The study of Afro-American writers in American literature courses has experienced a noticeable decline since 1972. The most ignored of black literature is that written during the nineteenth century. Perhaps the most outstanding examples of black literature from that period were the "slave narratives," autobiographies by exslaves from which emerged a consistent picture of the brutality slaves experienced from a point of view rarely made known to the reading public. Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown and Henry Bibb are black authors of some better known narratives. Black folk tales and folk songs were also prevalent during the nineteenth century, dealing mainly with the blacks' use of cunning and deception to survive. Nineteenth century black American writers wrote of life as they experienced it. To continue to deny their literary contributions is to deny all Americans a true understanding of our heritage. (Excerpts from works by authors mentioned as well as those of other authors are included.) (HTH)