Negro Tales

"Negro Tales" by Joseph S. Cotter is a collection of short stories that vividly captures the African American experience during the early 20th century. The book navigates the complex terrain of human relationships, life's struggles, and themes of both humor and tragedy. In the beginning of the anthology we meet a diverse cast of characters wrestling the circumstances life has handed them. The initial story tells a grim tale of a family torn apart by conflict, culminating in the sudden death of a father and leaving the characters to deal with grief and the weight of their actions. A morally ambiguous character emerges, revealing a disregard for how others perceive him, which catalyzes the breakup of a family's ties. These scenarios establish a base from which other stories branch out while further exploring poverty, betrayal, and humanity’s innate search for dignity amid life’s hardships.