Black Culture and Black Consciousness: Afro-American Folk Thought from Slavery to Freedom (Galaxy Books)
"This is readable and makes students think about the past, present, and future.  It's truly multicultural, multidisciplined, multidimensional, and relates to their daily lives and world."--Rosalyn Baxandall,State University of New York at Old Westbury"Levine's study has filled a significant gap in scholarship on African-American thought.  It will remain a masterpiece for scholars, students, and others who seek to connect with the African-American mind as expressed through the prism of folk sources."--Lewis V. Baldwin,Vanderbilt University"An accessible yet sophisticated study of African-American culture that any student would appreciate."--Thelma Foote,New York Univ."Through an exhaustive investigation of black songs, folk tales, proverbs, aphorisms, verbal games and the long narrative oral poems known as 'toasts,' Levine argues that the value system of Afro-Americans can only be understood through an analysis of black culture....His work ranks among the best books written on the Afro-American experience in recent years."--Al-Tony Gilmore,The Washington Post"One of the best books on Afro-American culture I've read....A major work, bound to have lasting influence."--Ishmael Reed,California Monthly"The Afro-American historical experience looks very different after reading Levine's outstanding book."--Herbert G. Gutman"Must be read by all who would understand the Afro-American experience and American culture in general."--Eugene D. Genovese,University of Rochester"A prodigiously researched and beautifully written work....There is material aplenty here for teachers of survey courses not only to embellish lectures with but to carve out whole new approaches to the study of slavery and race in American history."--History Teacher"The most impressive investigation of how African traditions informed the lives of slaves and, preserved in religious and secular music and folklore, has enabled blacks to maintain a remarkably independent though only partially separate existence."--Texas Journal"A great book, a landmark book--a historian who understands folklore's significance and adds to its significance as a historical book."--Steve Siporin,Utah State University