Letter dated 1852 relates the events of a negro corn-shucking. Slaves invite their friends from neighboring plantations and they make a party out of shucking a tremendous amount of corn.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Journal of American Folklore ; A Negros Corn Shucking

Keyword(s): CORN ; CUSTOM ; Gathering ; HARVEST ; NEGRO ; PARTY ; Plantation ; Shuck ; Slavery ; Slaves ; South

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving

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Tongue Twister

Nonsense TongueTwister:

Howe many knees could a negro grow if a negro could grow knees?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Sense? None? Ambiguous?

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Knees ; NEGRO ; Spoof ; TONGUE TWISTER

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Formula

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Entry filtered.

Joke

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Doll Joke:

Negro Doll: Wind it up and it moves into your neighborhood.

Submitter comment:

From his friend, Brian.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Doll ; JOKE ; NEGRO ; Neighborhood ; RACISM ; Racist ; Slur ; Tasteless ; Wind-up

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Formula
Filter - Mature Content

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Entry filtered.

A:WHAT DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU CROSS A NEGRO WITH A JEW?
B:A JANITOR, BUT HE OWNS THE BUILDING!

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD

Keyword(s): African American ; Black ; ETHNIC SLUR ; Jewish ; JOKE ; NEGRO ; Stereotype

Subject headings:

RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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Entry filtered.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU CROSS A POLLACK WITH A NEGRO?
A RETARDED JANITOR

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD

Keyword(s): Black ; ETHNIC SLUR ; Janitor ; JOKE ; NEGRO ; POLISH

Subject headings:

RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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WHITE RACE BELIEF

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

GWENS MOTHER BELIEVES THAT THE REASON THAT WHITE PEOPLE DO
NOT GET AS COLD AS NEGROES IS BECAUSE WHITE MOTHERS
PUT THEIR CHILDREN OUTSIDE IN WINTERTIME WITH ONLY A JACKET
PERHAPS, NEGROES HAVE COLD BLOOD BECAUSE THEIR MOTHERS KEEP
THEIR CHILDREN INSIDE DURING REALLY COLD WEATHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Black ; BLOOD ; CLOTHING ; Cold ; NEGRO ; RACISM ; TEMPERATURE ; Warm ; WEATHER ; White ; WINTER

James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; COLOR

Subject headings:

53O

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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KIND OF FOOD AND ITS PREPARATION: MEAT

ONE OF THE UNIVERSAL IMAGES OF THE NEGRO, IN PRISON
AND OUT, WAS THAT HE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT PORK. IT
MADE ME FEEL GOOD TO SEE THAT MY NOT EATING IT HAD
ESPECIALLY STARTLED THE WHITE CONVICTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PAGE 156 ; AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X ; GROVE PRESS INC

Keyword(s): Black ; DIET ; NEGRO ; Pork ; PRISON ; Stereotype

Subject headings:

Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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NEGROES USED TO BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING RHYME:
IF YOU ARE BLACK, STEP BACK.
IF YOU ARE BROWN, STICK AROUND.
IF YOU ARE WHITE, YOU ARE ALL RIGHT.
BUT NOW THEY BELIEVE, "I'M BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Black ; NEGRO ; RACISM ; RHYME ; Segregation

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
BELIEF -- Color

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I HAVE WORKED WITH THEM IN THE KITCHEN AND KNOWN THEM TO STOP
EVERYTHING WHEN A THUNDERSTORM CAME UP AND GO TO A CORNER AND
NOT BUDGE UNTIL IT WAS OVER. (SPEAKING OF NEGROES FEAR OF
STORMS)

Submitter comment:

SISTER HAD CHARGE OF THE KITCHEN IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Black ; FEAR ; NEGRO ; RACISM ; SUPERSTITION ; Thunderstorm

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER

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Entry filtered.

MANY MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS BELIEVE THAT NEGROES HAVE
AN INNATE SUPERIOR MUSICAL ABILITY, PARTICULARLY IN
RHYTHMIC SKILLS.