ABSTRACT

Hardly can there be a discussion on literature without a reference to historical issues. The close relationship between literature and history makes it easier for literary writers to use historical events as raw material for their literary production. African American literary history is a rich history that writers from within and outside America have benefited from in terms of literary production. The history of slavery, migration, racism, emancipation, civil and Vietnam wars, among others have to a large extent enriched most African American literary works. These historical phases have equally given rise to issues that form the subject matters of literary production. One of such issues is that of the prevalence and alarming rate of single motherhood in African American literature which a number of writers have commented on as a negative trait. But, in line with the new historicists‟ belief that history is dynamic and subjective, this work, uses James McBride‟s The Color of Water and Maya Angelou‟s Mom & Me & Mom to portray that out of an unpleasant situation can emerge great ideologies that bring about positive societal change. Hence, single motherhood rather than being a societal vice, can be one of the tools for positive societal change. Appraising and acknowledging the positive contributions of such mothers equally stands as an encouragement to the single mothers out there who are faced with parental challenges. Again, since the new historicists argue that there is no total version of history, writers and critics can make a square out of a diameter in order to project an ideology to their readers. History is thus, a subjective view of life.