Fairy Tales with a Black Consciousness: Essays on Adaptations of Familiar Stories

This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The all new essays in this book discuss Black cultural retellings of traditional, European fairy tales. The representation of Black protagonists in such tales helps to shape children’s ideas about themselves and the world beyond their limited experiences. Allowing them to see themselves in traditional tales strengthens connections with the world and can ignite a will to read books representing diverse ethnic and cultural characters. Also discussed is the need for a multicultural text set which includes the multiplicity of cultures within the Black Diaspora.

The tales referenced in the text are rich and diverse in perspective, illuminating stories such as Aesop’s fables, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Ananse. Readers will see that stories from Black perspectives adhere to the dictates of traditional literary conventions while steeped in literary traditions that can be traced back to Africa or the diaspora.