Psst! There’s a few secrets that our people should know about, and one of them is that the characters in Black folktales aren’t always as innocent as they appear. Here’s the scoop on a few of them.
#1: The Clever Underdog
Many African folktales feature the clever underdog. This character uses smarts instead of strength to defeat a bigger or more powerful enemy. The underdog proved to enslaved and oppressed people that it was possible to outwit the colonizers.
#2: The Trickster
The lesson of avoiding immorality has been a staple in West African folktales. Temptation, greed, and deception can feel good at first, but there’s always consequences, and if one person gets in trouble that can mess it up for other people in our communities.
#3: The Rebel
Throughout the Caribbean, Black America, and West Africa, characters representing resistance have been powerful for our people because they were used to inspire resistance against slavery across the globe.
Our people used folktales to educate and bring our people together to resist oppression. With the power of education, together, we only grow stronger. What are your favorite folktales?