The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1899-1967: The Classic Anthology [Paperback]

James Baldwin (Author), Gwendolyn Brooks (Author), Paul Laurence Dunbar (Author), Ralph Ellison (Author), Zora Neale Hurston (Author), Alice Walker (Author), Richard Wright (Author), Frank Yerby (Author), Various Others (Author), Langston Hughes (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (February 28, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316380318
• ISBN-13: 978-0316380317
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Best Short Stories by Black Writers" is a #1 classic!, June 9, 2000

By 

Jamaica Wall (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1899-1967: The Classic Anthology (Paperback)

This book is an excellent example of reality. In each short story, there is some kind of relivance of growing up in a nation filled with crime, love, kindenss, hardships, and friendships. The writers express themselves so wonderfully, vivid pictures of the events are played in my head. It keeps middle-school children very attentive, mainly because they can easily relate to the troubles of growing up today. Teens can feel a sense of comfort in this book because they know they are not alone. This book contains collections by some of the best authors in the world. It really makes the african-american culture shine to where all cultures will enjoy!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best of The Best, December 14, 2002

By 

Alex Thanos (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1899-1967: The Classic Anthology (Paperback)

This book is a collection of short stories that was put together by the great Harlem Renaissance writer, Langston Hughes. Some authors whose works are also featured in the book are Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alice Walker. These stories are fun to read and they speak about the current issues that Black America was facing during the time period. This book is for anyone who is trying to better understand black thought during the 20th century.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The collection of short stories is a GEM!, November 14, 2010

By 

Rizzo (Nowhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1899-1967: The Classic Anthology (Paperback)

I cannot express how wonderful these short stories are, how descriptive the places and people are and how great the spoken dialogues. You cannot help but to be taken back into time, to another culture, the Negro culture of the past, and of course some stories heavy on the vernacular of the era. Some of these stories have been in college anthologies, some are new to any reader. The original title of this book is called The Best Short Stories by Negro Writers 1899-1967. That original title sets the tone of these wonderful writings.

Langston Hughes has written the intro and said: ...."these stories in this bok range geographically from South to North, East to West from America's Panama Canal Zone to our Chicago Loop.

Some memorable stories include

Richard Wright's "Almos a Man", where a 17-year old measures the success of a man by one who "owns a gun" and accidently kills the mule.

Santa Claus is a White Man by John Henrik Clarke is a sad story how a young boy's first experience to racism is from none other than Santa Claus on the street.

Come Home Early Chile by Owen Dodson is the story of a young man who comes back home to learn that a hated woman is on display at the funeral home. He lashes his disrespect and despise to the dead woman, right there in her coffin.

A Summer Tragedy by Arna Bontemps tells the story of an aging married couple who decide to make a pact. The old man heads the pact to prevent any health issues preventing him from taking care of his blind wife.

The Almost White Boy by Williard Motley is the story of a black young man who passes for white and becomes involved with a white woman.

You will find some stories by the popular writers, Alice Walker - To Hell With Dying; James Baldwin - This Morning, This Evening, So Soon; Ernest J. Gaines - A Long Day in November; Langston Hughes - Thank You, M'am; Zora Neal Hurston - The Gilded Six-Bits, etc. etc.