Blog post #1 prompt 1
Throughout all of our readings, I have found several examples of how vernacular traditions have been portrayed. For me, vernacular traditions are a great example of why you can see culture evolve over time and the role it played or still plays to this day. It's an insight into people's beliefs and a way for them to express themselves. Specifically, in African American literature, the use of vernacular traditions is used to express the author's struggles or convey a deeper message. We see several examples of this in works of literature, like A Black Man Talks of Reaping,g or poems like Langston Hughes ' “Harlem” are clear examples of how authors used vernacular traditions in their writing.
For instance, "Harlem" by Langston Hughes uses plain spoken language to evoke a sense of imagery. By using everyday words like rotten meat, sun, or syrup, the reader can visualize what is being said and feel a more profound connection to the writing. The poem also reflects on African American oral traditions like the ideas of Blues rhythms and speech patterns. The use of rhyming each line with each other line is normally the same rhyme scheme in blues that helps convey a message of longing and sadness.
Another example of how some of the works we analyzed showcase vernacular traditions is Arna Bontemps ' “A Black Man Talks of Reaping." In the poem, there is a strong use of simple patterns that replicate everyday speech, which resembles a work song that slaveys would have sang on the plantation. The tone that is also used feels conversational and grounded in lived experience, even if it isn’t heavy dialect. Overall, the poem is connected to labor vernacular traditions that convey a sense of effort, especially through metaphor and tone.
Vernacular tradition appears in these works through voice, rhythm, and everyday imagery rather than heavy dialect. Langston Hughes’s “Harlem” most clearly reflects vernacular traditions by using plain language and rhymes rooted in African American oral culture. Arna Bontemps also draws on vernacular perspectives by centering black lived experience, like labor, even when using formal language. More broadly, African American literature often blends oral traditions with literary forms, using vernacular not only as dialect but as a way to express collective identity, history, and resistance.
Hi Aldo,
ReplyDeleteI really liked this blog! I like how you talk about how the use of rhyming can also be an embodiment of vernacular tradition. I feel like these subtle details are hard to recognize, and I think you did a great job. I also like how you talk about what affect these traditions add to the readers' experiences. Also, in the third paragraph, I like how you talk about how simple patterns are used. I feel like that description does a good job of explaining why these works sound so conversational and why it's so unique. Overall, I thought this blog did a good job of going over vernacular tradition!
Hi Aldo,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this blog a lot. I first wanted to say how you noted the importance of simple patterns, and how you tied it in with slavery as a whole. Your explanations help me understand why this text may come off as controversial to some, and you provide context. Overall, I thought this did a good job of talking about vernacular tradition.
Hi Aldo, I liked how you discussed the use of rhyming and how it can be connected to the vernacular tradition. It's not highlighted often even though it is a key detail in stories related to Black culture (specifically with the use of African American vernacular english). I've yet to see anyone mention this aspect. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteAldo, I like how you connected vernacular traditions to both imagery and rhythm, especially in how everyday language makes poems like Harlem feel more real and relatable. Your point that vernacular isn’t just dialect but also includes voice, culture, and lived experience really stood out because it shows how these poems reflect deeper histories and struggles. It might be interesting to explore even more how these traditions connect to themes of hope or resistance, since both poems seem to hint at those ideas.
ReplyDeleteHey Aldo! I really liked this blog and the examples of vernacular tradition that you presented. In particular, your emphasis on vernacular tradition showing up as a showcase and expression of identity really stood out to me. I feel like many often reduce vernacular tradition to simply just oral tradition passed down through speech, and the true importance of it is left behind. Your notes of it including culture and lived experience stood out to me, though I think it would be interesting if you could find some examples of vernacular tradition outside of language. If you find any, let me know! Great blog though!
ReplyDeleteHi Aldo,
ReplyDeleteI think this post does an especially good job displaying how interconnected the different art forms within African American vernacular tradition. I like how you describe how the Blues-like rhyme and rhythm of poems can evoke the same kinds of melancholic emotions that Blues music does, despite having completely different lyrical content. I also liked how you explained the ways how some works try to replicate everyday speech to maintain the sense of vernacular tradition and oral history, even in written works. Great blog post, Aldo!