United States, all slaves from Africa. Darwin has been called Africa "the cradle of humanity", the original ancient history and ancient culture. Famous black American historian Dubois said: "No doubt, the 15th century the cultural level of the African black people, than the same period of the Nordic cultural level is high." 〔3〕, however, blacks in Africa are trafficked to the North American mainland, has become a "talking tool", deprived of all human rights, of course, not to mention the learning culture of education 〔4〕. Their lives in Africa, the original side of the labor side of the habit of singing, was later taken away as slaves when the colonists, it was in the southern United States plantation fields work in shackles, in the humble slaves lived small room, rarely in the deserted swamp and jungles to the ... ... to create a valuable oral literature - including hymns, sad song, folk songs, including the black slaves - and thus to the American culture has made an outstanding contribution.

    However, like Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, these slaves through their own struggle, not only to learn the culture, but also on the run after the pen is also used as a weapon, vocal opposition, and actively participate to waste time slavery movement, the abolition of slavery a positive public opinion. Slaves as slave owners who do not always look, depending on the Negro as inferior races and therefore capable of black slaves on slave literature itself is a refutation of the lie, let alone their literary creations, many rich in ideological content, has a certain artistic skills, prove worthy of a long African-American cultural tradition of outstanding people. During this period an abolitionist literature black literature has long been dominated not been given due attention, until 80 years of this century, William Andrews (William L. Andrews) and other black scholars initiative, fishes it made re-evaluation, or even that the 19th century to the 50's 40's Black Renaissance literature is first black 〔5〕.

Two

    America's most famous and most important one is the so-called Negro Renaissance "Harlem Renaissance"(Harlem Renaissance), the time is after the First World War known as the "Jazz Age ", 20 years, location is the first in the United States New York, big city black neighborhoods Hallam.

    Large-scale occurrence of such a far-reaching influence of the Renaissance nature has its historical background. First, the Civil War Chilebaizhang the southern United States is being rebuilt in a small number of racist incitement, the nation's racial oppression of blacks and discrimination intensified, coupled with successive years of poor harvests of cotton, and finally forced the black people have moved to northern cities. Just north of the city also need black labor force, especially during World War I (spurred by the war industry, not the war of foreign immigrants to the United States) There was a famous American history "Great Migration." 10 years after the war, the northern black population in several large cities almost doubled. Large concentration of blacks in the city, life has improved, with educational opportunities, but also have a wide range of conditions for carrying out cultural activities. Secondly, the black nationalist movement after World War II high, the majority of African Americans in the famous leader of Du Bois and other leaders, social consciousness and political awareness has greatly improved, and thus increase their sense of national pride. Black folk music from this period developed on the basis of jazz swept the country, blacks can be their own artistic creations were re-valuation, the theme of black life, work becomes more and more readers. Northern cities was New York's Harlem district is the largest black community, the country's best black artists and writers have focused almost there, so 20 years of the Black Renaissance Movement is a natural center to Harlem unfolded, influence soon spread throughout the country.

    The main content of the Harlem Renaissance to combat racism, critical and negative docile Uncle Tom-type image of the old Negro, to encourage black writers praised the new artistic creation in the black, to establish a new image of black people. New Negro Movement was the main advocate leaders won the Rhodes scholarship for his doctorate at Harvard University, a famous black scholar Island Locke (Alain Locke), he edited and published in 1925 a comprehensive young black poetry, Prose, drama, fiction anthology title "New Negro: an interpretation " （The New Negro: An Interpretation），At the time of the black literary world has played a big impact. Locke's lengthy preamble in the book that old black man will not be treated as, non-personal, just a shadow. Negro folk songs along with the Negro spiritual, popular in the United States, racial discrimination, the chains have been shattered, blacks have a new self-esteem and independent personality, the collective development of African Americans will enter a new period of spiritual maturity is the period . As the new Negro movement is the main content of the Harlem Renaissance, so some people called the New Negro Renaissance in the Renaissance （New Negro Renaissance）.

    In the Black Renaissance also expand the "art or propaganda," the discussion. Dubois, represented by the faction that "all art is propaganda, and always will be," 〔6〕, and the faction represented by Locke emphasized that "Art should be chosen to abandon propaganda" and that "the United States is the best Pastor, hymns, sermons more effective than the "〔7〕. Most black writers at that time accepted Locke's view, although the result of individual black writers to the extreme, the development of the "art for art" aesthetic tendencies, but this time for 10 years did a large-scale cultural movements increased African American Literature in the level of emergence of a group like Jientuma (Jean Toomer), g Lauder McKay (Claude Mckay), Hong ladder Karen (Countee Cullen), James Islamic Princeton * Hughes (James Langston Hughes) and other outstanding writers in the African American literary history has set a monumental milestone. McKay wrote a famous sonnet, that "if we must die, we must die valuable, and live our noble blood shed ... ... Although Zhongguaxuanshu, we have very heroic, with a fatal thousand hit hit back at the enemy! even before we open the grave, but so is anything? as a man, but timid in the face of violent gangs, even if we are forced to foot of the wall, but also desperate resistance! "This poem published After nearly 20 years, to the beginning of World War II, the British retreat from Dunkirk Chilebaizhang, then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Parliament the report had quoted the poem as to boost morale, the poem has subsequently become call fighting the war against fascism, often passed down. There can also be seen from the Harlem Renaissance has its success and impact.

    The Black Renaissance of course has its limitations. Its occurrence and development of literary and art circles to open a large extent by the funding 〔8〕 sensible, and only a small number of black literature and art participants, the majority of black people do not even know the Negro Renaissance in this world, not talk to participate into the the 〔9〕. American black poet Don Lee (Don L. Lee) said that due to the limitations of its own, the black literary movement 20 years from the start, his death notice 〔10〕. African-American scholar James Emmanuel (James A. Emanuel) put more images: "But the 'New Negro' and slowly died. 30 years, depression made him lose strength. 40 years, World War II to he was exhausted, but also changed his rehabilitation play a decisive role for his attitude to life. 50 years, from time to time the wave of ethnic unity deceived him, made him believe his death has been of secondary importance by comparison. 60 years after the start of his grandchildren from a red bus in the south and dirty rice on the counter next to him waving terrible and made a respectable farewell. the early 70s, they threw away his clothes , hair and name. they, as 'young black' appears, because of his past and become fanatical, decided to make no compromise on the requirements of the future. "〔11〕 In other words, as a central element of the Harlem Renaissance New Negro Sports (New Negro Movement) in the 30's ended, its effects gradually disappear, to the early 70s was another new black movement (New Black Movement) is replaced, the campaign battle in the new black is black, or black fighter (Black Militants).   

Three

    After World War II, international and domestic situation has changed considerably. About 80 million African Americans after the war from around the world return, they experience the war, an increase of knowledge, spirit world played a significant change. The U.S. government is also improving race relations under great domestic pressure, President Truman had in 1946 ordered the establishment of Commission on Civil Rights, the Commission's report in the following year made 34 recommendations to the black people integrated into the mainstream of American life . Internationally, it is African countries have been independent after the war, their national independence movement a great impact on African Americans, to encourage the development of black nationalism. Si Qianzeng prominent black writer Richard Wright to the newly independent countries of Africa tour, and later wrote a book account of his trip to Africa, the book, called "black power" 〔12〕, was just a symbol, but In the mid-60s, "Black Power" is the new black movement as a rallying cry, have a deeper meaning.

    Roughly speaking, after the Second World War, the development of African American Literature can be broadly summarized as: the rise of Richard Wright 40 years, blacks dominate the literary scene a decade, a huge influence on his famous novel "Native Son, "the protagonist Bigger Become a model for urban black youth. American critic Irving Howe (Irving Howe) said: "" Native Son "published that day, American culture was changed forever. " 〔13〕 prominent black scholar Bo Creighton Jackson in his "African-American Outline of literature "in the 40's to 1957, the period known as the " Wright Time "(Age of Wright), said that the impact of Wright on the African-American literature is unparalleled. 〔14〕

    African-American civil rights movement 50 years post-seeking ethnic unity and literature of African-American literature is required to become part of mainstream American literature, emphasizing the black writers should also have and affect the white readers. For his doctorate at the emergence of a black youth 〔15〕 critics, literary criticism to white black creative community standards. 50's most prominent black writers Ellison (Ralph Ellison) and Baldwin (James Baldwin), they are in the race based on one's creative thinking. For example, critics are white pedestal of Ellison's masterpiece, "Invisible Man" （Invisible Man, 1952), is both a social protest, the situation of racial discrimination in the United States has been exposed and criticized, but also used symbolism to the plight of African Americans extended to all mankind in the oppressed and victims of discrimination. He claimed that he first person, followed by blacks. Baldwin is in his creation to explore the spiritual crisis of black people, his characters almost want to save themselves through sexual relations.

    60 eventful years of the United States. Calm surface of the 50's and Daniel Bell called the "ideological vacuum", 〔16〕 birth to 60 years of political turmoil and the outbreak of various trends of thought in general. Racial discrimination caused by the continuous struggle of black uprising, which shook the American society, also contributed to the nationalist ideology of black Americans. In the 50's, many blacks criticized some of the literary critic are shown by black writers tend to ethnic chauvinism, this criticism has also been praised his own black people, black literature is considered a sign of maturity. But to the 60's, the struggle in the black uprising under the influence of the rapid growth of black nationalism, "separatists" (separatism) became fashionable slogan, but also a 60's radical feature of black literature 〔17〕. American left-wing literary critic Morris Dickstein that a different skin color was due to the fact that black assimilation goals, unless the implementation of large-scale mixed marriages, is unrealistic or impossible, and both large-scale mixed marriages Non-black nor white aspirations. Result, blacks started a fight for cultural autonomy movement toward promoting separatism and nationalism, which is 60 years of life and thought had a huge impact immeasurable. 〔18〕

    Dickstein said this "fight for the movement of cultural autonomy, "according to Horton and others say, is a "new Renaissance"(neo-Renaissance) 〔19〕, according to 罗伯特斯戴普 care (Robert Stepto) to say, was the third Negro Renaissance. 〔20〕    

Four

    Black Renaissance third broad and narrow from two areas to study. American literary critics this opinion. Here to talk about the narrow sense.

    From the narrow sense, is the third time Black Renaissance to the late 60s and early 70s in a political and social movements developed in parallel with the continuous development of social life in close contact with the black cultural movement. It not only promote the black "beauty"and stressed that blacks than whites, "superior. " It is a new attitude emphasizing cultural pride and cultural autonomy, central to the uniqueness of Black Power (Black Power) of cultural nationalism, and advocated "black aesthetic"(Black Aesthetic) separatism. It is a break with the old civil rights movement, "Black Revolution"(Black Revolution), but also a complete elimination of "nigger consciousness"(nigger-consciousness) of the "New Negro Movement " 〔21〕.

    "Black Power" and "black nationalism" was originally to Elijah Muhammad and the Maldives 科姆爱克斯 led "Black Muslim" (Black Muslin) claims. Mohammed claimed that the origin of man in the black and white only a few thousand years ago, scientists from the bulk of the devil Jacob nurtured the formation of race. 〔22〕 he was a famous 1965 speech emphasized the black people have a long history and culture, but under the influence of African Americans in slavery knew nothing about. Should now be a cultural revolution, the black people of the United States to conduct a "anti-brainwashing" (de-brainwashing), and thus to rediscover themselves. In the struggle for freedom, culture is an indispensable weapon. 〔23〕 Negro Renaissance is the third time such a cultural revolution, that is outstanding proclaim the superiority of the black race, "Black Cultural Nationalism" (Black Cultural Nationalism).

    On "Black Power", Malcolm Love Alex was assassinated in 1965, some of his speech several times before mentioned. 〔24〕 Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 席斯托克利卡 Michael (Stokely Carmichael) in 1966 in a student demonstration was used as a slogan, the concentrated expression of African-American ethnic groups in political, economic, social, and cultural requirements. May Day 1966, the day view of the various organizations and individuals on the "black power" has a different interpretation, we considered it necessary to convene a national conference to unify their understanding, the meeting was in July 1966 at 20-23 Newark meeting, attended by representatives from more than 400 people across the country, meeting on the "black power" through a number of resolutions, including the introduction of black capitalism (such as the establishment of black-controlled banks, insurance companies, etc.), expanding the number of black politicians (House of Representatives election campaign in 12 blacks), the establishment of training schools black political activist, advocating black liberation struggle and the black youth paramilitary training. 〔25〕

    Lawrence Neil talking about the Black Arts Movement of the famous article that "black art" is a "black power" in the aesthetic and spiritual twin sisters, both in fact and spirit that the existence of two United States - white and black; both reflect the African American national demands autonomy and a strong desire for national independence. "Black Power" is one of the main meaning of the black nation must use their own ideas to explain the world, blacks are required to establish their own artistic aesthetics. 〔26〕 Although the "black Digest" (later renamed the "black world"), the head of Fuller (Hoyt W. Fuller) that a committee should be established to determine the "black aesthetic" is defined, but most radical view of the basic black writers converge. Neil believes that Western aesthetics has been the decline of traditional Western history and cultural values can not be modified or can only be completely destroyed. Black artist must stand on the position of the oppressed, the oppressed and the Third World, together with the strongest words to destroy the white ideology and white world view, established to serve the cause of black emancipation of the black aesthetic. Guy, carried out in his series of "black aesthetics" preamble, said: "Today's black critics, the problem is not a song, a play, a poem or a novel, how the United States, but in this poem, the song, the play, or whether this novel has changed the lives of individual blacks, how much it changed the United States? this works in the real transformation of an American Negro played a number of African Americans in the role? Therefore, the black aesthetic is a transformation agent - to help the black sludge from the American way of life to extricate themselves. "〔27〕 Karenga, in his famous" Black Cultural Nationalism, "one article began by saying:" Black Arts Black society as all other like services must be the reality of the revolution. ... ... The most important criterion for evaluation is the art of social standards, as all art must reflect and support the black revolution. "he repeatedly stressed that" black aesthetic "should be black revolutionary tools and media. 〔28〕

    Of course, critics in the United States against the "black aesthetic"and the number of people either. White opinion (the "Saturday Review"and "New York Review of Books, "the critics as the representative) a voice of opposition, and there are black writers among the opposition. For example, prominent black scholars Reading (Saunders Redding) that "aesthetics is no racial, ethnic and geographic boundaries. beauty and truth as a major component of aesthetics, is universal. " famous black poet Hayden (Robert Hayden) even think that the so-called "Black Aesthetics "is the racist propaganda under the guise of unrealistic. 〔29〕

    Accompanied by a "black aesthetic"and"Black Arts Movement" flourished mainly poetry, followed by drama, and then followed by short stories. Although the emergence of a group was excellent, there are militant 〔30〕 short stories, but their works do not fully reflect the "black aesthetic"theory.

    60's black revolutionary drama is the famous black poet 勒洛伊琼斯 Lord (later changed 名阿米里巴拉卡) and the Black Panthers minister of culture had been a black dramatist 艾德布林斯 (Ed Bullins). 60 years fighting the black uprising sparked nationalist sentiment Jones, from the mid 60's goal to shift against the bourgeoisie, against the white race, and more to art as a "weapon." The spring of 1965, he and some like-minded black artists 〔31〕 founded the Black Arts in New York theater and school, the streets of the black people in Harlem staged a series of revolutionary drama, but also performances and band performances, concerts, poetry readings. These activities soon attracted the attention of the authorities, and soon the police an excuse for possession of arms in the theater building, the school closed, the government has also withdrawn financial aid. Although the Black Arts Theater and School life is not long, but a significant influence. Create a new trend of not only prompted many black theaters have a similar black area in the establishment of major cities, but also to promote the "Black Arts Movement" development. Don Lee even said: "60 years is the national Black Arts Movement in the 勒洛伊琼斯 (Ami Reba La) and under the influence of black theater began." 〔32〕

    Black Renaissance in the third most prominent achievements of black poetry. Emerged at that time a large number of prominent black poets 〔33〕, most of them by the "black aesthetic " impact of the poetry as a political declaration and the weapons to fight, mainly to write a collective, revolutionary writing, writing career, rather than writing the romantic . Older generation of black poets, there are many to be the revolutionary atmosphere of the infection, changed his political position and creation. For example, in 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner Brooks (Gwendolyn Brooks) in 1967 to attend the Second Black Writers Conference, the poet of the revolution by the vigor of the infected participants in the political and creative have played a great change. Her autobiography （Report from Part One, 1972）Wrote that she heard at the meeting a "new tone, it will be a scream in the black culture, an increasingly strong anger." Black poetry of this period is also a breakthrough in the art, it absorbs some of the 50's poetry features (such as the Beat poet frank sent word sentences, not taboo to use bad language; Another example is the poet in the form of follow Montenegro projection of poetry, a free meter, and the poet's breath to measure syllable and verse, to replace the traditional audio-step) and to be innovative and to meet the combat needs, usually reciting poetry, reading, often also with improvisation 〔34〕. Contemporary American poet Donald Hall, the sixties and seventies evaluate the achievements of black poetry movement, said: "Poetry is not a black object of Marxism, Surrealism, nor is any other labels can be summed up. It is written reality ... write poetry ... the character of poetry, described as courage, struggle and gentle sort of quality. I guess, we in this century and the last 1 / 3 of the best American poetry by African-American poet to write the majority. "〔 35 〕

    With the early 70s national economic recession, the third narrow Negro Renaissance or New Negro movement ended. Cultural autonomy and national pride, after all, can not eat in the United States set up an independent black state, after all, is unrealistic dream. Always assume every African American in most of the weight of the recession, many radical black fighters in the difficult reality of life hit a wall, less and less people separatists. In addition, the black extremist fighters in combat operations and slogans are also scared of the black middle class and intellectuals, many of them into the new conservatism. But there are also Baraka such as seeking a small number of black writers turned to the Marxist revolutionary truth, calling the black art to continue to serve the cause of the liberation of black people.

    In short, the 60's the new black movement of the impact is enormous. African American youth participated in the battle 60 years almost all the radical movements - student anti-war movement, the New Left movement, feminist movement, and so on - and in the movement made outstanding contributions. They expressed to the American ruling class, the long-suppressed anger, which shares their anger away from Africa to America when forced into slavery had existed for centuries as the pendulum seems to sometimes broke, sometimes hidden, sometimes into Underground, but if the hidden dangers of racial discrimination and racial oppression are not completely eliminated, it would be as Baldwin, in his said in a famous essay that: "The next will be fire. "   

Five

    Researchers are also some African American Literature Black Renaissance on the third time and a different view content. In general, they all agreed the importance and impact of Wright, New Black also agreed to 60 years the importance of exercise, use it as an important third element of the Black Renaissance, but they think should be from a broader perspective To study the Renaissance.

    Gus white Americans than his critics not more than 300 pages long monograph of the Black Renaissance 〔36〕, said that from 1964 to the early 70s this time to Black Arts Movement as the center of the cultural movement, although Have their place, but the Black Renaissance should be based on Wright as a pioneer, including the entire 40,50,60,70 age. The book also devotes a chapter of the Wright, Ellison, Baldwin and others in the creation.

    Jackson said the famous black writer, he could not accept the black separatism, white racism as he could not accept the same. He also opposed the reference to another Negro Renaissance, in which he proposes to the "Black American Literature Outline"in the Harlem Renaissance recognized only to the development of American literature is divided into six periods, the fourth period is the "Halle Farm Renaissance ", the fifth period is the Wright era (1940-1957), the sixth period is the"black warriors "(1957 to the early 70s.) 〔37〕

    Both black and white American academic critics within the African-American Renaissance, three different views held by much, but through a series of cultural movement, African Americans never really literate nation, no culture, become a slave to the American culture of excellence contribution of ethnic minorities, African American literature has been subject to discrimination even though so far has also been excluded from the mainstream of American literature outside, but the black poetry and black theater today has become the most vital in American Literature, the most energetic of the wealth factor, it is recognized fact. Black woman writer in 1983, Alice Walker's novel "Purple" won the Pulitzer Prize that year, the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award three awards, more proof of black writers of talent, good will in black literature American Literature from the increasingly important role.    

Notes ：

〔1〕 "Collected Works of Lenin, " Vol 22, page 13, People's Publishing House, 1958 edition.

〔2〕Jan Lucas by the Spanish first brought to Bath 凯恩德艾尔 the American continent more than 100 slaves revolted after the owner died. See Daniel P. Mannix and Malcolm Cowley: Black Cargoes: A History of the Atlantic Slave Trade (The Viking Press, 1962)，Page 54 .

〔3〕William Foster: "The Negro in American History", Joint Publishing 1960 edition, p. 5.

〔4〕Slaves came from black leaders see Douglas's autobiography 6 to 7, the kind hostess taught him a few letters that her husband had been reprimanded, preaching slave literacy is not only illegal but also dangerous. Douglas then took to the streets only to purchase arms secretly hides a savings of bread, given to street children as the white working class in exchange for teaching him read. See Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (Anchor Books edition, 1973) .

〔5〕见L. H. Stanton, “The Black Power Conference”, Liberator 7, No. 8 (August 1967); 以及“The Many Meanings of ‘Black Power’”，New York Times, July 23, 1967, section 4, Page 1 .

〔6〕Laurence P. (Larry) Neal, “Black Arts Movement”, The Drama Review，vol. 12, No. 4 (Summer 1968), pp. 31-37.

〔7〕The Black Aesthetic, Introduction, xxii.

〔8〕Ron Karenga, “Black Cultural Nationalism”, Negro Digest (January 1968).

〔9〕The Black Aesthetic, p. 380.

〔10〕Such as Paul Marshall, Loyle Harrison, Martin Hamer, Ernest Gaines, William Melvin Kelly and so on .

〔11〕They are Charles Patterson, William Patterson, Clarence Reed, John Moore and other black artists.

〔12〕Don L. Lee. “Toward a Definition: Black Poetry of the Sixties (After LeDoi Jones)”, The Black Aesthetic, p. 225.

〔13〕They are: AmiriBaraka, Don L. Lee, Etheridge Knight, Sonia Sanchez, Carolyn Rodgers, Norman Jordan, KeorapetseKgositsile, Nikki Giovanni, Charles L. Anderson, S.E. Anderson, Jayne Cortez, June Meyer, Andre Lorde, Sterling Plumpp, Mae Jackson, Julia Fields, Marvin X, Alicia L. Johnson, Jon Eckels, Charles K. Moreland, Jr., Rockie D. Taylor, Xavier Nicholas, AskiaMuhammedToure, Doc Long, Ted Joans, and Larry Neal.Younger generation is :David Henderson, Rolland Snellings, Lucille Clifton, Barbara D, Mahone, Zack Gilbert, Arthur Pfister, Jr., Ahmed LegrahamAlhamisi, Stanley Crouch, Jay Wright, Kirk Hall, Edward S. Spriggs, Ron Wellburn, Lance Jeffers, Carol Freeman, D.L. Graham, and Bob Hamilton.

〔14〕60's black poetry readings are often a "performance" （a “performance”），Poets can be like a trained actor, as his poetry using techniques to enhance the emotional effect. See #FK Backgrounds of American Literary Thought, #FS Page 584 .

〔15〕C. W. Bigsby, The Second Black Renaissance (Westport, Connecticnt: Greanwood Press, 1980).

〔16〕the waiting years, p. 199.