern Land in Afro-American Literature Essay Example

beyond this conceptualization.The South also represents family and community ties alongside a love for one's homeland. Margaret Walker expresses her deep connection to the Southern land in her poem "Southern Song," reclaiming her soul from this region.Maya Angelou and Gloria Naylor explore the natural beauty of the South through their writings.
The authors acknowledge the contribution of the sun, fields, and grass to their vitality and strength. Angelou specifically mentions Stamps as a place filled with sensory experiences. Both authors recognize that their native land, people, and family offer essential support in overcoming obstacles despite any difficulties they may face. The African-American community shares a strong bond with the South, often contrasting it with the North when considering their roots. Naylor's novels depict this contrast as she was born in New York but ultimately returns to her native land. In her work "Mama Day," she delves into the ancient mysteries and wisdom embodied by Mama Day. Naylor also reflects on the ownership of Southern land and asserts their claim to it through their ancestors' struggles during slavery even before they were recognized as Americans. She emphasizes strong intergenerational connections forged through shared fates and maintained unity and faith. While the South holds great spiritual and material significance, it has also been marked by tragic events. Jean Toomer's and Claude McKay's works juxtapose the beauty and importance of the landscape with gruesome scenes such as "The ghastly body swaying in the sun" (McKay). Like enslaved black individuals in other countries, those in America regarded the American South as their sacred birthplace which transformed into a site of both anguish and refuge for discovering solace and independence.Despite facing

over a century of hardship and challenges, Afro-American writers have successfully incorporated these core principles into their literary works. As a result, they have created an extensive and diverse collection of writings that evoke various emotions but undoubtedly leave no one indifferent. Throughout this difficult journey, the Southern region has remained steadfast as both the origin and source of moral strength for a nation that ultimately achieved its liberation.