With the country divided and the Civil War raging, the optimism of the era before came to an end. The people no longer wanted fantasy; they wanted reality. Honest Abe Lincoln was the hero, known for his ethics and integrity. In a time of chaos and tragedy, the people are America did not want someone telling them that everything was fine and dandy. They wanted someone who would acknowledge their suffering and spread their truth. It was not a time when the uncomfortable was glazed over. It was highlighted and perhaps made all those who were suffering feel less alone.
In literature, the importance of the individual comes out as the character gains more significance than the actual plot. Everyday life, no matter how mundane it may seem, becomes the backdrop of many stories. And the racial divide, which may have previously been glossed over, was now front and center. Writing was meant to capture reality in America, warts and all (Norton 2).
Charles Chesnutt was the Honest. His father was biracial, leading Chesnutt to often write about biracial characters and to confront the issues of colorism head-on (Norton 3). Chesnutt not only reflected honesty in his writing, but he also addressed the harsh realities in real life, “[devoting] his energies and pen to more direct political efforts to end racial discrimination, both in Cleveland and nationally through his work in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)” (Belasco 1274).
image: Portrait of Charles Chesnutt
image: page from Chesnutt’s book “The Wife of his Youth”