Mingo, and Other Sketches in Black and White

** "Mingo, and Other Sketches in Black and White" by Joel Chandler Harris is a set of stories painted in the hues of the late 1800s American South. Readers find themselves amongst characters like Mingo, a freed slave, as they navigate the shifting terrain of the post-Civil War South. Through lively characters and imagery, the collection considers nostalgia, societal progress, and the delicate dance between races and classes of the time. The book starts by setting the scene in Crooked Creek Church, in Middle Georgia, where the narrator finds himself back after years of absence. He notices how things have changed and reflects on Mingo, once loved by many for his laughter. Mingo now seems weighed down by responsibility. An invitation to lunch with the unique Mrs. Bivins then starts off a chain of amusing and revealing interactions, highlighting the essence of Southern culture. All of this begins the book with both turmoil and tenderness, inviting us into individual stories that make up a larger picture of Southern life. **