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glassesgirl79's review
4.0
"From My People" is an anthology divided into thirteen chapters which takes the readers on a 400 year journey of African American folklore ranging from to slavery times to 2000.Each of the chapters begins with a introduction providing context on the overall chapter followed by stories and other literacy artifacts from various time periods.
The book begins with an introduction by the book's editor in which she provides context for the way in which the book's content is presented as well as state the goal of the anthology is collect, preserve, and respect the integrity of the folk text. Chapter one focuses on folktales and discusses how African Americans uses folktales as a way to convey experiences including slavery, racism, and supernatural encounters. Chapter two focuses on folk music and includes songs lyrics for spirituals, blues, ballads, zydeco, and rap. Chapter three focuses on the style of soul and discusses African American unique style of fashion, and physical aura. Chapter four focuses on folk arts and crafts and showcases carvings, sculptures, pottery, dolls, musical instruments, and graffiti. Chapter five focuses on sermon and other speeches and presents speeches by Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Chapter six focuses on. Chapter seven focuses on soul food and provides recipes by the author as well as the author's friends and family members. Chapter eight focuses on proverbs, aphorisms, and other memorable sayings. Chapter nine focuses on folk rhymes, work songs, and shouts. Chapter ten focuses on riddles, verbal tests, and contents. Chapter eleven focuses on superstitions and other folk beliefs. Chapter twelve focuses on rumors that have circulated via printed books, printed fliers, and email. Chapter thirteen focuses on the role of technology in spreading modern day folktales as well as amusing stories which have been shared primarily through email or through photocopies sent to the author.
I really enjoyed this book due to the variety of types of literature represented including folktales, short stories, riddles, and songs lyrics. In addition, the author does a wonderful job of providing visual representations of African American creativity by showing artwork as well as examples of hairstyles and clothing. Although this book is massive at 736 pages, 700 of those pages are designated to African American folklore while the remaining 36 pages contains a list of audiovisual resources, a bibliography, a list of book credits, and a index.
The book begins with an introduction by the book's editor in which she provides context for the way in which the book's content is presented as well as state the goal of the anthology is collect, preserve, and respect the integrity of the folk text. Chapter one focuses on folktales and discusses how African Americans uses folktales as a way to convey experiences including slavery, racism, and supernatural encounters. Chapter two focuses on folk music and includes songs lyrics for spirituals, blues, ballads, zydeco, and rap. Chapter three focuses on the style of soul and discusses African American unique style of fashion, and physical aura. Chapter four focuses on folk arts and crafts and showcases carvings, sculptures, pottery, dolls, musical instruments, and graffiti. Chapter five focuses on sermon and other speeches and presents speeches by Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Chapter six focuses on. Chapter seven focuses on soul food and provides recipes by the author as well as the author's friends and family members. Chapter eight focuses on proverbs, aphorisms, and other memorable sayings. Chapter nine focuses on folk rhymes, work songs, and shouts. Chapter ten focuses on riddles, verbal tests, and contents. Chapter eleven focuses on superstitions and other folk beliefs. Chapter twelve focuses on rumors that have circulated via printed books, printed fliers, and email. Chapter thirteen focuses on the role of technology in spreading modern day folktales as well as amusing stories which have been shared primarily through email or through photocopies sent to the author.
I really enjoyed this book due to the variety of types of literature represented including folktales, short stories, riddles, and songs lyrics. In addition, the author does a wonderful job of providing visual representations of African American creativity by showing artwork as well as examples of hairstyles and clothing. Although this book is massive at 736 pages, 700 of those pages are designated to African American folklore while the remaining 36 pages contains a list of audiovisual resources, a bibliography, a list of book credits, and a index.
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