Introduction

Abstract

Introduction Karen Patricia Smith (bio) It is with great pleasure that I present to you a special section devoted to Black literature for children. The Black tradition in literature embraces the images, emotions and ideals of a people whose present identity, while grounded in the realities of that present, encompasses the dreams, actions and accomplishments of a vibrant heritage. This is a heritage which continues to witness various stages of recognition in the eyes of the world, not always in the progressive sense, but always within the context of continuous social struggle. It is a heritage which calls upon the traditions of Africa, the Carribean, South and Central America, the United States and indeed all of the world's lands where Black culture has flourished. Within the experience of the Afro-American lies the grace of creative possibility; the artist gives voice to that possibility through words or illustrations, the vocal or visual affirmation of what was, what is and what can be. In her essay "On Being a Black Writer in America," Virginia Hamilton speaks of the Black experience and how her heritage has influenced her work for young people. She states her belief in the value of sharing that heritage and its realities with all people through the vehicle of the literary gift: What being black means is a constant in myself and my work. It is the belief in the importance of past and present Afro-American life to the multi-ethnic fabric of the hopescape and the necessity of making that life known to all Americans. It is the belief in the preservation of the life and literature, the documentary history in schools and libraries for succeeding American generations. It is the imaginative use of language and ideas to illuminate a human condition, so that we are reminded then again to care who these black people are, where they come from, how they dream, how they hunger, what they want. (Hamilton 17) The roots of Black tradition are strongly connected to African lore. Waterman and Bascom in an article in Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, comment upon both the present wide distribution of the beliefs connected with African lore as well as its resilience in survival ability (Waterman and Bascom 18). Some of the stories associated with the traditions are widely known. Others remain virtually unknown to westerners. The folklore of the Luo people of East Africa, for example, is not well known in the Western world. The Luo have a rich tradition which includes the art of riddling and the sharing of proverbs and beast tales. The tricksters, Hare and Hyena, also play major roles in Luo folklore (Onyango-Oguto and Roscoe 30). The figure of Hare appears in many African traditions and has also been transplanted to North America. When he appears, Hare is often realized as a character who is able to overcome any supposed physical weakness and, through his wits, is able to get the better of adversaries even though they might be physically stronger than he is. Wits are an important attribute in African folk-tale tradition. Among the Ibo and Yoruba people of Nigeria, the trickster Tortoise is a prominent figure. He is so popular here that an entire collection entitled Twilight and the Tortoise by Akinsemoyin, chronicles his escapades (Onyango-Oguto and Roscoe 30). Anansi, also known as "The Spider," as well as by several other names in various regions, is a well known trickster figure from West Africa who also figures prominently in the Carribean as well as Afro-American traditions. An article by Carla Hayden and Helen Kay Raseroka, "The Good and the Bad: Two Novels of South Africa," and a second article by Meena Khorana, "Apartheid in South African Children's Fiction," seek to give fresh perspectives on literature created for South African children. The actions of the government of the turbulent and deeply troubled Republic shall continue for some time to raise powerful political and social issues. Literature often provides an important forum in which conflicting belief systems are pitted one against the other. In addition to the artistic considerations, literature can be a potent socializing tool for all, and...