Subject
African Americans -- Folklore Books
Best books
United States. Work Projects Administration
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XIV, South Carolina Narratives, Part 1
"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from…" is a collection of oral histories conducted between 1936 and 1938. Created by the Federal Writers' Project, it documents over 2,000 interviews with formerly enslaved individuals across seventeen states. These firsthand accounts preserve the memories of the last generation to experience slavery directly. While invaluable as historical records, the narratives remain controversial due to being collected primarily by white interviewers during the Jim Crow era, raising questions about bias and self-censorship.
United States. Work Projects Administration
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XIV, South Carolina Narratives, Part 2
"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from..." is a collection compiled between 1936 and 1938 by the Federal Writers' Project. The work contains over 2,000 interviews with formerly enslaved individuals, preserving their memories before this generation disappeared. Conducted primarily by white interviewers across seventeen states, the collection sparked lasting debate about racial bias and authenticity. These narratives offer invaluable glimpses into slavery's reality while reflecting the complex power dynamics of Depression-era America.
United States. Work Projects Administration
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XIV, South Carolina Narratives, Part 4
"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from…" is a collection compiled between 1936 and 1938 by the Federal Writers' Project. The work preserves over 2,000 interviews with formerly enslaved individuals across seventeen states, capturing their life histories before their generation disappeared. These firsthand accounts offer unprecedented testimony about slavery, though historians debate how white interviewers' presence may have shaped the narratives. The collection remains a contested but invaluable window into American slavery and its lasting impact on national identity.
Joel Chandler Harris
Told by Uncle Remus: New Stories of the Old Plantation
"Told by Uncle Remus: New Stories of the Old Plantation" by Joel Chandler Harris is a collection of folklore and tales written in the late 19th century. It features the character Uncle Remus, a wise and whimsical old man who shares stories filled with clever animal characters, notably Brother Rabbit, as he recounts their adventures and life lessons. The stories draw on African American oral traditions, relaying cultural heritage through humorous anecdotes and moral themes. The opening of the narrative introduces Uncle Remus, who reflects on his life and the changes brought about by the new generation, particularly focusing on a fragile little boy who has a penchant for listening to tales. Remus remains endearing and perceptive, noticing the boy's differences from his father while playfully engaging him with light conversation. Their interactions set the stage for storytelling, blending humor and wisdom as Uncle Remus delights in sharing the whimsical escapades of Brother Rabbit and his friends, which are rich in imagination and charm, offering great insight into the values of resilience and cleverness in overcoming challenges.
Sarah Johnson Cocke
Bypaths in Dixie: Folk Tales of the South
"Bypaths in Dixie: Folk Tales of the South" by Sarah Johnson Cocke is a collection of folk tales written in the early 20th century. The book captures the charm and humor of Southern life through its storytelling, showcasing the rich tapestry of cultural heritage and oral traditions. It features narratives filled with lively and colorful characters, such as the wise old nurse Mammy Phyllis, who imparts wisdom and playful stories to the children in her care. The opening of the collection introduces readers to the playful and imaginative world of young Willis and his companion Mary Van, who are guided by Mammy Phyllis. Through their interactions and exchanges, particularly regarding a "telephone" made of a table and a rooster's crowing, readers are drawn into a delightful blend of innocence and Southern dialect. This whimsical scenario not only highlights the children's playful nature but also sets the tone for the tales to follow, steeped in folklore, imaginative play, and the nurturing wisdom of older generations.
Charles C. Jones
Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the vernacular
"Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the vernacular" by Jr. Charles C. Jones is a collection of folktales written in the late 19th century. It presents animal fables, origin stories, and plantation anecdotes from the Georgia and Carolina sea islands, told in the local dialect. Recurring trickster figures like Buh Rabbit spar with stronger beasts such as Buh Wolf and Buh Alligatur, while brief human sketches and closing morals highlight themes of cunning, promise-keeping, and comeuppance. The opening of the collection frames the work with a dedication and a prefatory note distinguishing coastal dialect and lore from the better-known Middle Georgia tales, followed by a contents list and a swift run of short myths. Early stories explain animal habits (why the alligator hugs the riverbank, why buzzard shuns crabs, why owl preys on roosters at night) and showcase Buh Rabbit’s tricks (escaping the Tar Baby in the brier patch, scaring beasts with a horn, eating a neighbor’s butter under the guise of baptisms). Other episodes caution against arrogance or bad faith, as in the poor man who betrays a helpful snake and loses everything, two “friends” tested by a bear, a monkey who learns what “trouble” is, and a prank on an old man by a master posing as Death. Throughout, the tales are brief, lively, and vernacular-driven, often ending with plainspoken morals voiced by named narrators.
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