Black Magic: A Pictorial History of the African-American in the Performing Arts

by Langston Hughes, Milton Meltzer

Black Magic Langston Hughes's last book, presents the vast, sweeping story of African-American entertainers--the artists and the musicians, the singers and the dancers, the obscure and the illustrious--from the tragic beginnings in slavery to he triumphant artistic achievements of the late 1960s. Long considered the most comprehensive history of African-Americans in the performing arts, this milestone in black history features hundreds of rare and beautiful illustrations. Covering both the obstacles to achievement that these artists faced, and their eventual triumph, Black Magic —long out-of-print—is an essential book of American history.

Genres: African American

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Through poetry, prose, and drama, American writer James Langston Hughes made important contributions to the Harlem renaissance; his best-known works include Weary Blues (1926) and The Ways of White Folks (1934).

People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langsto...

Reviews

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a GOLD MINE! I purchased it in the late 1960s when I was still in my teens. It has been a constant reference for me throughout the years. I recommend it highly to anyone and everyone interested in learning about the contributions of African-American performing artists throughout our country's history.

[Rabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wants to clues as to how African-Americans got to the point we are today in terms of the entertainment industry? Read this book. Great pics from an eras most of us have forgotten or are too young to know about. And it's Langston Hughes for goodness sake! Interesting to get the perspective of someone who was a contemporary of many of the artists featured.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Magic is a pictorial history of the African American in the Performing Arts by Langston Hughes and Milton Meltzer. I stumbled across this book in the used book section of a library in Las Vegas. As I read it, I am reminded of how much of my history I don't know. Langston Hughes, poet laureate has been called "the recording secretary of the tribe by some because throughout his life whether in poems, story and essays he transcribed black life. It is a gem.

Black Magic is filled with photos of African Americans who created, inspired, transformed much of the foundation of American culture. The book carries its readers from the 1790's up to 1966. Beginning with the days of slavery when Africans, being denied the ability to express themselves, found ways to keep alive their culture despite the harsh conditions of the time.

It contains a wealth of information including photographs, posters, drawings, paintings and covers of sheet music of songs written by enslaved black folk as they expressed themselves through music, song, dance and folktales. It highlights exploitation in all areas of the performing arts. Yet and still African Americans broke through those barriers to make a positive and lasting impact on American culture.