The diversity of the African-American experience in America is undeniable. Although we share similar ancestry and, for some, skin pigmentation, many differences still exist not only in how we define ourselves individually, but also in how we see ourselves through the eyes of others and the kaleidoscope of different experiences that we have. Furthermore, these different experiences make themselves known to the world in the aesthetic expressions of writers and artists. The most notable examples include The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, and, most recently, Natasha Trethewey's Beyond Katrina. All of these recognized academic expressions attempt to articulate, in some way, an individual's consummate experiences. Furthermore, although experiences vary, there are those that can be shared collectively by African Americans. Using Trethewey's Beyond Katrina as a prime example, one can find specific themes shared collectively by people of African descent, and these include the effect of the absence of the familial male, tragedy as a motivating force for African Americans, and the history of America told by the oppressor. Among the many pervasive themes in Trethewey's Beyond Katrina is the effect of the absence of the familiar male. Natasha's brother is incarcerated for the duration of the book, however it doesn't seem that way considering the amount of letters they exchange. Although he is locked away, he still has a noticeable presence in his life. This serves as a direct distinction among many other African Americans today, realizing that most families now develop in the absence of black male figures. In a letter written between Joe and Natasha, the context around which Joe fo...... center of paper ...... takes us back to our past and reminds us across time and space how similar we are, not that we are different” (Transcriptions of poems). These experiences of connection sometimes involve the absence of a male figure. For blacks, tragedy almost always has value as a motivating force, of which the tragedies of slavery are more obvious. Finally, transcending class, race, or ethnicity is the distortion of history that prevents the development of collective memory. Works Cited Charles, Ron. “US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey: Poetry Still Matters.” Washington Post. May 2, 2013. Washingtonpost.com. 6 April 2014. Transcription for Poems, History and Memory with Natasha Trethewey. ttbook.org. April 6, 2014.Trethewey, Natasha. Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2010. Project MUSE. Network. April 6, 2014. http://muse.jhu.edu/