A compilation of tales from Afro-American folklore by storytellers such as Zora Neale Hurston, Nikki Giovanni, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Maya Angelou.

Overflowing with wisdom and humor, here is a comprehensive collection of favorite tales from the vigorous and vibrant oral tradition of African American folklore.

Transcending a history of oppression and struggle, Black storytelling is an expression of great social complexity and profound aesthetic significance. Woven into its fabric is the essence of Black language, lifestyle, and survival. Talk That Talk contains close to one-hundred stories by famous storytellers from America, Africa, and the Caribbean—plus insightful commentaries from historians and critics. Gathered here is a tremendous range of authentic stories— from animal tales and cherished legends to poems, raps, sermons, and heroic biographies—making this book delightful and important reading for all ages.

Among the storytellers included are Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Zara Neale Hurston, Dick Gregory, Leadbelly, Langston Hughes, Winnie Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr.