Jessie Carney Smith, "Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture 4 volumes"

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Jessie Carney Smith, "Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture 4 volumes"

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From the Apollo Theater to the Harlem Renaissance, from barber shop and beauty shop culture to African American holidays, family reunions, and festivals, and from the days of black baseball to the era of a black president, the culture of African Americans is truly unique and diverse. This diversity is the result of intricate customs forged in tightly woven communities―not only in the United States, but in many cases also stemming from the traditions of another continent.

"Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture" presents information in a traditional A–Z organization, capturing the essence of the customs of African Americans and presenting this rich cultural heritage through the lens of popular culture. Each entry includes historical and current information to provide a meaningful background for the topic and the perspective to appreciate its significance in a modern context. This encyclopedia is a valuable research tool that provides easy access to a wealth of information on the African American experience.

Review
". . . it's hard to imagine a collection that wouldn't be strengthened by this significant resource."
― School Library Journal

"The design of the book is top-notch. . . . The index is thorough and can easily lead a reader to the right articles. This set will be useful for African American and popular-culture collections in academic and large public libraries."
― Booklist

"Whether for a student seeking biographical information on a specific African American or one needing ideas on a paper on popular culture, this set will prove useful. . . . Recommended for high school, college and public libraries."
― Library Journal

"This reference book, which addresses multiple cultural influences rather than simply listing important people, could be a useful starting point for papers and projects on African American popular culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates; general readers."
― Choice

Jessie Carney Smith is dean of the library and William and Camille Cosby Professor in the Humanities at Fisk University.