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African American Slave Folklore Terms |
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Although Black people are becoming increasingly aware of the wisdom of Ancient Africans, the folklore and folk behaviors of African American slaves' as a major form of coping with the enduring hell of slavery is under appreciated. Actually, is there anything better to show the slaves' brilliance than in slave folklore? But before spotlighting slaves' folklore, let us start by untangling the subject of "folks" and then see what "folks" do. The first reason for this is that clear terminology helps clear thinking. Second, we come to a common ground beginning. Third, the information about folklore is very disorganized, chaotic, or lumped together into a glob. Chaotic information causes one to be indecisive by preventing the ability to focus and stay on point. Glob information, besides meaning that one can not adequately express oneself (which forms frustration and a short temper), prevents one from being able to go through the steps of rational thinking (e.g. analyzing a problem or synthesizing bits and pieces into a solution).
The word "folk" comes from Old English (folc) and German (volk), meaning the people, tribe, nation, man-kind; people in familiar language; and any kind of people as discriminated from others (i.e. a separated people or race which originally referred to a "confederation of German tribes forming a nation). To speak of "folk" anything is to refer to their common sense about what is under consideration-i.e. the wisdom of the people apart from academic knowledge. Common sense can be likened to a skyscraper building whereby the underground foundation and base upon which it rests are respectively like the "folk's" system of values. The base represents the standard upon which cherished values rest. For example, the foundational base (i.e. the standard) of Ancient African culture was God; the underground foundation, Ma'at (i.e. love in action); and the above ground structure represented the power approach-the non-aggressive way the people desired to relate to each other. Whatever the people deemed acceptable (i.e. expected) to be inside that structure was called "common sense". Whatever "leaned" outside (which was usually acceptable) or was positioned outside the structure (which was not acceptable, particularly by African sages) were "superstitions." The categories of common sense include what the "folks" think, feel, say, and do. While researching the literature you will find that these categories have various labels-like folklore, folk tales, folk plays (pageantry and local tradition rituals), and folkways. But terribly confusing is what each author decides to include under the canopy of each label. Rather than jump into this confusion, allow me to say what makes sense to me.
Folkways - as socialized "second nature" (i.e. ingrained tendencies, customs, non-moral approaches, methods, techniques, technical rules, and other behavioral fragments of the society)--are norms governing commonly accepted practices, customs, and habits that make up the fabric of daily living. Examples include table manners; accepting one's place in line rather than butting in ahead; showing respect when addressing people; and wearing appropriate clothing to social gatherings. The people punish violators by "staring"; by "biting" or "cutting" comments; by avoidance, exclusion, and ostracism; or by gossip and rumors. Folk Philosophy consists of the prioritized system of values-the principles of behavior which the people call "mores"-because they concern those morals that have been consciously approved of and enforced by the people. Folk Psychology embraces the feelings, emotions, thoughts, popular superstitions, and beliefs common in daily living that make for a "group" mind.
Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.
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