Based on the literary works that we've read so far, how does the vernacular tradition express itself in African American literature?

Based on the literary works that we've read so far, how does the vernacular tradition express itself in African American literature?

In African American literature, the vernacular tradition refers to oral, literary, and cultural practices that reflect African American culture and experiences. Throughout the works we have read, these traditions are expressed through storytelling that centers the voices of current or formerly enslaved people, as well as those who endured similar forms of oppression. Their experiences, whether positive or painful, are shared in a way that allows readers to understand what they went through. By using everyday language, perspectives that are personal, and culturally rooted storytelling, the vernacular tradition preserves history and makes these written experiences feel authentic. 

In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs presents vernacular tradition through personal narrative and lived experiences to express the realities of enslavement for Black women. This story relied solely on storytelling, as it was written as a slave narrative. Vernacular tradition appears through shared stories, warnings, and advice passed down between enslaved women and families, highlighting the importance of communal knowledge and survival. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl affirms African American voices. Through this, it centers around the storytelling of a Black woman and relies on the use of authentic vernacular tradition.

Similarly, in The Wife of His Youth, we become acquainted with various forms of oral vernacular tradition, cultural tradition, and social statistical standards within African American Literature. The story follows Mr. Ryder, a biracial man who was born free before the start of the war. As he comes into his adulthood, he becomes a leader for the "Blue Vein Society”, an organization that privileges lighter skinned African Americans. Vernacular tradition expresses itself in the story through dialogue, storytelling, and the difference between formal language and spoken dialect. Characters like Liza Jane speak in a distinct oral style that reflects the culture, lived experiences, memories, and history passed down through her speech, rather than written records.

Overall, in African American literature, vernacular tradition is a mix of authentic cultures and memories, mixed with historical significance and remembrance. Through oral storytelling, dialect, and lived storytelling, authors preserve voices that were often excluded from written history. Works such as Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and The Wife of His Youth demonstrate how vernacular tradition conveys identity, resistance, and truth. This overall allows African American experiences to be truly remembered and honored.