Encyclopedia of Black Folklore and Humor [Paperback]

Henry D. Spalding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2010

This well-rounded social history of the African-American demonstrates very graphically the close relationship between folklore and orthodox history. From the hundreds of humorous tales, anecdotes, biographies, recipes, musical selections, and historical notations included in this work, a pattern revealing a new, socially-minded black American unfolds. Through the encyclopedias seven sections--Long Night of Bondage, Plantation to Emancipation, Parables in Black, A People Sing, Poets Corner, Turn of the Century, and The New Breed--the African American emerges from a once confined and submerged plantation-type into a new heroic figure marching forward with pride.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A monumental task of research, the greatest single work on the black American. ---- J. Mason Brewer

The most substantial collection of black folklore and humor yet published. ---- Saturday Review Syndicate

About the Author

A native of New York City, Henry D. Spalding began his career in journalism as a reporter for the New York Mirror and the Journal. While a member of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., he was an accredited White House correspondent. In the 1950s Spalding moved to Los Angeles, where he was active as editor and publisher of Deejay, Disc, and Top Ten--all music magazines--as well as Talent News, a show-business trade journal. Mr. Spalding is also the author of Encyclopedia of Jewish Humor, Joys of Irish Humor, and Joys of Italian Humor & Folklore.

Product Details

• Paperback: 540 pages
• Publisher: Jonathan David Publishers, Inc. (January 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824604822
• ISBN-13: 978-0824604820
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of its type, January 9, 2012

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Black Folklore and Humor (Paperback)

Those who enjoy the almost lost art of African American Folklore will truly enjoy this!

Not to be confused with the more recent Encyclopedia of African American Folklore (which is an academic work), this is a good layman's collection of Black American Folktales from slavery to 1971, when the book was published, with some good and interesting commentary between the tales by Spaulding.

Most of the familiar stuff is here, such as Brer Rabbit, John Henry, and Old John tales, as well as rare materials from obscure publications. The collection also benefits from the work of J. Mason Brewer, who was a pioneer in this kind of work. Brewer's works such as "Juneteenth" (a 1932 anthology of Texas slave stories that was among the first published collections of black folktales by a black writer) and "Humorous Folk Tales of the South Carolina Negro" are not easily available, so we get large chunks of material from these books.

We also get a good collection of lesser known slave songs, including an extremely rare one that celebrated the Gabriel Prosser revolt in Virgina in 1800.

The book closes with some Civil Rights era humor of the type that Dick Gregory specialized in at the time.

Overall, an excellent book from which to laugh and learn.