African American writers
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The very first African American writers were those of the colonial periods. Authors such as George Moses Horton, Harriet Jacobs, and Frederick Douglass opened the door into mainstream literature with brilliantly written narratives and poems. These authors, along with others, expressed the trials and tribulations they encountered as slaves through the only source they knew how, a pen. Once White America was introduced to these black writers, there was no denying the talent, the potential, and the knowledge that blacks possessed. Also, they showed the determination of getting exposure and giving others the opportunity that they had. Therefore, the door that they opened to mainstream literature was left ajar for writers of the reconstruction period. Booker T. Washington was considered to be the leader of these new authors. His style and views were similar to many of the colonial authors before him. However, there were also differences...