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Calling the Wind: Twentieth Century African-American Short Stories
Jean Toomer, Zora Neale Hurston, Charles Wright, and more than fifty other important black authors record the experiences of African Americans from the Reconstruction to the present and demonstrate the evolution of the American short story form. Original.
656 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1992
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About the author
Clarence Major
56 books27 followersCurrently a professor of twentieth century American literature at the University of California at Davis, Clarence Major is a poet, painter and novelist who was born in Atlanta and grew up in Chicago.
Clarence Major was a finalist for the National Book Awards (1999). He is recipient of many awards, among them, a National Council on The Arts Award (1970), a Fulbright (1981-1983), a Western States Book Award (1986) and two Pushcart prizes--one for poetry, one for fiction. Major is a contributor to many periodicals and anthologies in the USA, Europe, South America and Africa. He has served as judge for The National Book Awards, the PEN-Faulkner Award and twice for the National Endowment for The Arts. Major has traveled extensively and lived in various parts of the United States and for extended periods in France and Italy. He has lectured and read his work in dozens of U. S. universities as well as in England, France, Liberia, West Germany, Ghana, and Italy.
Clarence Major was a finalist for the National Book Awards (1999). He is recipient of many awards, among them, a National Council on The Arts Award (1970), a Fulbright (1981-1983), a Western States Book Award (1986) and two Pushcart prizes--one for poetry, one for fiction. Major is a contributor to many periodicals and anthologies in the USA, Europe, South America and Africa. He has served as judge for The National Book Awards, the PEN-Faulkner Award and twice for the National Endowment for The Arts. Major has traveled extensively and lived in various parts of the United States and for extended periods in France and Italy. He has lectured and read his work in dozens of U. S. universities as well as in England, France, Liberia, West Germany, Ghana, and Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2010
This anthology of short stories by African Americans include all ot the greats from the 20th century which includes Paul Laurence Dunbar, Jean Toomer, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and many more. I have previously read many of the stories such as Percival Everetts's, Age Would Be That Does; Jamaica Kincaid's, Girl; and Arna Bontemps, A Summer Tragedy.
It's difficult to select favorites from among such greats, however, I will settle for Ernest Gaines', A Long Day in November which depicts love and forgiveness of a husband, wife and very young son in the segreated south.
Langston Hughes writes a very terse, brief, though comedic story of "Passing" during the Harlem Negro Renaissance in Who's Passing for Who?
One of my all time favorites that I will read again is Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson which is a sort of coming of age story.
It's difficult to select favorites from among such greats, however, I will settle for Ernest Gaines', A Long Day in November which depicts love and forgiveness of a husband, wife and very young son in the segreated south.
Langston Hughes writes a very terse, brief, though comedic story of "Passing" during the Harlem Negro Renaissance in Who's Passing for Who?
One of my all time favorites that I will read again is Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson which is a sort of coming of age story.
January 21, 2020
This collection of short stories by African American authors covered from 1899 to 1991. Many
of the authors I had not heard of, but some were familiar.
Most of the stories addressed the subject of race in one way or another. Some portrayed
horrific treatment of blacks not only in the days of slavery, but up through modern times.
But in "The Ingrate" a slaveowners exploitation of a highly skilled and intelligent slave
backfires.
Several addressed "yellow" negroes, some who passed for white and others who insisted
on being designated as negro. In "White Rat" the narrator tells of being arrested with
some of his friends and being separated from them and put in the "white" cell until his
black grandmother comes and bails them out. In "Screen Memory" a girl being raised
by her grandmother is snatched away and put in a white foster home because a black
woman should not be raising a white child. The little girl runs away back to her grandmother.
Some of the stories focused on human relationships without regard to race. "The World of
Rosie Polk" shows that Prince Charming can appear even in a migrant camp. In Quilting on
the Rebound" has a woman jilted by her fiancé discovering a whole new and better life.
One of my favorites is "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. It is only a page and a half long and reads
like poetry. I could read it over and over and still enjoy it.
of the authors I had not heard of, but some were familiar.
Most of the stories addressed the subject of race in one way or another. Some portrayed
horrific treatment of blacks not only in the days of slavery, but up through modern times.
But in "The Ingrate" a slaveowners exploitation of a highly skilled and intelligent slave
backfires.
Several addressed "yellow" negroes, some who passed for white and others who insisted
on being designated as negro. In "White Rat" the narrator tells of being arrested with
some of his friends and being separated from them and put in the "white" cell until his
black grandmother comes and bails them out. In "Screen Memory" a girl being raised
by her grandmother is snatched away and put in a white foster home because a black
woman should not be raising a white child. The little girl runs away back to her grandmother.
Some of the stories focused on human relationships without regard to race. "The World of
Rosie Polk" shows that Prince Charming can appear even in a migrant camp. In Quilting on
the Rebound" has a woman jilted by her fiancé discovering a whole new and better life.
One of my favorites is "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. It is only a page and a half long and reads
like poetry. I could read it over and over and still enjoy it.
December 25, 2020
I happened upon this collection by accident. It was an amazing exposure to many authors I'd never heard of and a few that I had. The collection is now 20 years old so even the later stories are not totally contemporary. However, the stories span a century of African American writing with themes and tone that are important for everyone to experience.
July 7, 2021
After reading each story, I say thank you to Clarence Major. Each story is very different. Each one expresses a particular message. All, in some way, will change the reader.
November 3, 2008
You know how these go: some are great and some aren't.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews