"What is African American literary art? Is it functional, or propaganda, or is it art for art's sake? What are the responsibilities of African American writers to their art forms, to themselves, and to their audiences? And what are the responsibilities of the audiences? Who shall judge it, and by what criteria shall it be judged?".

"In African American Literary Criticism, 1773 to 2000, Hazel Arnett Ervin has assembled 60 critical statements that address these questions, ranging from public addresses to literary manifestos and credos, letters, journal entries, interviews, reviews, and studies by thinkers who have analyzed and evaluated literature and developed theory. Authors include W. E. B.

Du Bois, Charles Chesnutt, Langston Hughes, Ann Petry, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Amiri Baraka, Toni Morrison, Houston Baker, Henry Louis Gates, Alice Walker, bell hooks, and many others. Each statement is preceded by a short headnote annotating the writer's thesis and setting the tone for critical reading and thinking; following each statement is a list of sources for further study on the topic.".

"For scholars, students, and critics who are interested in ongoing discussions not only about the function of art, the role of the writer, and the artistic responsibility of the audience, but also about the epistemology, aesthetics, and methodology within a vibrant literary tradition, this reader is an essential source."--BOOK JACKET.