Why the lack of African American authors?

[Tia C.]

I'm new to this, but in reviewing the author's list on the home page I noticed how lacking this site is in acknowledging the contributions of major African American writers. I was pretty shocked to see no Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison or Toni Morrison on this list. Am I missing something? Are there perimeters to being included on this list that I'm unaware of?

[MystyrMystyry]

It's up to you to begin the thread

Everyone else around here is caught up in their own obsessions and don't have enough time to spread themselves too thinly

I think it'd be great if Ellison had his own thread - he's the only one on your list that I've read - and every bit as deserving as all the others on theirs

I'd do it myself but I'm too caught up in my own obsessions and don't have enough time to spread myself too thinly...

[OrphanPip]

The list only contains authors whose work is in the public domain, we have threads on all those authors in poetry and general literature, you have to search for them though.

Most African American authors emerged after the Harlem Renaissance, so they aren't public domain.

Edit: Frederick Douglas is on the list, as his work is public domain. I don't think there are any other African American authors on the list though.

[Syd A]

Are there perimeters to being included on this list that I'm unaware of?

I'd love to hear your theory about those "perimeters". Please share.

[Scheherazade]

The list only contains authors whose work is in the public domain, we have threads on all those authors in poetry and general literature, you have to search for them though.This is pretty much it.

Having said that, we are always adding new authors/works to the list; it is an on-going process.

If you would like to discuss a particular author, please feel free to start a discussion thread in the General Literature section.

[Jozanny]

Invisible Man is discussed frequently in the forums, and I read a significant selection of African American literature, though I have not yet tried Philadelphia's hard urban contemporary novels. Feel free to raise your voice.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58434&highlight=Invisible

[hanzklein]

Why are authors being given their own forums? There's less active users than there are forums for authors and their works and, indeed, many of the forums have 0 posts.

[AlfredtheGreat]

Why not?

[oshima]

I always wondered what the criteria for the Author thread section was. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. And why the hell is there no James Baldwin section in the author section?!:willy_nilly:(jk)

[crackery]

Why are authors being given their own forums? There's less active users than there are forums for authors and their works and, indeed, many of the forums have 0 posts.

yup,I wish they can get together for more creative thoughts

[BienvenuJDC]

One of the biggest problems in America these days is that some people think that everything is racially motivated. THAT in itself is racist.

[billl]

Looks like a misunderstanding--a person might reasonably expect such a collection to be simply the website's "opinion" about who the major figures were. The public domain thing isn't on everyone's radar, and some people might be looking at online literature for the first time, maybe just bought an e-reader or something.

I remember experiencing a similar confusion probably 8-10 years ago (or whenever the first time I saw this sort of collection of public domain materials), about how some certain author wasn't included somewhere, and we see people suggesting more current authors all the time.

Anyhow, the OP was *sort of* measured (but maybe? had a little heat behind the scenes, imagining the worst maybe...). It's been a while now, and I don't know if she'll read any of this. But it'd be a shame if she checked back and decided not to participate in the forums because people were kicking her when she was down.

A misunderstanding producing unnecessary expression(s) of outrage...

[tonywalt]

One of the things i enjoy about this forum is the lack of media drivin political correctness. Please let us not start a sort of reparation driven apolegist type attitude here.

[billl]

Let's not start imagining one, either. Welcome to Litnet (I see it's your third post), you can talk about things besides race if they interest you, as well.