Sydney SteppBlack literature plays an important role in the cultural, political and educational scenes of the American South, specifically within the state of Mississippi and at the University of Mississippi.
Historically, there has been a significant lack of representation of Black authors in Mississippi. Whether it be lack of platform or purposeful oppression, most mainstream stories to come out of the state are written by white authors. UM Professor of English Adetayo Alabi spoke to the importance of Black literature in Mississippi and on campus.
“(The university) has a history of segregation and lots of representation through negative stories. Black authors are able to tell their stories (through literature),” Alabi said.
Though the university has a painful history regarding the treatment of Black people, including the well-known struggle to enroll James Meredith and more recently the relocation of a Confederate memorial, the community is making strides to remedy and learn from those mistakes.
Currently, the university boasts that the African American Studies Program “has been assigned the mission of investigating the history, culture and achievements of African Americans as members of American society via research and teaching,” according to the department website. The major requires a concentration in art, history, literature, music or public policy, which brings a multidisciplinary approach to the major.
Many African American Studies courses that are cross-listed with courses from the English department focus on African American stories and authors, giving students an even wider opportunity to engage with and learn about Black literature.
UM has also hosted many prominent Black writers. Kiese Laymon, author of the essay collection “How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America” and the novel “Long Division,” taught at the university as professor of English and creative writing. W. Ralph Eubanks, author of “A Place Like Mississippi: A Journey Through a Real and Imagined Literary Landscape,” teaches in the Center for the Study of Southern Culture as a professor of English and Southern Studies.
As important as it is for Black authors to be able to share their stories, it is just as critical that those stories are read, received and respected. Representation throughout literature is crucial not only for those who resonate with that representation, but also for those who may not understand a certain perspective.
“Black literature responds to its own absence and recognizes the unique achievements, realities and challenges that African American people face,” Alabi said.
It is also important to acknowledge that there is not one specific story to be told; Black authors have multitudes of perspectives and stories to share.
“There is a unique story for African American authors to tell,” Alabi said. “They know their own stories better than anyone else.”
