Role of extended families in the Song of Solomon, the narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass and PushThe readings presented by African American writers vary greatly in style, context, and in the story line, however there are some common themes presented throughout. Among these themes is a broad shift from what is generally considered a traditional nuclear family. Each work presents a vision of family life that, forced by events, shows people attempting to build non-traditional extended families in an attempt to identify themselves, understand where they fit socially, and know their place in the world. clarify the definition of traditional and extended family in the context of minority populations. In the majority culture, a traditional family is believed to consist of the nuclear family (i.e. father, mother and children). Minority groups tend to cast a wider net when defining members of their "families." The extended family is the norm in minority cultures, consisting of the nuclear family plus aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. In later works, each of the main characters is forced to go beyond what is considered the extended family structure to find what they need. The Song of Songs is the only story that features even a hint of what can be considered a traditional majority family. On the surface, the Dead family has all the makings of a normal, functional family trying to live the American dream. The family unit is complete; there are no glaring issues or missing pieces of the puzzle. This image of a normal family quickly fades when we see how unhappy Milkman is within this family. He feels suffocated; he lacks identity and direction for his life. His family does not provide him with what he needs most, a sense of place and place in the world. To understand his place and history, he is forced to first leave his immediate family, then his extended family, and finally begins his quest to find unknown family members as a way of self-development. This quest goes beyond the normal commitment that a son wants to become his own person rather than the son his father imagines. It is a quest to understand oneself as a whole person, to know where one fits into the “big picture” rather than simply following family expectations. He doesn't feel complete until he finds out where he comes from.