My Soul Looks Back

My Soul Looks Back captures Jessica B. Harris's experiences in 1970s New York City, where she found herself in the company of literary giants like James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Toni Morrison. The memoir chronicles Harris's entry into this influential circle through her relationship with Sam Floyd, Baldwin's close friend. Through meals shared at downtown restaurants and gatherings in Greenwich Village apartments, Harris documents the cultural and intellectual life of Black New York during this pivotal decade. As a food historian and cookbook author, Harris weaves cuisine throughout her narrative, using meals and recipes to mark significant moments and relationships. The book reconstructs the tastes, locations, and conversations that defined this era in New York's cultural history. The memoir stands as both a personal coming-of-age story and a valuable record of a transformative period in African American literary and cultural life. Through Harris's perspective, readers gain insight into the intimate moments and daily lives of some of America's most significant writers.

Readers appreciate Harris's intimate portrayal of 1970s New York's Black intellectual circles and her friendships with James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and other cultural figures. Many note her evocative descriptions of food, cooking, and meals shared with friends. Readers highlight her detailed accounts of dinner parties, restaurants, and travel experiences. Several mention the value of seeing this slice of NYC history through her perspective as a young academic. Common criticisms include a somewhat scattered narrative structure and that Harris keeps emotional distance from certain events. Some readers wanted more depth about her personal relationships and inner life. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (230+ ratings) "Like sitting down to dinner with a great storyteller" - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful writing but feels reserved at times" - Goodreads reviewer "A feast of memories and personalities" - NPR Books reader comment

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin Baldwin's collection of essays about race, culture, and his life in New York City provides the same intimate view of 1950s-60s Harlem that Harris captures in her memoir.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Bourdain's memoir of New York's restaurant scene combines food history with personal narrative in the same way Harris uses cuisine to tell her story of 1970s Manhattan.

The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander This memoir traces Alexander's life in the New York arts scene and her connections to prominent African American intellectuals, mirroring Harris's immersion in cultural circles.

The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor Naylor's novel depicts interconnected lives in 1970s New York, presenting the same era and social landscape that Harris experienced.

The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz Lebovitz's memoir combines food writing with personal narrative and cultural observation, employing the same technique Harris uses to document her experiences.

🗽 Baldwin's legendary dinner parties, described in the book, often featured his famous "smothered chicken" recipe, which became a symbol of the intellectual gatherings of that era 📚 Before writing this memoir, Jessica B. Harris authored 12 cookbooks and is considered one of the preeminent authorities on African American food history 🎭 The book's title "My Soul Looks Back" comes from the gospel song "How I Got Over" by Clara Ward, reflecting the spiritual and cultural dimensions of Harris's journey 🏛️ Harris became the first African American woman to study at Queens College, Cambridge University, setting a precedent for future generations of scholars 🎨 The Greenwich Village of the 1970s, central to the book's setting, was home to over 500 artists' lofts, creating an unprecedented concentration of creative energy in New York City