For Thomas, folklore' is an all-encompassing term that incorporates the sum total of the rituals, practices, and behavior of the black community. . . . Although some readers will quarrel with the elasticity of Thomas's theoretical framework, this study nevertheless offers a useful overview of the various ways in which Afro-American writers have drawn upon a common cultural heritage. "Choice"

This study focuses on the transposition of Afro-American folk heroes and rituals from folklore to literature. Thomas shows how black American novelists perceive the heroes and rituals of their...