A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore: The Oral Literature, Traditions, Recollections, Legends, Tales, Songs, Religious Beliefs, Customs, Sayings and Humor of Peoples of African American Descent in the Americas

In A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore, editor Harold Courlander brings together an extensive and unique collection of tales, recollections, epics, traditions, beliefs, myths, historical chronicles, and songs from the numerous Negro cultures of the New World. Courlander explores the unwritten traditions and literature of the Spanish, French, and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean, the areas of Central and South America inhabited by people of African descent, the black communities of the United States, and many others. With a focus on the interconnectedness of cultural inheritances throughout the Afro-American region as well as the local divergences, this remarkable collection demonstrates the powerful cultural influence of Africa on this side of the Atlantic. A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore is a must-read for anyone interested in this exciting aspect of America's cultural history. Illustrated with photographs and drawings throughout, this classic collection is now beautifully repackaged. "This is the most important collection of Afro-American folklore compiled."—Ralph Ellison