The People Could Fly - American Black Folktales told by Virginia Hamilton Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

This rich collection of folk tales originated with African Americans telling stories about their environment and the curious creatures around them during times of slavery before the end of the Civil War. This collection includes twenty-four folk tales categorized by animal tales; tales of real, fancy, and fanciful; tales of the supernatural; and tales of freedom. I chose to read three of the animal tales in this collection. The tales are rich with dialect reflecting the type of storytelling done by African Americans long ago. "He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit" is a tale that implies a lesson about boasting and selfishness as He Lion's neighbors tactfully try to encourage He Lion to change his ways, so they could all live peacefully among themselves. In the end, boastful and confident He Lion dares to face Man. After getting shot and hurt by Man He lion learned new respect for a being other than himself. Another folktale, "Doc Rabbit, Bruh Fox, and Tar Baby" was similar to another version of this same folktale found in "The Classic Tales of Brer Rabbit" from stories collected by Joel Chanler Harris retold by David Borgenicht. In "The People Could Fly" collection version of the tale the tar baby was shaped like a rabbit. The fox had set up a trap to catch Bruh Rabbit, and it worked well. Bruh rabbit grew frustrated at the tar rabbit not responding to him, and Bruh Rabbit wound up getting stuck to the tar baby everytime he touched it. It would seem that the Rabbit was victim to the trickery, but in the last sentence Bruh Fox let Rabbit go free. The fox is ultimately foiled. The similarity between this tale and the Bref Rabbit Tales is that Brer Rabbit tricked the fox into releasing him from the tar by feining fear about the fox throwing him into the briar patch. Bruh Rabbit knew that the briars would help release him from the holds of the tar, and he used his cunning to craft an effective escape. A third folk tale in "The People Could Fly" collection relates a story of how a turtle got it's shell markings. After an eagle had dropped Tapppin the Turtle into the water after an unsuccessful flying lesson Tappin tries to find food for his children by seeking the counsel of the King of the underworld under water. After the king's temporary fix of the dipper filled with food failed Tappin, the turtle again consulted the King only to be given a cowhide that magically and unpleasantly beat him causing his markings. The tale seemed to connect to the life of the slaves trying to sustain life and trying to endure the beatings from the master.