African American autobiographies provide a powerful lens through which to explore the intersection of gender, race, and identity. Authors like Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, and Maya Angelou use their autobiographical works to address racial prejudice, gender oppression, and the struggles for freedom and equality. These autobiographies not only recount personal histories but also serve as critiques of society’s racial and gender hierarchies. Douglass’s narrative outlines the horrors of slavery while emphasizing the role of education and self-determination in liberating oneself from racial and societal constraints. Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God provides a feminist perspective on the life of Janie Crawford, while Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings chronicles her journey through racial trauma and personal growth. Through the lens of autobiography, these authors challenge dominant narratives around race and gender, offering empowerment and authentic representation of African American experiences. Gender and racial representation in African American autobiographies Frederick Douglass and race in autobiography Maya Angelou and the personal narrative of race African American women’s autobiographies and identityGender and Racial Representations Within African American Autobiographies
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Gender and Racial Representations Within African American Autobiographies