By: Whitney Kouaho (’20), Managing Editor
About a month ago, Michael Bae—I mean…B—Jordan, made some questionable statements about the state of folklore and mythology in the Black community. He asserted “We don’t have any mythology, Black mythology, or folklore…creating our own mythology is very important because it helps dream.” …Excuse me sir, HUH?! Kirikou didn’t defeat the evil sorceress Karaba for you to tell Vanity Fair that Black people don’t have folklore! Storytelling is a huge part of Black culture (not only in America, but around the world). It’s frustrating to see the history of our folk tales and mythology being discredited when there are so many forces that joined together to ensure their (the stories and characters) survival.
Therefore, I have written four examples of Black folk characters, stories, and authors that have really stuck with me over the years:
Zora Neale Hurston’s Anthology of folklore: Mules and Men
Zora Neale Hurston was a highly celebrated novelist/folklorist/anthropologist/ethnographer – essentially she was THAT girl. Most known for her critically acclaimed novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, Hurston produced a considerable amount of written work ranging from short stories to ethnographies. Much of her published pieces reflected her love for Black folklore and she often looked to the community for inspiration. In the mid-1930s, Hurston set out to Florida and New Orleans to collect folk stories from the local African-American communities. This resulted in her writing “Mules and Men”, which is a collection of over 70 stories and the first of many folk pieces she released during her lifetime.
The Tale of John Henry:
Henry was the neighborhood “steel-driving man”. Tall, husky, and strong, he was purported to be the strongest man alive. After he was freed from slavery, John began “working on the railroad”. He maneuvered the work with finesse and power, so much so that he was thought to be the best workmen around for miles. One day the railroad team secured a new acquisition: an automatic steam drill that was said to be more efficient than any man. Henry, who was very confident in his skill, contested that he could beat the drill. What ensued was a battle between Henry and the drill, which ultimately ended in a victory for Henry. Although he died as a result of the competition, his feat placed him in history among the strongest men to ever live.
Anansi the Spider:
Anansi (also referred to as Ananse, Anancy) the spider is a folk character that originated from the Akan people (present-day Ghana, Ivory Coast), spread around the West Indies and even reached as far as the Americas. Anansi is said to have asked the Sky-God to bring stories to the world as there weren’t any at the time. The Sky-God agreed under the conditions that Ananse brought back three animals (Osebo the Leopard, Onini the Python, and Mboro Hornets) as sacrifices. After going through a series of trials to secure these animals, Anansi was successful and the Sky-God rewarded the world with stories. The character has been used in dozens of other stories throughout history and is most known for its shrewd, yet powerful behavior.
Oshun and the Yoruba Goddesses/Gods:
Remember when Beyoncé, wearing a ripped yellow dress, strutted down the streets swinging a bat in Lemonade? The typical viewer probably didn’t think too much of the symbolic meaning of the clothing. And unless you were well versed in Yoruba spiritual figures, it would’ve been hard to recognize that Beyoncé was emulating Oshun – the Yoruba goddess of sexuality, fertility, and freshwater—who’s known for wearing yellow pieces. The figures in the Yoruba religion have had a considerable influence and can be seen in many bodies of literature and art worldwide. For example, Nalo Hopkinson tackled the religion in her novel “Brown Girl in the Ring”, it is practiced by the main character “Jayd” in the “Drama High” series by L. Divine, is one of the themes in Nnedi Okorafor’s “Akata Warrior” series, and many more.
Honorable Mentions:
The Soucouyant
Papa Bois
Jack O’Lantern
Brer Rabbit
Big Liz
Mulfaro’s Beautiful Daughters
The Black folklore and mythology realm are expansive. I’ve only listed a few in this piece but it would be fallacious for anyone, even if they are incredibly handsome and talented, to state that the Black community is lacking in this genre. The tradition of passing down stories is one that has often been regarded as a staple for Black communities (worldwide) throughout history. Even if our stories aren’t as popular as those of the Greeks or other “western” communities, suggesting that they don’t exist is an act of erasure, and I won’t stand for it.
