Drylongso: A Self-Portrait of Black America

by John Langston Gwaltney

In writing his Self-Portrait of Black America , anthropologist, folklorist, and humanist John Gwaltney went in search of "Core Black People"―the ordinary men and women who make up black America―and asked them to define their culture. Their responses, recorded in Drylongso , are to American oral history what blues and jazz are to American music. If the people in William H. Johnson's and Jacob Lawrence's paintings could talk, this is what they would say.

Genres: Race, History, Anthropology, Nonfiction, African American, American History

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 1980

Reviews

[Shelley Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1980 book contains transcripts of interviews the author did with Black Americans about their experience of being Black in America. These oral histories are fascinating to read in 2017, because in some ways you see how much has changed and yet how little has changed. The author made every effort to help the participants feel comfortable enough to be uncensored and outspoken and it's clear that they are telling truths they would not tell to just anyone.

I believe it's important to be informed about cultural differences and this book certainly is educational. I like the fact that an anthropological approach was used in America. We usually think of reading about different cultures in other nations, but we have plenty of cultures right here at home...

[Phil Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than a "self-portrait of Black America," Drylongso is a carefully chosen strand from the large national tapestry of Black America. However, this New Jersey strand is fairly (though not entirely) representative of that tapestry. The people in these books represent a Black America that both mainstream White America and mainstream Negro America (left, right and center) pretend does not exist. It still exists. But it is endangered on all sides by cultural homogenization.

[Donald Quist · Rating 4 out of 5]

An very important piece of literature.

[Lizz]

I'm a little sad, I only read the assigned chapters for class but this is definitely an ethnography worth reading for kicks.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enlightening book. It did make me sad. The idea of white fragility & rage as a reaction of fear is spot-on. The interviews were done in the 60's to 70's - I would love to see an updated copy of this book.

[Renee Moreno]

Awesome book