A great 20th century author once said, "our humanity is our burden" (23). It is this encumbrance, however, that shapes the literature of two of the most powerful and influential authors of this era, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. Though they have opposing views on the role experience and sociopolitical agenda should play in art, both writers recognize the importance of these two factors and have been very vocal on their opinions about the matter. While …showed first 75 words of 626 total…

…showed last 75 words of 626 total…om the author's life that it represents. Ellison makes the point that without art, experience and social agenda are lost on the public audience. Though Baldwin and Ellison had their disagreements on some other aspects of sociopolitical ideals and the process of achieving them, they actually did concur that these factors are necessary for the success of literature. It is through this art that the author's experience and sociopolitical agenda are expressed to the audience.