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Examines the relationship between “The Biglow Papers,” by James Russell Lowell and the Simple sketches by Langston Hughes. Role of both works as part of the American literary tradition of the crackerbox philosopher; Ways in which both works deal extensively with the problem or race relations; Journalistic origins of the characters; Treatment of relatives in the works.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses papers published within the issue that were presented at the 2012 convention of the College Language Association (CLA) in Atlanta, Georgia, on topics such as composition at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), carnival's spiritual role in Kamau Brathwaite's poem "The Arrivants," and African ontology in Zora Neale Hurston's book "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

The article discusses the scholarly uses of the digital extension of the Eugene B. Redmond Collection of disparate material from mainly African American literary figures from the 1970s through the 2000s. Topics covered include the literary journal "Drumvoices" manuscripts, posters, and photographs contained in the Collection, and the easier access to specific information therein afforded by digitization. Also noted are tools for creating free or low-budget digital collections online.

The author relates her use of a blog on African American science fiction writer Octavia Butler to elicit more value on discussions of black female writers. Topics covered include Butler's exploration of race, black feminism, and social inequality in her works, the creation of The Cultural Front notebook to promote them, and the resulting public discourse on the issues. The author notes that the blog also made her view black women's writings as central to the global literature on women.

The author discusses the use of blogs to facilitate student voices and interaction on African American literature. Topics covered include her classroom teaching experiences, her creation of a blog which led to a community where creative contributions of students received public exposure, and a blog's enabling of online sharing of thoughts and of combining traditional practices and technology. Also noted are ways in which teachers can integrate blogging in everyday classes.

Focuses on the grading of student writing. Ignorance of many graders about the sources of their dislike of grading; Importance of reading a paper before grading; Awareness of writing as a communication, interpretation and negotiation.

Focuses on the theme of apocalypticism in the poem "The Second Coming," by Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats. Contention of the author that the real problem confronted in the paper is not how to arrive at any verdict about the feasibility of the creation of anthropoids; Assertion of the author that Yeat's rough image may rightly be termed notorious but he is not consciously envisioned such anthropoid in the creation of the provocative poem; References to biblical terms and concepts.