The Norton Anthology of African American Literature by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

The Norton Anthology of African American Literature Reviews

• 
  Michelle

  One of the few texts that I did not sell back to the bookstore for beer money.
• 
  Aaron

  An excellent anthology, including many works in their entirety. This book covers about 300 years of literature, and should be a standard for English students.
  
  The included audio CD was a nice extra, containing tracks from the original Lomax recordings and a song sung by Paul Robeson. This is a good reference text for anyone interested in American History or American literature.
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  Alex

  Not that I want to actually read this, per se, necessarily, but that I want to remember to read
  everything in it.
  
  Thanks to Adam for cluing me in to this - he was like "you know, the famous anthology edited by Henry Louis Gates," and I was like the what now? Way to make me feel like a chump, Adam.
• 
  Sarah

  The Revolution Will Not be Televised. From novel excerpts to rap and hip hop lyrics to poetry to audio accompaniment, it's all here. This anthology is amazing, literally drawing from every facet of the African American written word. It includes anonymous slave songs; it includes the big names in contemporary literature; it includes everything in between. Common themes are explored throughout, sometimes overtly and sometimes implicitly. Despite the all-encompassing nature of the volume, common threads definitely run throughout. We know Norton is the best. This is why. The only drawback is that, of course, as soon as it went to print it became a piece of history in an ever-evolving body of material. But that's a problem inherent in every anthology that is not time-period specific, I suppose.
• 
  Christopher

  I read this book for my African American Literature class while attending Tallahassee Community College. From the works enclosed in this book, I would have to say that it gave me a positiver outlook on my life as an African American male. I ended up getting pretty much an African American history lesson as well.
• 
  Dee Cherry

  I loved the fact this book included snippets from historical reads such as Harriet Jacob's, " Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl", Harriet E. Wilson's "Our Nig" & Booker T.'s "Up From Slavery". This book also included an abundance of poems, spirituals & folktales. I loved the way the works were divided into different time periods. Excellent source for African American literature.
• 
  Brandi

  Nellie Y. McKay's "The Norton Anthology of African American Literature" is an excellent resource for the study and exploration of African-American literature. It was used in one of my undergraduate classes and was one of the college books I decided to keep to add to my personal library. It came in quite useful when a later class asked us to do a research paper on Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl".
  This book includes includes the work of 120 writers over two centuries, including works from W.E.B. DuBois, Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Richard Wright, and Lorraine Hansberry among many others. The book is well-organized and structured, making it easier for readers to find exactly what they are looking for. It is an excellent textbook and would make a fine addition to any reference library.
  I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, African-American literature, or just really good writings in general. (One of my favorite sections is the poetry). I'll probably have to purchase one of the newer editions in the near future so that I can have access to the cd material, which was not included with my copy.
• 
  Christopher Butson

  Incredibly extensive collection of essential works; I wanted to read through it this Summer, but there's no way I'll be able to. It includes entire works and selections. The editors did a crazy good job! I am very impressed at the choices, though it may be a bit phallo-centric.
• 
  Jarrett Neal

  The only anthology I've ever read from cover to cover. It's over 2000 pages long and packed with works from black writers I'm ashamed to say I'd never even heard of. A must read for anyone interested in black literature. A must-own for English instructors.
• 
  Charles

  Shortly after reading this amazing collection of novels, memoirs, poetry and essays covering the past two hundred plus years of Africans tortured history in America I opened the newspaper to read that the editor and foremost African American scholar had been arrested and roughed up for trying to burglarize his own house.
  
  This is an rich and thick collection of African American writers from the past two hundred years. What is truly inspiring about the stories, novels, essays, and poems is rather than exhausting the material in the 2800 pages this volume points the reader to other uncollected riches.
• 
  Molly Morgan

  I haven't read the entire thing, cover to cover. From what I've gleaned in my Harlem Renaissance class, this is a collection of beautiful excerpts from a fascinating body of literature.
• 
  Nancy

  I'm not sure how to classify this. It is history, poetry, short stories, essays and excerpts from larger works. There is a lot here to digest. I feel my privilege in that I can now pick up something lighter to escape whereas African American's don't have the luxury of changing their skin color to experience a kinder gentler world. There is a lot of exceptional writing here. I was glad to be introduced to some wonderful authors. A lot of the content is heartbreaking. I was sorry not to find some joy, but I think I understand why. I found Norton's Anthology of Literature by Women much easier to read even though it is about the same length. Perhaps because as a woman I could more easily understand the perspective. This was a great education and a great challenge.
• 
  Willard Rose

  This book was a great anthology. If you could not find it elsewhere. It was within the covers of this volume. Useful after class was finished.
• 
  Hanna

  So long, so detailed.
• 
  Timothy Pitkin

  Nice collection of poems and short stories by some of the greatest African American writers of the past.
• 
  Abbie O'Hara

  It's clear there are significant gaps in this anthology, but all around it is sufficient.
• 
  Katie

  I just wish I had the second edition so I could pass my class
• 
  Hindi Al-Qahtani

  Thank
• 
  Professor Typewriter

  Good and remarkable work. An important anthology.
• 
  Rachel Foley

  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this for my African American Lit class. I felt that this gave a wonderfully detailed historical view of African American literature, and all of the things that fit with it.
• 
  Hans Ostrom

  A pioneering anthology, recent editions of which come in two volumes. Extremely well edited.
• 
  Ian

  My hat goes off to the the scholars who dedicated their energies to the behemoth task of compiling this monumental anthology. Encompassing over two-hundred and fifty years of African American literature, this collection of spirituals, sermons, folktales, biographical accounts, short-stories, letters, and even an audio CD gives voice to a part of American history that has long been yearning to be heard. This comprehensive collection is fundamental for anyone with a desire to better understand the American journey. I first read this anthology during a summer session as part of the curriculum for a community college course. Although it is true that this is a literary anthology, literature and history are inexorably linked. Therefore, I am forever indebted to the publication of this text for providing me with a more accurate picture of American history. Perhaps it was an unintentional consequence of growing up in white-suburbia that from an early age I developed a rather Euro-centrically skewed worldview. However, after reading this collection of works, my eyes were opened to the rich perspective that African American literature gives, providing a more balanced understanding of American culture. The tragedies, struggles, defeats, accomplishments and joys of my Black countrymen have taken up residence in my heart thanks to the publication of this text. I highly recommend this book to those interested in gaining a better understanding of Black history, Black literature, or Black culture; or to those simply looking for a good read. I was first introduced to this collection over a year ago, however during this period I have come back to it time and time again as much for its merit as a literary resource as for the pure enjoyment derived from every page.
• 
  Inknscroll

  In this Norton anthology, I enjoyed an beautiful mosaic of many African-American writers' poems, essays, letters, or excerpts of works (or whole works). I loved the Spirituals: "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Take my Hand, Precious Lord," & many more. I loved Phillis Wheatley's poetry, Sojourner Truth's story & speeches (especially "Ain't I a Woman?"), Frederick Douglas' escape from slavery, Booker T. Washington's "Out of Slavery" (an excerpt), W. E. B. DuBois' "The Souls of Black Folks" (an excerpt), & many of Langston Hughes' poems. I enjoyed Harriet Jacobs' story of survival & escape from slavery, Alice Dunbar Nelson's poetry, Jean Toomer's "Cane." I, also, read Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Natasha Tretheway (former Auburn professor & former U.S. Poet Laureate), & many others. One of my most favorite Langston Hughes' poems is "Mother to Son." I definitely recommend this book; it covers a multitude of African-American writers from Pre-1700s to Modern era (20th century). (This book did not cover African writers; it focused only on African-American writers.)
• 
  Ms KA

  Although, this was a ‘required read’ for my sophomore year of college (University of Missouri - St. Louis) I elected to take African American literature as a 2nd English class; in addition to English Composition 101.
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed it! It made be both cry and smile. It’s loaded with a plethora of historical information that’s missing from western civilization history books. I’ve read it several times for leisurely purposes, as well. It’s that intriguing.
  
  It contains underground (grass roots) journals (some deemed as outlawed during that period of time), letters from slaves, journals from feminists, journals from masters wives, journals from masters, freedom fighters, civil rights activists and tons of other thought-provoking narratives that aren’t in basic history text books due to the content being labeled as controversial. It’s a black box worth opening!
  
  It should be a required read in highschool. It’s that important!
• 
  Candice Seplow

  Level of reading is agreeable for a third year college student or higher. Explores cultural contrasts and correlation between the struggles of blacks and whites through an anthology of literature from a vast time frame. Enjoyable to read for a personal experience as well, even though it would be good to read the short stories and poems in concentric order, it would be a good challenge to open to a random section and see if you can guess the era the story is taking place. Or even if you just read the feature'd short story and poem that is originally a play "A Raisin In The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry. It's interesting to read how the results of the play unfolds and to learn each character's personalty.
• 
  Kristine

  Excellent anthology includes short stories, selections from longer fiction and nonfiction, drama, poetry, music, speeches; several works are in their entirety. Includes two CDs--one music, one spoken word. It's hefty--over 2800 pages. Sections are The Vernacular Tradition (including spirituals, blues, jazz, sermons, folktales); Literature of Slavery and Freedom, 1746-1865; Literature of the Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance, 1865-1919; Harlem Renaissance, 1919-1940; Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, 1940-1960; The Black Arts Era, 1960-1975; and Literature Since 1975.
• 
  Antona Smith

  This is one of the best anthologies that introduce readers to African American literature across centuries. It has remained one of my best go-to sources when I plan the lists for The Hurston & Hughes Literary Circle. I love that this anthology features full poems and excerts, as well as biographies of the writers. It is a gift that there are so many African-American female writers features, women whose bravery with the pen is not often highlighted. Excellent resource for ELA teachers in search of quality materials to include more diversity in their instructional toolbox.