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

by Jack Canfield (Author), Mark Victor Hansen (Author), Lisa Nichols (Author), Tom Joyner (Author) "Growing up, I knew for an absolute fact that no one on the planet was stronger than my mother..." (more)
Key Phrases: lab station, birth mom, African American, Manual Arts, Famous Amos (more...)

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."
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Product Description
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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HCI (September 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757301428
• ISBN-13: 978-0757301421
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #458,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A POWERHOUSE COLLECTION THAT WAS WAY PAST OVERDUE, October 11, 2004

By	Norka Blackman Richard "panamanianqueen" (Rosedale,, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I happen to be one of the contributors of this edition of Chicken Soup. So, since I'm privy to some inside information... let me just say that this Chicken Soup was way past overdue.

Maybe precisely because of this, the stories in this book are simply a powerhouse collection. If you are a fan of the Chicken Soup series, or you love to read a good story, or you simply need something to lift your soul, you've go to read this book.

When I finally got my hands on a copy of this book, of course I read my story first; but then, my husband and I cuddled in bed and started to read each story one by one. Until 2 AM that morning, we were enthralled by every single piece. Needless to say, for the following week this became our bedtime reading. Some stories made us laugh out loud, some made us cry, some made us simply go mmhm, but every single one made us celebrate the uniqueness of our heritage.

When you buy this book, don't keep it to yourself. Give it as a gift (Christmas, New Year, birthdays, anniversaries, appreciation) to all your friends (the white ones too) and relatives. This is a gift that will last a lifetime and one that we should pass on from generation to generation. It is indeed the story of how we've overcome, and how we keep on doing it time and time again.

By the way, our favorite stories (all of them really), but here's our "bestest" list:
Five Garbage Bags and a Dream,The Lady at the Bus Stop, Over the Wall, My Father's Son, Where's Your Notebook?, The Fragile Eight, A Hardworking Man's Hand, Light at the End of the Tunnel, At the End of My Block, Lord When Will This Journey End?, I Owe You an Apology, Sister I'm Sorry, The Nod, Guess Who We're Playing?, Angels All Around,Living History, Hand-Me-Down Love, It Runs in the Family, The Bionic Woman is Black, A Magical Moment with Ali.....

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

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

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.