Reference databases can give you an overview of your topic and introduce you to concepts, trends, vocabulary, events, etc. around your topic.
To find companions, handbooks, or bibliographies related to African American Studies and linguistics you can use library search; however, individual articles can be hard to find. Also try searching the portals to these resources below.
Oxford Bibliographies, annotated bibliographies that provide a gateway to research in particular subfields of Native American Studies.
Cambridge Companions, guides to various Native American literature topics.
Routledge Handbooks, book-length companions to various topics.
Oxford Handbooks, reviews of scholarly literature.
Annual Reviews Online, reviews of scholarly literature in the sciences and social sciences.