“Imagine the situations in which these speech acts occur… Recall a front stoop, juke joint, funeral, wedding, barbershop, kitchen: the music, noise, communal energy, and release.” — From the Foreword by John Edgar Wideman

Folklore was Zora Neale Hurston’s earliest passion, and Every Tongue Got to Confess represents her third major collection of African American folktales. Gathered in the late 1920s but published for the first time here, the volume captures a brilliant range of stories passed down across generations.

These tales—funny, sharp, playful, bittersweet, and sometimes boldly irreverent—offer a vivid portrait of life in the rural South at the turn of the twentieth century. Some date back as far as the Civil War. Organized by theme—God Tales, Preacher Tales, Devil Tales, Heaven Tales, White-Folk Tales, Mistaken Identity Tales, and more—they reveal community values, humor, frustrations, faith, and resilience. Through them, readers encounter enduring views on slavery, race relations, family, love, and the everyday dynamics of Black life.

In his foreword, author John Edgar Wideman reflects on Hurston’s groundbreaking commitment to preserving African American oral tradition and guides readers in hearing these stories within their broader cultural and historical context. Carla Kaplan’s introduction details the origins of the collection, how the tales were lost and rediscovered, and why they remain profoundly relevant.

With remarkable accuracy and affection, Hurston captures the voices of ordinary people—their linguistic creativity, sharp wit, improvisational brilliance, and deep sense of community. Every Tongue Got to Confess stands as a tribute to the storytelling traditions that shaped Black American culture and continue to influence language and art today.

Praise for Every Tongue Got to Confess

“An extraordinary treasure.” — Boston Globe