The African
by Harold Courlander

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Book Reviews of The African

Book Review: Was this the book that started it all?
Summary: 4 Stars

But there are interesting vignettes in the book, such as the way the slaves try to hold on to their old African traditions even as they are forcibly being "Americanized" every day. There is a connection with these slaves and the modern day immigrants who also try to hold on to customs of their original country. In an unfamiliar country, the newcomer tries to construct the familiar, even if it is something as simple as placing in the new home a picture or knick-knacks that are a link to the past. For slaves whose "immigration" was forced and who had nothing (in some cases, not even their clothes), trying to hold on to the old ways is the only way to construct the familiar. The author is well-versed in African customs (see his other books like "The Cow Tail Switch," "The Fire on the Mountain," and "The Hat Shaking Dance") -- and the reminiscences and rituals in the slave cabins are a touching part of the narrative.

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