Write a 3-4 page essay that addresses one of the topics below. Discuss how African American writers drew on elements from politics, history and culture as inspiration in their short stories, novels, and poems. Paste your response in the assignment submission box, but also include the document file as an attachment by the date listed above.

1. What are some of the ways that historical experience is reflected in the works of African American writers and poets?
2. Why were African American poets drawn to musical models such as Jazz and Blues as sources of inspiration?
3. How did Amiri Baraka and Ralph Ellison use elements from jazz and blues as a base for their literary styles?
4. How were the political struggles of the 1960s and 1970s reflected in the works of African American poets?