Reviews
"As any well-organized, carefully annotated bibliography does, this work by Southern (Harvard, emerita) and Wright (College of Wooster) brings order out of chaos. The 2,328 entries identify books, articles, sermons, pamphlets, and broadsides, among other formats, all centered on black folk culture with emphasis on the manifestations of that culture from 1600 to 1920 through song, dance, games, sermons, and illustrations. A volume in the "Greenwood Encyclopedia of Black Music," the book is organized chronologically into four major sections and then subdivided into publications grouped around the topics "Social Activities," "Religious Experience," "The Song," and "The Tale." The annotations not only describe the item listed but provide a note to indicate whether it includes the text of a particular song, sermon, or game. As a supplement to the enumeration of textual sources the compilers have supplied an extensive and unique annotated listing of iconographic materials--drawings, paintings, sketches, and photographs that illustrate the various facets of black folk culture. Indexes supply access by author, subject, illustrator, and first line of both chorus and verse of songs. The text is presented in camera-ready copy. This carefully done and useful bibliography is recommended for libraries on all campuses where there is an interest in the black experience." Choice, "As any well-organized, carefully annotated bibliography does, this work by Southern (Harvard, emerita) and Wright (College of Wooster) brings order out of chaos. The 2,328 entries identify books, articles, sermons, pamphlets, and broadsides, among other formats, all centered on black folk culture with emphasis on the manifestations of that culture from 1600 to 1920 through song, dance, games, sermons, and illustrations. A volume in the "Greenwood Encyclopedia of Black Music," the book is organized chronologically into four major sections and then subdivided into publications grouped around the topics "Social Activities," "Religious Experience," "The Song," and "The Tale." The annotations not only describe the item listed but provide a note to indicate whether it includes the text of a particular song, sermon, or game. As a supplement to the enumeration of textual sources the compilers have supplied an extensive and unique annotated listing of iconographic materials--drawings, paintings, sketches, and photographs that illustrate the various facets of black folk culture. Indexes supply access by author, subject, illustrator, and first line of both chorus and verse of songs. The text is presented in camera-ready copy. This carefully done and useful bibliography is recommended for libraries on all campuses where there is an interest in the black experience."- Choice
