Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture, One Story at a Time (Chicken Soup for the Soul) [Paperback]

Jack Canfield (Author), Mark Victor Hansen (Author), Lisa Nichols (Author), Tom Joyner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2004

This is the book everyone has been waiting for-an inspiring celebration of the joy, challenges, and triumphs of being African American.

Combine Ilyana Vanzant and Terry McMillan, then include a dash of E. Lynn Harris, and you've got Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. This book captures the spirit of the community through inspiring storytelling that understands both the struggles and joys of being African American. From Jim Crow to the Civil Rights movement to today's business leaders and gangsta culture, this book is a primer on black history. And like all Chicken Soup books, it's a moving tribute to the small things-a moment of insight, a mentor, a lover, the loss of innocence-that make life worth living.

This great volume is focused on representing all facets of African American life-man and woman; young and old; rural, suburban, and urban; rich and poor; race conscious and mostly color-blind.

Chapters Include: Celebrating Our Strength, Strong Roots, The African American Family, Love and Relationships, The Power of Community, Praise, Worship and Prayer

Featured Celebrities Include: Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, E. Lynn Harris, Yolanda King (daughter of Martin Luther King), Muhammad Ali, Mean Joe Green, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Bill Cosby, Colin Powell

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This newest addition to the bestselling series features Chicken Soup's trademark stories in a "tribute to a culture that prides itself on survival, resiliency, healing, prayer and perseverance." This collection hits all those notes, with inspiring contributions from familiar names, including Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou, as well as heartfelt vignettes from everyday folks. While the writing quality varies, most essays are moving. Stories of helping others, of gifts received from strangers and of pursuing one's dreams speak to our common humanity. Yet the struggle of being black in America pervades this collection; many contributors discuss issues of identity, discrimination and injustice. Writers describe the difficulty of becoming comfortable in one's skin; of not being "a Black girl posing in a white girl get-up." Most writers also make clear that as they meet challenges, they honor the past and forge into the future: "[My father] has shown me that when a black man fulfills his own potential, he makes it possible for his future generations to come to the table and experience the world in a different and better way." Resonating throughout is the rallying cry of doing one's best, whatever the situation.While this volume speaks to a specific audience, it has lessons for everyone, including that "for folks of color, living with race isn't a choice, it just is."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Jack Canfield is the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a professional speaker who has dedicated his live to enhancing the personal and professional development of others.

Mark Victor Hansen is the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a professional speaker who has dedicated his live to enhancing the personal and professional development of others.

Lisa Nichols is a professional speaker and powerful facilitator of personal empowerment. She is the founder of Motivating the Teen Spirit LLC, which provides life-changing transformational workshops for teenagers. She is the recipient of the 2003 Trail Blazers Award, Lego Land Heart of Learning Award, and the Emotional Literacy Award for her dedication in creating and building an emotionally intelligent world through education. She is a native of Los Angeles and currently resides in San Diego, CA.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HCI (September 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757301428
• ISBN-13: 978-0757301421
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Canfield, America's Success Coach, is the cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes 40 New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor with Gay Hendricks of You've GOT to Read This Book! An internationally renowned corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and popular radio and TV talk show guest, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Soul will be uplifted!, April 13, 2005

By 

Toni - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture, One Story at a Time (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (Paperback)

I have read many in the chicken Soup for the Soul series and like me many of you might only buy the ones that seem to call to you like if your a mother you get the mother one and if your a sister you get that one etc... But I tell you this sometimes you learn your best lessons or gain more from books that are not in your normal realm of reading or that has a cultural background that is not the same as yours. I mention this because I am Caucasian/American Indian and I learned more and received more from this book in the series than any other one I have read. The stories made me laugh, cry and rejoice! Here are some of my favorites in the order in which I was moved by their stories... Confessions of an Ex-Con By Dennis Mitchell, Something Unbelievable (Mary Spio) , Ripples in the pond (Tyrone Dawkins) The Opening of a New World (Malcom X) Black Children DO read (Wade Hudson) Remembering Eric (Tracy-Clausell- Alexander) In Sickness and in Health ( Dorothy C. Randle) It Runs in the Family (Jarralynne Agee), Life After Death ( Ivonne Pointer).

As an avid reader and member of Oprah's book club I read a lot of books. "Confessions of an Ex-Con" by Dennis Mitchell was one of the most powerful stories I have ever read. WOW, talking about someone who has overcome obstacles and uses those experiences in his seminars to help others transform their lives! This book is a MUST read. My life has been forever changed for the better. Dennis Keep using the talents God has given you to make a difference.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, December 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture, One Story at a Time (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (Paperback)

I had shunned the chicken soup series a few years ago. As inspirational as they were they were not representative of the diversity in the western world and too eurocentric. When I heard about this book I thought I'd give it a try and it's nice to read something different yet very inspirational at the same time. It helped me understand a culture different from mine yet similar at the same time. I hope a chicken soup for the south asian's soul will be next, profiling stories of those who trace their origins to the indian subcontinent and relating to their religions, cultural values and so forth in the north american context.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Little Light of Mine, September 26, 2004

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture, One Story at a Time (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (Paperback)

The light shines in this compilation of uplifting stories of the strength, power and resilience of African Americans. From its opening story until the final chapter, the reader is standing in triumph of how wonderful we are as African Americans. CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOUL engages the readers with stories that inspire, empower and strengthen African-Americans.

The stories are placed into categories that best suit the feelings that are trying to be invoked. The chapters include: From Strong Roots, Celebrating Family, Triumph and Resilience, Accepting Me Loving You, Praise, Worship and Prayer, Lessons Learned and Making A Difference. There are stories written by unknown authors and authors such as Maya Angelou, Leslie Banks, Tracy Price-Thompson, Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. All the stories were wonderfully written and felt so timely in that they convey feelings of strength that one would garner from stories that relish in our beauty and strength as African Americans. Although I enjoyed all the stories presented, there were a few that really embraced me with their warmth they include: Fried Chicken and Collard Greens, More Alike Than Different, Cold Hands, Warm Heart, A Magical Moment With Ali and Life After Death.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOUL builds upon the foundation of strong, resilient and purposeful people. It illustrates that our strong groundwork has helped to make us the people that we are today. Through slavery, discrimination, poverty and statistics that have killed many of our dreams, we still persevere and this book reinforces the realness of the culture. Readers will be proud of this collection and no matter what race, everyone will gain a little light of understanding from a group of strong people whose souls have been enriched from the past, present and future.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers