Contemporary African American Female Playwrights: An Annotated Bibliography

(Hardback)

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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun (1959) was a major dramatic success and brought to the world's attention the potential talent of African American women playwrights. But in spite of Hansberry's landmark contribution, both the theater and the literary world have often failed to include contemporary African American female playwrights within the circle of production, publication, and criticism. In African American drama anthologies, female playwrights are seldom given the degree of attention that is accorded their male counterparts. And because of space constraints, anthologies of works by women playwrights are forced to exclude numerous female dramatists, including African Americans. Meanwhile, some scholars have argued that the works of African American female playwrights are seldom produced in the mainstream theater because these plays frequently challenge the views of white America. But as A Raisin in the Sun demonstrates, plays by African American women dramatists can have a powerful message and are worthy of attention. A comprehensive research tool, this annotated bibliography sheds light on the often neglected works of contemporary African American female playwrights. Included within its scope are those dramatists who have had at least one work published since 1959, the year of Hansberry's monumental achievement. The first section provides a listing of anthologies that include one or more plays written by an African American female dramatist. The second gives entries for reference works and for scholarly and critical studies of the dramatists and their plays. The third presents a listing of published plays by individual dramatists, along with a summary of each drama; the works of each playwright that are related to drama; and secondary sources that treat the dramatists and their plays. Entries are accompanied by concise but informative annotations, and the volume closes with a list of periodicals that frequently publish criticism of African American female playwrights, a section of brief biographical sketches of the dramatists, and extensive indexes.

Reviews

Dana A. Williams has brought an essential tool to any sincere efforts at correcting the omission of African American female playwrights from critical focus in an art form that suffers from sever male domination and neglect of the incredible work by black women in American theater.-Obsidian III
Readers will find the introduction's discussion of obstacles that African American women playwrights face particularly instructive in understanding the need for such a bibliography. Useful for collection evaluation and development in this subject areas, and for reference access to the contents of anthologies in undergraduate and graduate libraries.-Choice
This is the first bibliography to focus exclusively on contemporary African-American women playwrights. Not since 1988...has there been such a valuable resource in this field....Contemporary African American Female Playwrights is an invaluable addition to the annals of theatre history resources. Williams has made a major contribution that will prove valuable to theatre scholars and those interested in African American women playwrights.-Modern Drama
Williams has put together a much-needed and useful research tool that brings attention to the works of contemporary African American playwrights who are often forgotten in literary criticism. This comprehensive, annotated bibliography includes playwrights who have had at least one work published since 1969, the year of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun....Extensive indexes, by author, title, and subject, add to the usefulness of this bibliography, which is strongly recommended for school, college, and public libraries.-ARBA
"Dana A. Williams has brought an essential tool to any sincere efforts at correcting the omission of African American female playwrights from critical focus in an art form that suffers from sever male domination and neglect of the incredible work by black women in American theater."-Obsidian III
"Readers will find the introduction's discussion of obstacles that African American women playwrights face particularly instructive in understanding the need for such a bibliography. Useful for collection evaluation and development in this subject areas, and for reference access to the contents of anthologies in undergraduate and graduate libraries."-Choice
"This is the first bibliography to focus exclusively on contemporary African-American women playwrights. Not since 1988...has there been such a valuable resource in this field....Contemporary African American Female Playwrights is an invaluable addition to the annals of theatre history resources. Williams has made a major contribution that will prove valuable to theatre scholars and those interested in African American women playwrights."-Modern Drama
"Williams has put together a much-needed and useful research tool that brings attention to the works of contemporary African American playwrights who are often forgotten in literary criticism. This comprehensive, annotated bibliography includes playwrights who have had at least one work published since 1969, the year of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun....Extensive indexes, by author, title, and subject, add to the usefulness of this bibliography, which is strongly recommended for school, college, and public libraries."-ARBA

Author Bio

DANA A. WILLIAMS is a doctoral candidate in English at Howard University. Her current research interests include African American dramatists and novelists.