My Soul Has Grown Deep: Classics of Early African-American Literature

I have a lot of books, but this is one of the few that I will never part with. Each chapter in this anthology radiates true beauty. If you need a break from superficial entertainment--or an inspiring new role model--this is the book for you.

My Soul Has Grown Deep, John Edgar Wideman I give the book five stars for the simple fact that the author put together a book that contains books I have been intending to read. Thereby, I had no excuse not to read them. I will say that reading this book was a "chore." It sat on my bookshelf for months and every time I looked up it was staring at me, demanding attention. I will give a brief summary of all the books below: Richard Allen 5 stars I enjoyed the book. I did learn something I had not known before. Phillis Wheatley 3 Stars Unfortunately, Phillis was the Wheatley's pet. I am sorry to say she died impoverished. Jarena Lee 3 stars I did not enjoy reading this book at all. The writing was dull. I found myself annoyed at Ms. Lee often. I got the distinct impression that she suffered some form of mental illness. She seemed to be somewhat a religious fanatic. The book mostly covered her extensive travel to preach the gospel. What struck me was her near abandonment of her child to others to raised while she traveled all over the place. However, I appreciate her story and contributions. Olaudah Equiano 3 Stars I did not like this book. Olaudah simply annoyed me with his butt kissing and religious ideas. I skipped over his preaching. He kept making the same mistakes over and over. I don't know; maybe I am applying my 21st sensibilities to his story. However, the insights into his capture, enslavement and experiences, particularly in the West Indies, were invaluable. Sojourner Truth 3 Stars I know that Mrs. Truth was illiterate, and she arranged for some else to write her story, but I kept getting the feeling that the writer was injecting too much of themselves and ideas into the story. This just doesn't feel like a first person story. What most impressed me was her fight for her son Peter. She won that battle. Unfortunately, Peter turned out to be a disappointment. I don't know maybe she ran to his rescue too much. Frederick Douglas 5 Stars I enjoyed reading this story. I have been intending to read this book for years. Now I can mark it off my list. Nat Love 5 Stars Nat Love was a hoot. I absolutely loved reading his story. It was funny. He always seemed to be the hero in all of his tales. He made me smile and laugh. Deadwood Dick aka Nat Love was a true character. Booker T. Washington 3 Stars I did not like this book. I found Mr. Washington's butt kissing and non sense philosophy irritating and so unrealistic. However, I also recognize his shrewdness in kissing the white power structure butts. He did get Tuskegee built and funded. Ida B. Wells 5 Stars I loved Mrs. Wells' writings. It made for hard reading, but it was worth it. Mrs. Wells was a true activist, often fighting the battle alone, while the so-called leaders of the day sat back resenting her courage and the fame it garnered her. Why does everybody know who Frederick Doughlas and D.E.B Dubois are? She had more guts then both of these

True this book is heavy and could make you look like a geek reading it outside the comfort of your home but that is where any criticsm for this extra-ordinary literary compilation ends. The essays that were so assiduously deliberated over, are without a shadow of doubt some of the finest that could have come out of those times. Not some of the finest that a black writer of those times could deliver but the finest any thinker or writer could put together and strangely enough i still find the underlining messages very relevant in social issues that face ethnic minorities in the west. Having the unique opportunity read great texts with boigrahical info to preceed the text is just great. I think most of all, probably because it was my first time of reading it, was the essay and indeed the short biographical introduction of Ida B Wells which just simply blew me away. I could go on and on but you need to get a copy and READ IT - definately a collectors item

It might take all your strength to balance this ten pound book on your chest while you read yourself to sleep, but if you can muster the energy you'll be repaid with some of the best black history available. This collection captures the upbeat hilarity of Nat Love's cowboy experiences, the bittersweet saga of Frederick Douglass's escape to freedom, the positive energy of Booker Washington's philosophy of "lifting up [his] race" and much more. The detail and poignancy of each writer's experience with slavery is the most powerful common element of the writings. It might be too bulky to keep in your purse or backpack, but it's a valuable reference to have in a good personal library.

This thick literary compilation of early Afro-American literary classics should be in the collection of any serious library: My Soul Has Grown Deep draws from both famous and neglected works from colonial days, drawing on narratives, oratory, and verse to sample a strong cross-section of black American literature. The attention to a range of genres and experiences makes this an outstanding presentation.