The Negro in American fiction

"The Negro in American Fiction" by Sterling A. Brown is a detailed exploration of how Black individuals are portrayed in American stories, reflecting the attitudes of the late 1900s. It looks closely at the social influences shaping these portrayals across different writing styles and historical periods. The book investigates how racial stereotypes take root and are either reinforced or opposed in American literature, beginning with an overview of how African Americans have appeared in fiction, from old stories to modern ones. By examining traditions such as pro- and antislavery stories, plantation tales, and the rise of Black writers, the author champions the need for true-to-life portrayals of Black life in literature.