Unique in its perspective and range, this anthology uses diverse essays, short stories, poems and plays by and about African Americans to stimulate critical reading, thinking, discussion, and writing. It first provides a comprehensive process-oriented writing guide, and then offers a diverse collection of readings that provide models and reflect the rich heritage of African American culture. Over 100 essays, short stories, poems, and plays by and/or about African Americans feature works by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Arthur Ashe—as well as lesser known but equally talented writers. An exploration of eighteen themes throughout the book includes slavery, African American women, male-female relationships, politics, freedom/equality, arts and media, education, folklore, and interracial relationships among others. For anyone interested in writings by and about African Americans—and interested in writing their own interpretation of what they read. The first edition of HERITAGE: AFRICAN AMERICAN READINGS FOR WRITING was praised as a great resource for students who come to college with a limited knowledge of the African-American experience. Instructors and students appreciated the diversity of writers in the first edition, which showed that African-American writers and African-American people have a lot in common. Most important, however, is HERITAGE has become a proven text that prods students to think and write with confidence. Features of HERITAGE, Second Edition include: Over 20 new readings, including works from Queen Latifah, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, W.E.B. DuBois; and Maya Angelou. - A process-oriented approach to writing highlighted by early chapters on planning, writing, and revising and editing. - A combination of essays, fiction, poems, and student essays in each chapter. - A section of longer and more challenging supplementary readings at the end of the text. - A brief biographical sketch of the author introducing each reading. Heritage remains a collection of fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction by and about African Americans, a writing text, designed to appeal to writers who are interested in African American culture and the extent to which it touches every facet of American society. This second edition further emphasizes that African American culture is not monolithic; we have chosen in this edition a wide range of subjects that reflect this cultural diversity. We believe that thought-provoking writing is often the result of an inspired beginning; therefore, we have again selected readings for their use as models, but more importantly, for their potential to touch the soul of the reader. However, we provide students with more than inviting selections. This edition continues the goal of the first edition by being an excellent writing guide, while integrating reading and writing throughout the text. This edition includes a broader range of engaging selections, each followed by probing questions and stimulating writing assignments. We strive to illustrate the beauty and power of the canon and believe in the importance of motivating students, through their written discourse, to discover the in individual, yet universal significance of the literature. Heritage continues to focus on the quality of writing rather than just form. It is designed to help students write more substantively, not by presenting superficial topics, but by allowing students to use interesting, provocative, and diverse readings as springboards for exploring meaningful issues and for developing their own voice. This new edition of Heritage reflects our belief that writing is a means through which students discover more about themselves and the world. This collection of readings has been chosen with writers and readers in mind, with consideration given to interest level, vocabulary, length, readability, as well as to intrinsic literary value. ORGANIZATION AND NEW FEATURES Part I: Understanding the Writing Process Heritage is divided into two parts. Part I, "Understanding the Writing Process," continues to focus on the stages of writing. An overview of writing and a writing inventory are designed to help students to understand writing and their own writing habits and preferences. Writing as a process is illustrated in various stages from paragraph to essay. Chapters 1 through 3, the writing chapters, have been revised to make explanations more comprehensive, precise, and clear, and to put greater emphasis on the writing process. In this regard, more attention has been given to pre-writing and organizational strategies (Chapter 1); tips for composing on the computer and selecting a title (Chapter 2); and a broader view of revising and editing (Chapter 3). New Chapter: Writing About Literature New to this edition is Chapter 4, "Writing About Literature," designed to provide an introduction to literary analysis. This chapter includes observations and disc