The Mentor Relationship in African American Adolescent Literature

Author

Roynetta D. Douglas, Western Michigan UniversityFollow

Date of Defense

12-6-2001

Department

English

First Advisor

Dr. Gwen Tarbox

Second Advisor

Dr. Ben Wilson

Third Advisor

Dr. Elizabeth Amidon

Abstract

The mentor relationship in African-American adolescent literature underscores the idea that young people can benefit from the counsel of caring adults outside their immediate families. In this ethnic specific subgroup, families may often suffer from financial strain due to single parent households or lack of career options. For that reason, many African-American adolescents either seek or happen upon a non-familial adult who helps them navigate through adolescence. This type of relationship, with its success and its pain, is vividly apparent in many novels geared toward young African-American girls.

Comments

Open access permission per phone call with author 11/18/13

Recommended Citation

Douglas, Roynetta D., "The Mentor Relationship in African American Adolescent Literature" (2001). Honors Theses. 1734.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/1734

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access