ALA Booklist

%% This is a multi-book review. SEE the title American Indian Voices for next imprint and review text. %% (Reviewed May 15, 1995)

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1995)

Stepto has selected prose and poetry from the pens of noted African-American writers past and present to illustrate the irrevocable strengthening link between African Americans and their African heritage. The volume offers a philosophical and thought-provoking challenge to sophisticated readers. Works by a variety of artists are poorly reproduced in black-and-white. Bib., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

From the ``Writers of America'' series, an anthology of about 40 short selections—poetry and excerpts from essays, novels, and short stories—by 31 writers, such as James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Frederick Douglass, Rita Dove, W.E..B. DuBois, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Derek Walcott, and Richard Wright. Stepto's introductory matter and commentary link the selections thematically through images of the circle (representing the connectedness of life, family, and generations), the veil (of invisibility and separation), water (symbolizing variously the voyage to slavery and the journey to freedom or release in death), and music (the voice of an oppressed people). These give a sense of the overarching themes of African-American literature as a whole. A companion volume in the series, American Indian Voices (ISBN 1- 56294-382-0), is similarly arranged around the themes of belief, traditions, change, and survival. Although Stepto's volume is useful as an overview, and its thematic focus is a relief from the more conventional organization, the selections are mostly so brief that very little sense can be gained of the many distinctive voices represented. Artwork from painters such as Romare Bearden and Henry Tanner tie in with the themes, but reproduce poorly in black and white. (bibliography, index) (Anthology. 12+)"

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up--Stepto examines African American literature in light of four symbols of connection--the circle, the veil, water, and song. To illustrate these links, works by writers as diverse as Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Rita Dove, Ralph Ellison, W.E.B. DuBois, Ernest Gaines, Andrea Lee, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Jamaica Kincaid, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others are excerpted. This title is unique in that it looks at similarities among the whole scope of the African American literary tradition instead of concentrating on biographical information on selected authors. In addition, readers may apply the symbols identified to African American writers who have not been included. Students and teachers alike will find the book enlightening, and the index, meticulous acknowledgments, and list for further reading make it easy to use. An important addition to any collection.--Marilyn Makowski, Greenwood High School, SC