| Twenty young adult novels selected for the Coretta Scott King Award (CSK Award) are examined for themes associated with three components of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey: separation, initiation, and return. Data collection and analysis consider the regularity and development of African American community cultural values posited by Joyce A. Ladner as experienced by protagonists while embarking on a hero's journey. These values include developing self and group identity, embracing the power of an extended family, connecting the past to the present, and determining one's own future. Connections between the hero's journey and these value-laden lessons expose prevalent themes in individualized education (separation), oral family history (initiation), and returning to southern roots (return).;Using an adapted theoretical model for content analysis developed by Clifford Geertz, combined with Molefi Kete Asante's revised approach to Campbell's hero's journey, the results of the study indicate that examples of "authenticity" and "accuracy" in African American young adult literature, two components central to the CSK Award's Purpose and Criteria Statement, can be identified using specific examples gleaned from the literature. These findings support the idea that discussions about specific artistic representations of accuracy and authenticity in African American young adult literature can aid young readers, parents, teachers, librarians, and publishers as they make informed decisions about social and literary merits of books for young readers. |
PDF Full Text Request