Black American literature (literary art primarily from Black artists or artists of African descent), dates back to the pre-antebellum period of United States history. What is significant about black American literature is it's many literary forms that include: stories told by the griot (a form of vernacular expression) poems, musical selections, plays, shorts stories and novels. As Black American literature is over three hundred years old some argue that it is dead. I beg to differ. Kenneth Warren, a notable professor of English at University of Chicago, published an article Does African American Literature Exist, in which he argues that Black American Literature is dead. He attributes the death of Black America literature to the abolishment of Jim Crow laws. In his publication he claims that Black Americans were once a "distinct people under Jim Crow and that Black American literature is political, as it exists primarily because of the historical attributes associated with the times. I wholeheartedly disagree with warren that Black American literature is dead. First and foremost, the journey of Black American literature originated during the pre-antebellum era and advances through history with literary contacts. The literary times period include literature as seen in works post 1975 from famous artists such as Ntozake Shange, Mya Angelo and Toni Morrison. These artists focused on social issues of Black Americans: civil rights, equality, and human rights. Prior to this, during the Black Arts Era and the Harlem Renaissance Era, Black Americans supported one and other and stood up for each other which is something you do not see much of today, at least publicly. This is one of the reasons why Warren argues the literature is dead. I would agree that Black American literature is still alive today as it is reactionary to the times. From the onset of history, Black Americans were articulating their stories though the vernacular or thr