Yesterday, I reminded readers that even though Richard Wright is often times remembered for his novel Native Son, his short stories were very important to launching his literary career. Today, I continue my exploration of writers in the “100 Novels Collection” (link expired) who are also short story writers, focusing on Toni Cade Bambara.

Her first collection of short stories, Gorilla, My Love, helped to compliment her involvement in the emerging black feminist movement. The majority of the short stories in her first collection are told from the first person point of view of a sassy black female girl. This is significant since it offers an opportunity for readers to interpret the coming of age experiences of young black girls. Below, take a look at some of Bambara’s short stories. 

Gorilla, My Love (1972)

My Man Bovanne

Gorilla, My Love

Raymond’s Run

The Hammer Man

Mississippi Ham Rider

Happy Birthday

Playing With Punjab

The Lesson   

The Survivor

Sweet Town

Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird

Basement

Maggie of the Green Bottles

The Johnson Girls

The Sea Birds Are Still Alive: Collected Stories (1977)

The organizer’s wife

The apprentice

Broken field running

The sea birds are still alive

The long night

Medley

A tender man

A girl’s story

Witchbird

Christmas Eve at Johnson’s Drugs N Goods