Blacks in the diaspora

Joseph E. Holloway

This illuminating scholarly work explores the enduring influence of African cultural traditions on American life, tracing how Africanisms have shaped language, music, religion, folklore, foodways, art, and everyday customs. Drawing on historical research and interdisciplinary perspectives, it reveals the resilience and creativity of African American communities in preserving, adapting, and transforming inherited traditions. The book challenges narrow understandings of American culture while highlighting the central role of African contributions in its development. Accessible and richly informative, it is a valuable resource for readers interested in African American history, cultural studies, anthropology, and the roots of American identity.

Edda L. Fields-Black

This groundbreaking study traces the deep connections between rice cultivation in West Africa and the development of rice economies in the Americas. Focusing on the specialized knowledge, labor, and agricultural traditions of African rice farmers, it reveals how these practices traveled through the Atlantic world and shaped communities in the African diaspora. Combining archival research with historical and cultural analysis, the book illuminates the resilience, expertise, and lasting influence of African peoples often overlooked in conventional accounts of slavery and plantation history.