Syracuse, New York African Americans (Black America Series) Book

From my blog...[return]An insightful look into the many facets of the African culture, from spiritual beliefs, folklore, herbal remedies, as well as recipes, Stephanie Rose Bird has assembled a fascinating collection of history in her book, The Big Book of Soul: The Ultimate Guide To The African American Spirit. The book is divided into ten chapters, beginning with Bird's thorough introduction to the African history and culture with definitions and origins. Next she writes about African American wellness, beginning with Hoodoo, or folkloric practices. Again Bird does a stellar job explaining the origins, usage and beliefs. She segues into the use of African herbs, traditional and modern uses and spends a large segment speaking on this topic, which I found quite interesting. I know a little about Chinese herbalists, but I knew nothing about traditional African herbalists. Bird continues on with childbirth, spa treatments, beauty regimens, and some recipes as well as personal stories. The Big Book of Soul was an intriguing and educational read for me. I found the knowledge to be intriguing, Bird's definitions and origins to be very helpful and I gained an insight and knowledge about a culture I did not previously have. If one is interested in learning more about the African culture, The Big Book of Soul may be a fabulous place to begin.