HEART AND SOUL The Story of America and African Americans

The success of Kadir Nelson’s short book and Debbie Allen’s amazing dramatization comes from the engaging narrator of this story. The unnamed elderly black woman recounts African-American history from the American Revolution to present day, blending poignant personal memories and family tales with stories of famous people and events. Allen’s memorable portrayal of this character, a powerful storyteller, turns faded past eras into vivid scenes. The tenderness of family relations mixes with hoots of Civil Rights pride and the brutal testaments of those kept “under the thumb of Jim Crow.” Noted black inventors, artists, and sports and political figures are merged gracefully and elegantly with a sweeping view of world events. Together these paint a profound, poetic picture of the heart and soul of African-American history. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2012 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2011]