Iola Leroy

Iola Leroy; Or, Shadows Uplifted by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper is an important example of early African American literature. This novel takes the form of a realist narrative that chronicles the struggles of African Americans to achieve freedom, dignity and equality in a post-Civil War society. Through its protagonist, Iola Leroy, Harper offers an uplifting story about the resilience of black people despite systemic oppression.