Mission Statement

Our goal is to educate the Oswego State University campus and other members of the community about African American Literature, and the symbolic, historical, and social justice narratives that saturate the works of Black authors. We aim to highlight the roots of racial inequality as well as to appreciate the unique culture of African Americans as expressed through literary works.

Symbolism

Water symbolism flows throughout the body of African American Literature. It takes the form of blood, milk, sweat, and even urine as it shapes the narrative. Different bodies of water also play a large role in making meaning in all of these literary texts, from the Mississippi to the Nile Rivers. Water often reflects themes of family ties, bloodshed and violence, freedom, and equality between different time periods and authors.

History

The African American historical narrative of these novels have described water as a tool used to oppress the African American community externally and internally. The loss of black life to water stretches beyond the Atlantic slave trade and the age of Emmett Till’s case. Water is being used as an oppressive tool to stunt the future generations of black life.

Social Justice

The horrific injustices African Americans faced through police brutality cases. The use of water as a weapon and as a burial ground as bodies were often dumped in water, near dams, and bridges. The student lead activist movements that arose as a result of the police brutality, where excessive force was used such as choke holds, tasers, violent beatings with night sticks, massive shootings and unnecessary firing of a weapon. How the past often mirrors the present and those responsible often go with little or no punishment by the law.