Mules and Men by Zora Neale Huston
A Review By: AT
In Mules and Men, some of the rich cultural heritage of black America is revealed and preserved. In the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston returned to her home town of Eatonville, Florida, to collect and record the oral histories, songs, and sermons, many dating back to slavery times, that she remembered hearing as a child. These highly metaphorical folktales, "big old lies", and powerful songs helped her to recover her history, and preserve an important part of American culture.
The unique heritage of African-Americans, presented here with imagination, humor, and wisdom, has tremendous value for students of cultural history, as well as to anyone who loves a good story well told. This recording features Ruby Dee, a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and actress in A Raisin in the Sun on Broadway and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 1999
An installment in a Series? No
Narrator (s): Ruby Dee
A delightful, nostalgic collection of Africa American folklore.
I absolutely enjoyed this collection of stories. Hurston’s first person narrative is engaging and warm. I felt like I was in the room listening to the “lies” with her and caught myself smiling more than once during this listen. Tinged with humor, southern vernacular, and wisdom, this is a must listen for anyone seeking to delve into Black American culture. The legendary Ruby Dee delivered a stellar performance, completely embodying Hurston’s work.
Note: this production is abridged.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: 5 (I need another one!)
Content Warnings? None
