One of the New
Deal measures which alleviated the situation considerably was
the Federal Writers Project. Sterling Brown, literary critic and
Howard University professor, headed the Negro section. Two of
the better known authors who were helped by the Project were Arna
Bontemps and Richard Wright.
Wright's novel "Native Son" was widely acclaimed. In it, he
depicted the inner anger and hatred felt by many young Negro men
as dominating characteristics of the hero's personality;
eventually, his life was destroyed. The first Negro to win a
Pulitzer Prize was Gwendolyn Brooks, who won it for her poetry.
Later, Ralph Ellison was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his novel
"Invisible Man".
Since the Second World War, innumerable Negroes have made
significant contributions to American culture through the mass
media: radio, television, and movies. Large numbers have also
joined the ranks of professional athletes in every field from
tennis to football. Nevertheless, complaints persist that
prejudice continues in these areas. While they are often
included as performers, rarely do Negroes achieve significant
decision-making authority in their field.
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