African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Games, Plays, Songs and Stories

Since I did proverbs (from Jamaica!) yesterday, I thought I would carry on today with some other fun folklore genres, starting with Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage by Bessie Jones and Bess Lomax Hawes.

Bessie Jones (1902-1984) grew up in Georgia, and her recollections form the basis for the book. The editor, Bess Lomax Hawes, was an American folklorist and musicologist, and the sister of Alan Lomax; it was her brother who first put her in touch with Bessie Jones. You can read more about both Bess Lomax Hawes and Alan Lomax at Wikipedia.

The other two books I want to feature are by the remarkable Thomas Talley, the son of former slaves, botn in 1870 in Shelbyville, Tennessee, went on to become  a professor of chemistry at Fisk University in Nashville, and he was also a collector of African American folksongs. He was the author of two important books: Negro Folk Rhymes (Wise and Otherwise) and The Negro Traditions.

The book Negro Folk Rhymes was published in 1922, and Talley collected the words to over 300 songs and published them in this book, the first collection of African American songs toe published by an African American scholar.

The Negro Traditions. was published in 1993 , featuring previously unpublished folklore research by Talley, with a wide range of folktales and folk beliefs. 

Here is a list of the chapters: De Wull-er-de-Wust (Will o' the Wisp) ~ Cotton-eyed Joe orThe Origin of the Weeping Willow ~ Why the Jaybird Goes to See the "Bad Man" on Friday ~ The Headless Man ~ Why the Buzzard Is Black ~ The Negro Slave in the Moon ~ How the Bear Lost His Judgeship ~ Why the Irishman 1s a Railroad Section Boss ~ Why the Preacher Dresses in Black ~ The Parrot Overseer ~ The Courting Old Woman ~ Why the Cat and the Dog Are Enemies ~ Origin of the Dog's Habits ~ The Devil's Daughters or Why the Fish Have Fins ~ Why White Overseers of Negro Slaves Had Little Sense ~ Riddle Them Right.

I'll be back tomorrow with some books following up on Talley's work as a musicologist; spirituals and folksongs are some of the most powerful African American creative accomplishments!

Meanwhile, enjoy all three of today's books at the Internet Archive:

Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs

and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage

by Bessie Jones and Bess Lomax Hawes

Negro Folk Rhymes

by Thomas Talley

The Negro Traditions

by Thomas Talley