Revolutionary Tales

by Bill V. Mullen

With the exception of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's 1859 tale The Two Offers," no short story by an African-American woman appeared in print before 1895 when, at last, voices so long stifled burst free. In the outpouring of proud stories that followed, African-American women shared their experiences, smashed stereotypes, and recorded the untold story of African-American life in bold, defiant anthology fiction.

This stunning anthology begins with Harper's original story and chronicles the literary journey of African-American women to the present day -- from "As the Lord Lives, He Is One of our Mother's Children," Pauline E. Hopkins 1903 story of mob justice, to "Like a Winding Sheet," Ann Petry's. 1945 tale of domestic abuse, to "The Last Day of School," Maxine Clair's 1994 portrayal of forgiveness and redemption.

Headnotes for each work and biographical notes for each author and to the richness of this volume, making it a work that deepens our understanding, delights our intellects, and rings loud with truth.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies

544 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 5, 1995

Reviews

[Jeff Hobbs]

Read so far:

The Two Offers / Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Aunt Lindy: A Story Founded on Real Life / Victoria Earle Matthews
Black Is as Black Does (A Dream) / Angelica Weld Grimke
The Stones of the Village / Alice Dunbar-Nelson --4
*As the Lord Lives, He Is One of Our Mother's Children / Pauline E. Hopkins
The Taming of a Modern Shrew / Ruth D. Todd
*Emmy / Jessie Fauset
My House and a Glimpse of My Life Therein / Jessie Fauset
Drenched in Light / Zora Neale Hurston --3
*The Typewriter / Dorothy West
*Wedding Day / Gwendolyn Bennett
Sanctuary / Nella Larsen --2
Mrs. Adis / Sheila Kaye-Smith --3
A Possible Triad on Black Notes / Marita Bonner
The Gilded Six-bits / Zora Neale Hurston --2
Part of the Pack: Another View of Nightlife in Harlem / Hazel V. Campbell
Mob Madness / Marion Cuthbert
Conjure Man / Octavia B. Wynbush
*Justice Wears Dark Glasses / Grace W. Tompkins
Like a Winding Sheet / Ann Petry --2
All That Hair / Melissa Linn
Like One of the Family / Alice Childress
Got to Go Someplace / Alice Childress
Sometimes I Feel So Sorry / Alice Childress
About Those Colored Movies / Alice Childress
*Has Anybody Seen Miss Dora Dean? / Ann Petry
A Sound of Crying / Anita R. Cornwell
*Neighbors / Diane Oliver
Not Your Singing, Dancing Spade / Julia Fields
A Revolutionary Tale / Nikki Giovanni --2
Gorilla, My Love / Toni Cade Bambara --2
Everyday Use / Alice Walker --3
A Ceremony of Innocence / Arthenia Bates Millican
White Rat / Gail Jones --2
Babies / Becky Birtha
Play It, but Don't Say It / Ann Allen Shockley
Color Me Real / J. California Cooper
The Spray Paint King / Rita Dove
A House Full of Maude / Colleen McElroy
*Ma'Dear / Terry McMillan
In the City of Sleep / Wanda Coleman
The Last Day of School / Maxine Clair

[Lanetta Dickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED ALL THE STORIES! a good part of history in this book. i like the way they had some info on the authors before evry short story.

[Cyd Beacham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost every story in this book is thought provoking. This book should be required reading for High School students!