Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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STORY
THIS IS A STORY ON THE WHITE FOLKS. YOU KNOW BACK IN THE OLDEN
DAYS WHEN THE COLORED PEOPLE DIDNH HAVE ANYTHING TO DO. THROUGH
THEYRE DOING, THEY DIDNT HAVE NO WHERE TO PRAY BUT UNDER AN OAK
TREE. AND EVERYTIME THEY START TO PRAYING, WHITE FOLKS WOULD
TAKE AN WHIP AN BUGGY WHIP, WHAT THEY CALL A RAW HIDE LEATHER
TIDED ON THE END OF A STICK, COME DOWN AND BEAT EM. SO FINALLY
ONE DAY THE BLACK MAN DECIDED HE'LL PRAY. HE SAY HE'S GONA TALK
TO THE LORD. AND HE GONA TALK TO HIM IN PERSON. SO HE WENT DOWN
HE DID IN THE WOODS. DIDN'T CLEAN HIM OUT NO PLACE , HE DECIDED
HE'L KNEEL DOWN. HE STARTED TO PRAYING.
HE SAID OH LORD, HE SAID,
I'M DOWN HERE IN THESE WOODS TRYING TO SERVE YOU THE BEST I CAN.
CAUSE WHEN I WAS DOWN AT THAT OTHER OAK TREE, SAY THE MAN USE
THAT RAW HIDE WHIP ON ME, HE DAY. BUT IM GONA TELL YOU ONE THING
HE SAYS, AS I PRAY DOWN ON MY KNEES TROUBLE ALWAYS AROUND. AND
HE SAYS ONE DAY I WAS PRAYING AND I SAY TROUBLE ALWAYS AROUND AND
YOU WHIP ME. HE SAY WHY DID I WHIP YOU HE SAY YOU LET THAT
WHITE MAN DRAW THAT WHIP BACK AND GIVE HIM THE POWER TO HIT ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO BLAMES GOD FOR RACIAL PREJUDICE OF WHITES. ; PRAYER TREE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B645 |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
SONG
TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS,
I'M TOO YOUNG TO MARRY.
WHITE MAN MAKE GET TO TAKE THE MONEY,
NEGRO MAKE THE COTTIN.
TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS,
I'M TOO YOUNG TO MARRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ENVELOPE PARALLELISM ; NEGRO WANTS TO RETURN SOUTH?
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
POEM
MONKEY SITTING ON THE INDIAN RAIL,
PICKIN HIS TOOTH WITH THE END OF HIS TAIL,
GRASS GREW UP AND TOUCHED HIS BALLS,
AND HE JUMPED IN HIS OVERALLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM OR SLANG: BALLS FOR TESTICLES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
I WAS TOLD TO URINATE ON YOUR HANDS AND WASH YOUR FACE WITH IT.
THEN KISS YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND THIS WILL MAKE YOUR MATE LOVE YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIACAL ACTIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
BURY A LOCK OF SOMEONE'S HAIR THAT YOU WANT TO BE YOUR MATE. THIS
WILL MAKE THEM BE YOUR MATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIACAL ACTIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
IF YOU GET A SPLINTER IN YOUR HAND YOU TAKE IT OUT AND PUT IT IN
YOUR HAIR TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING IT IN YOUR HAND AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A PERSON OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, THROW SOME SALT
BEHIND THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL OF WOULD-BE VISITORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS YOUR FEET SPIT ON THE BROOM AND SAY YOUR NAME.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO JAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF SPIT ; NAME MAGIC ; PREVENTIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
MISTER PUMPKIN EATER
IF YOU ARE NOT IN BED AT THE TIME YOU ARE TOLD, A GIGANTIC
PUMPKIN HEAD WILL COME IN YOUR ROOM AND EAT YOU
Submitter comment:
I USED TO TELL MY SISTER THIS WHEN I BABYSAT AND SHE
WOULDN'T GO TO BED. YOU CAN IMPROVE ON IT BY ADDING SCARY
SOUNDS AND GESTURES. I'M NOT SURE WHERE I LEARNED IT, BUT SINCE
THEN WE TELL IT TO CHILDREN WE BABYSIT FOR.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): CARNIVEROUS PLANT ; FUNCTION: TO SCARE CHILD INTO GOING TO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Plant |
SNAKES
IF YOU SEE A SNAKE OR DREAM ABOUT ONE, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSSIBLE GOSSIP, BACKBITING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
WHISTLE IN YOUR EAR
IF YOU HEAR A WHISTLE IN YOUR EAR, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU SAY THE ALPHABET UNTIL IT STOPS,
THE LETTER IT STOPS ON (WILL BE)
THE FIRST INITIAL OF THE NAME OF THE PERSON TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSSIBLE GOSSIP, BACKBITING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
EVIL EYE
YOUNG WOMEN ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THE EVIL EYE BECAUSE
THEY ARE SLY AND VICIOUS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
PATRON SAINT
ST. JOSEPH IS THE PATRON SAINT OF THE MALTESE AND WEARING HIS
MEDAL BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Emblem BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 |
ST. ANTHONY
IF YOU LOSE SOMETHING, PRAY TO ST. ANTHONY AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MISPLACING OR LOSING THINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
EVIL EYE
OLD WOMEN ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THE EVIL EYE BECAUSE
THEY ARE THE MOST DOMINANT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
DREAMS
ONLY THE WOMEN OF THE FAMILY CAN INTERPRET DREAMS,
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES GIFTED WITH INSIGHT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
DEATH
IF A HUSBAND DIES, THE WIFE MUST WEAR BLACK OR SHE WILL DIE TOO.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
THE BLUE ROOM
WHEN THE FRENCH HELD THE ISLAND OF MALTA, A FRENCH SOLDIER TRIED
TO MARRY A MALTESE GIRL. WHEN SHE REFUSED, HE LOCKED HER IN A BLUE
ROOM AT THE TOP OF A GREAT HOUSE. SHE JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW.
NOW ANYONE SLEEPING IN THAT ROOM SEES HER GHOST JUMPING OUT THE
WINDOW.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NATIONALISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
WEARING GREEN IS THE OLDEST IRISH CUSTOM ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
THE COLOR GREEN IS THE COLOR OF THE CATHOLIC IRISH, AND WEARING
IT SHOWS YOUR RESPECT FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FAITH.
Submitter comment:
ALL THE ITEMS I HAVE LEARNED HAVE BEEN
TAUGHT TO ME OVER THE YEARS BY
MY RELATIVES. I CAN'T PINPOINT EXACT DATES OR PEOPLE THOUGH.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): NATIONALISM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick BELIEF -- Color |
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
DRINKING GREEN BEER IS ANOTHER TRADITIONAL CUSTOM. YOU DRINK THE
HEALTH OF IRELAND, GOD, AND YOUR FAMILY.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): DRINKING A TOAST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- Formula |