Hurston and Cullen's Views on Heritage
In "Characteristics of Negro Expression," Zora Neale Hurston analyzes the patterns present within African American literature; among these is the subject of African heritage. Hurston treats African heritage as an idea that authors are widely familiar with, aligning with authors like Claude McKay though starkly contrasting with Countee Cullen's Africa poems. In his poem "Heritage," Cullen famously writes, "What is Africa to me?" before listing the many Africa stereotypes he is familiar with. In doing so, he emphasizes his lack of true connection with his ancestral homeland. All he knows of Africa are the vague notions of "Jungle star or jungle track," criticizing the views of African Americans who claim to know Africa and contradicting Hurston's broad viewpoint. African identity is an idea that Hurston discusses through popular examples from folklore and "culture heroes" such as animals typically found in Africa. In incorporating...