African American Folklore

African folktales come in many different types. Some are myths explaining the origins of things, while others are tales of heroes with supernatural abilities. Animal stories are many and varied, and they usually involve some kind of trickster who uses his wiles to get out of sticky situations and sometimes into them. There are also cautionary tales explaining why it is important to behave well and treat others with respect, while other stories have a style and shape similar to that of a fairy tale.

A northern white couple has relocated to the South to operate a vineyard on a North Carolina plantation. There, they pass their idle hours listening to the stories of one Uncle Julius, who has a deep knowledge of the land. These stories, however, are more than mere entertainments. They all have their time and place, and they offer not only a quiet commentary on the events of the day but also a deeper reckoning with the plantation’s disturbing past.

Every Tongue Got to Confess is an extensive volume of African American folklore that Zora Neale Hurston collected on her travels through the Gulf States in the late 1920s. The bittersweet and often hilarious tale, which range from longer narratives about God, the Devil, white folk, and mistaken identity to witty one-liners, reveal attitudes about faith, love, family, slavery, race, and community.

From “one of the greatest writers of our time” (Toni Morrison)—the author of Barracoon and Their Eyes Were Watching God—a collection of remarkable stories, including eight “lost” Harlem Renaissance tales now available to a wide audience for the first time. New York Times’ Books to...

Eli and his found family must go back to the time when magic first arrived in London to uncover his lost past in this scintillating sequel to King of Dead Things, a young adult urban fantasy steeped in Afro-Caribbean folklore—perfect for fans of Legendborn and Leigh Bardugo. Gods and secrets...

Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Henry Louis Gates Jr. Spanning more than 35 years of work, the first comprehensive collection of essays, criticism, and articles by the legendary author of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston, showcasing the evolution of her distinctive...

For fans of Legendborn, Neil Gaiman, and Leigh Bardugo, this “electrifying” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) urban young adult fantasy steeped in Afro-Carribbean folklore follows two Black teens searching for a powerful artifact in the hidden magical side of London. Raising the dead is easy...

A Voodoo witch must navigate a magically and racially divided nineteenth century New Orleans to save her mother—and the soul of the city itself—in this lush debut novel inspired by the life of Marie Laveau. In 1843 New Orleans, the reigning Voodoo queen is Marie Laveau, feared by her enemies...

The pre-Civil War South comes brilliantly to life in this masterfully written novel about a mysterious and charismatic healer readers won’t soon forget Mississippi plantation mistress Amanda Satterfield loses her daughter to cholera after her husband refuses to treat her for what he...

You should see this book as a celebration of the resilience, creativity, and wisdom of Black people and their ancestors, and a reminder of the importance of preserving and sharing these stories for generations to come. Whether you're looking for tales of adventure, humor, or wisdom, this has something for everyone. This book is a timeless and inspiring tribute to the enduring power of Black storytelling.