A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories

Book excerpt: An Esquire “Best Christmas Book to Read During the Holidays” An anthology of 22 Christmas stories written by African American journalists, activists, and writers from the late 19th century to the modern civil rights movement Originally published in African American newspapers, periodicals, and journals between 1880 and 1953, these Christmas stories are part of the black literary tradition that flourished after the Civil War. Edited and assembled by esteemed historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, this enchanting collection of Christmas tales is back in print for the first time in over a decade. These stories and poems reflect the Christmas experiences of everyday African Americans and explore familial and romantic love, faith, and more serious topics such as racism, violence, poverty, and racial identity. Featuring the best stories and poems from previous editions along with new material: • “The Sermon in the Cradle” by W.E.B. Du Bois • “A Carol of Color” by Mary Jenness • “The Christmas Reunion Down at Martinsville” by Augustus M. Hodges • “The Children’s Christmas” by Alice Moore Dunbar • “Christmas Eve Story” by Fanny Jackson Coppin • “Mollie’s Best Christmas Gift” by Mary E. Lee • “A Christmas Story” by Carrie Jane Thomas • “Fannie May’s Christmas” by Katherine Davis Tillman • “Elsie’s Christmas” by Salem Tutt Whitney • “General Washington: A Christmas Story” by Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins • “The Autobiography of a Dollar Bill” by Lelia Plummer • “Mirama’s Christmas Test” by Timothy Thomas Fortune • “A Christmas Party That Prevented a Split in the Church” by Margaret Black • “Three Men and a Woman” by Augustus M. Hodges • “It Came to Pass: A Christmas Story” by Bruce L. Reynolds • “A Christmas Journey” by Louis Lorenzo Redding • “Uncle U.S. Santa Claus” by James Conway Jackson • “The Devil Spends Christmas Eve in Dixie” by Andrew Dobson • “One Christmas Eve” by Langston Hughes • “Santa Claus is a White Man” by John Henrik Clarke • “Merry Christmas Eve” by Adele Hamlin • “White Christmas” by Valena Minor Williams A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories celebrates a rich storytelling tradition and will be cherished by readers for years to come.