Virginia Hamilton on Liberation Literature

Black History Month is a time when all Americans honor the rich African American culture in our society. It was Carter G. Woodson, an African American historian, who began a weeklong celebration, called Negro History Week, in 1926 as a way to honor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. One of the best ways to celebrate is by reading books by and about African Americans. Virginia Hamilton’s works are among the many books that call upon readers to think about slavery, freedom, and heritage. Through her stories, Hamilton began the genre of liberation literature, which serves to instill cultural pride, as well as a sense of family and the importance of relationships. Black History Month is a time to help readers realize that these universal themes transcend race and that through the power of story, all races are truly united. Non-fiction, Womens Lit, Liberation