Black History Month is upon us and it is time to reflect, recognize, and revere the numerous contributions that black authors have made to our society. Therefore, it is our pleasure to highlight some influential black authors (whose works we have in the stacks at Florida State University Special Collections and Archives).
Maya Angelou
- Occupation: poet, singer, activist
- Born: April 4, 1928
- Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
- Quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.”
- Famous Works: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1969), “And Still I Rise” (1978), “Phenomenal Women: Four Poems Celebrating Women” (1995)
- In Special Collections: “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” (1993) (Gontarski- PS3551.N464 L54 1993)
Langston Hughes
- Occupation: poet, novelist, playwright, activist
- Born: February 1, 1902
- Hometown: Joplin, Missouri
- Quote: “An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.”
- Famous Works: “I, Too” (1926), “Montage of a Dream Deferred” (1951), “The Weary Blues”(1926), “Let America be America Again” (1936)
- In Special Collections: “Shakespeare in Harlem” (1942) (Vault- PS3515.U274 S5), “Black Misery” (1969) (Gontarski- PS3515.U274 B5 1969), “The Dream Keeper and Other Poems” (1994) (Shaw- PS3515.U274 D74 1994), “One-Way Ticket” (1948) (Rare – PS3515.U274 O5), and more.
James Baldwin
- Occupation: novelist, playwright, poet, activist
- Born: August 2, 1924
- Hometown: Harlem, New York, New York
- Quote: “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”
- Famous Works: “The Fire Next Time” (1962), “If Beale Street Could Talk” (1974), “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (1953), “Notes of a Native Son” (1955)
- In Special Collections: “Letter from a Region in my Mind” (1962) (Rare- E185.61.B196), “School Readings by Grades” (1897) (Shaw – PE1117 .B281-B286 1897)
Alex Haley
- Occupation: writer
- Born: August 11, 1921
- Hometown: Ithaca, New York
- Quote: “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”
- Famous Works: “Queen: The Story of an American Family” (1993), “Mama Flora’s Family” (1997)
- In Special Collections: “Roots” (1976) (Rare- E185.97.H24 A33), “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” (1965) (Grove- E185.97.L5 A3 1966b)
Zora Neale Hurston
- Occupation: author, anthropologist, filmmaker
- Born: January 7, 1891
- Hometown: Notasulga, Alabama
- Quote: “Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”
- Famous Works: “How It Feels To Be Colored Me” (1928), “Sweat” (1926), “Mules and Men” (1935)
- In Special Collections: “Their Eyes Were Watching God” (1937) (Florida- PS3515. U789 T5 1969), “Dust Tracks on a Road: An Autobiography” (1942) (Florida- PS3515.U789 Z5 1971), “Tell My Horse”(1938) (Florida- F1886 .H87 1938), and more.
Toni Morrison
- Occupation: novelist, essayist, book editor, professor
- Born: February 18, 1931
- Hometown: Lorain, Ohio
- Quote: “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.”
- Famous Works: “Beloved” (1987), “Song of Solomon”(1977), “Sula” (1973)
- In Special Collections: “Five Poems” (2002) (Rare- oversize PS3563.O8749 A6 2002), “The Big Box” (1999) (Gontarski- PZ8.3.M836 Bi 1999), and more.
Pictured above are just a few of the pieces we have in Special Collections by these authors. (Slide 1: “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou, Slide 2-3: “Shakespeare in Harlem” by Langston Hughes and signed, Slide 4-6: “Letter from a Region in my Mind” by James Baldwin, Slides 7-9: “Five Poems” by Toni Morrison)
By no means is this an exhaustive list of the amazing black authors whose works we hold on our shelves. Here at SCA, we have a plethora of black literature including novels, poems, children’s books, and historical materials. Black History Month is the perfect time to delve into these works, so head to Special Collections in Strozier and let us know what you want to read. We look forward to seeing you here!
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