AFAM lit key words

gallows literature

a form of criminal confession usually written when someone is going to be put to death. ex: Mark (dying words of Mark)

autobiography

a work that is an account of someone’s life written/told by them. ex: Belinda (belindas petition)

captivity narrative

a 1st person account of being captured and experiences of being held. ex: Britton Hammon (narrative of the uncommon sufferings)

ballad

a poem in short stanzas that tell a story to an intended audience. ex: Lucy Terry (bar fight AABB rhyme scheme)

Salvation

being saved through faith in Jesus. ex: Jupiter Hammon (an evening thought)

American Revolution

a war when the 13 colonies wanted to gain independence from Great Britain. ex: Lemuel Haynes (battle of Lexington)

Author

the writer of a written work. ex: Phillis Wheatley (people signed document saying it was her work)

elegy

a song or poem grieving someone who died. ex: Phillis wheatley (on the death of mr. george whitefield)

ode

a positive celebration of life to remember someone’s life. ex: Phillis Wheatley (to maecenas)

middle passage

passage through the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Americas. ex: Equiano (the interesting narrative of Equiano)

merchant

someone who sells items for profit or other items. ex: Venture Smith (sold for liquor and cloth: a narrative of the life and adventures of venture)

capitalism

an economic system with private ownership where goods are produced. ex: Venture Smith (made a lot of money in US capitalistic economy)

miscegenation

marriage/having children with someone of a different racial identity. ex: Theresa (had a black mother and white father, mother always worried about outcomes)

Haitian revolution

the uprising of the Haitian people against the french for freedom. ex: Theresa (whole account was during the Haitian revolution and she gave important info to the government)

manifesto

a statement that outlines someones/some parties beliefs and plans. ex: David Walker (in his appeal he wants African americans to stand up against slavery)

enlightenment

a period with significant scientific advances leading to new ideas and technology. ex: David Walker (his ideas of self goverance and natural rights was inspired by this)

dignity

the quality of being respectable and giving the same to others. ex: maria stewart (wants women to be seen as more than servants in lect at boston hall)

colonization

settling/moving to an already inhabited area usually by indigenous people of the area. ex: Maria Stewart (wants colonization to slow down because it enslaves more afam leading to less respect)