About Abernethy et al.'s Juneteenth Texas

Juneteenth Texas: Essays in African-American Folklore is now available as a free e-book at the UNT Digital Library and The Portal to Texas History.

Juneteenth Texas explores African-American folkways and traditions from both African-American and white perspectives. Included are descriptions and classifications of different aspects of African-American folk culture in Texas; explorations of songs and stories and specific performers such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Manse Lipscomb, and Bongo Joe; and a section giving resources for the further study of African-Americans in Texas.

”[T]he editors have contributed significantly to making our past relevant to our present in Juneteenth Texas, a collection of essays that explore African-American folkways and traditions. Drawing upon the expertise of folklorists, musicologists, filmmakers, historians, anthropologists and just plain folks… the objective is to use the prism of African-American folklore to enlighten all Americans about our common culture… So evocative is the writing on musical folklore, one longs for a companion CD to add even more vitality to… an excellent text.” —Dallas Morning News

“This volume on black Texas folklore is a fresh and fascinating contribution to African-American history.” —Journal of Southern History

“The editors have put together a valuable volume which will be treasured by all of those who are interested in the rich fabric of African-American life in Texas.” —East Texas Historical Association Journal

“People who appreciate a good story or a fine yarn need only to mine the treasures of Texas folklore, especially those tales of African-Americans… It’s hard to pick favorites in this compilation, as all of the selections are worth treasuring… a valuable addition to the library.” —Our Texas

“…an excellent anthology of viewpoints on African-American folklife and custom… both historical and contemporary.” —Come-All-Ye

“Texans of all colors would do well to check out this engaging, highly readable dialog by some of the state’s premier folklorists.” —Review of Texas Books

This collection, with contributions by Glen Alyn, T. Lindsey Baker, Lorenzo Thomas, Dave Oliphant, Alvia Wardlaw, Patricia Smith Prather and others, contains essays based on personal experiences and reminiscences about the past as well as the present, from both African-American and white perspectives; descriptions and classifications of different aspects of African-American folk culture in Texas; studies of specific genres of folklore, such as songs and stories; studies of specific performers such as Lightin’ Hopkins, Manse Lipscomb, and Bongo Joe; studies of particular folklorists who were important in the collecting of African-American folklore in Texas, such as J. Mason Brewer; a section giving resources for the further study of African Americans in Texas.