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| Author | Pauline Hopkins |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | R. Emmett Owen |
| Publisher | The Colored Co-operative Publishing Co. |
Publication date | 1900 |
Contending Forces: A Romance Illustrative of Negro Life North and South is Pauline Hopkins' first major work and debut novel, published in 1900. Contending Forces focuses on African American families in post-Civil War American society. Hopkins, a child of free parents of color, imprinted her "own evasive and unsettling maternal family history, which linked her to the Atlantic slave trade, the West Indies, and the American South",[1] providing a vivid portrayal of the shared struggles endured by both enslaved and free individuals during that time period.
The preface written by Hopkins provides insights into her motivations and thematic concerns. Here, she expresses a strong desire to uplift her race and "raise the stigma of degradation"[2] associated with African Americans. Hopkins highlights her commitment to using a romance plot to explore social and racial themes, offering the story of an educated and resilient African American family overcoming racial barriers to achieve success. Ultimately, Hopkins expresses her admiration for her race's achievements and her desire to encourage and strengthen African American communities through her writing.
Contending Forces was published in 1900 by the Colored Co-operative Publishing Company in Boston, Massachusetts. The novel's setting mostly revolves around the city of Boston, painting a rich portrayal of African American life during this period.
- ^ Brown, Lois (2008). Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins: Black Daughter of the Revolution. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
- ^ Hopkins, Pauline E. (1991). Contending Forces: A Romance Illustrative of Negro Life North and South. Oxford University Press.