IGBOSCHOLARS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IGBO SCHOLARS FORUM, NIGERIA

The slavery period and transatlantic trade era exposed Africans to other parts of the world from which the black race gained new experiences to write literature in foreign lands. Africans were practically uprooted from their land and transplanted in foreign places, an act which is studied today as transplantation literature. Added to these were colonial experiences which encouraged slavery and racial discrimination, which further created deep wounds and alien culture that left long lasting scars, especially on slaves in America. From the original slaves emerged new breed of slaves who have lost their historical/ancestral origin – a state which is very frustrating and psychologically traumatic. This state in which the blacks wondered who they are and where they come from cum their position in the foreign world is known as identity problem. African American literature emerged as the writings of blacks in America which addressed the experiences of blacks over the years. Fredrick Douglass is one of those freed slaves who wrote at a time referred to as Early African American literature. His text, Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass – an American slave, falls into the group of literature referred to as slave narratives, especially tales to inspire the abolitionist struggle. Others categorized under this slave narrative are tales of religious-redemption and tales of progress. Apart from narrating slave stories, Douglass’s text gave an account of cruelties of life under slavery and the sense of human person that reflects the dignity of blacks.

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