Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NEGRO returned 32 results.
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JUMP-ROPE RHYME
SHIRLEY TEMPLE WENT TO FRANCE
TO TEACH THE GIRLS THE WATUSI DANCE.
FIRST ON THE HEEL THEN ON THE TOE.
SPLIT THE ROPE AND AROUND SHE GOES.
SALUTE TO YOUR PARTNER, CURTSEY TO THE QUEEN,
TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE SUBMARINE.
I LIKE COFFEE, I LIKE TEA
I LIKE A WHITE BOY AND HE LIKES ME.
HEY, WHITE BOY, YOU DON'T SHINE.
HERE COMES A COLORED BOY TO BEAT YOUR BEHIND!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MOVIE STAR ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1974
IF YOU ATTEND A FUNERAL WHILE PREGNANT YOUR BABY WILL BE
BORN OR GROW UP TO BE A VERY DARK COMPLEXTION PERSON.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING MY STAY IN DETROIT WITH PEOPLE WHO
LIVED THERE A LONG TIME.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF --THE TABOO OF ATTENDING A FUNERAL
WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT WILL AFFECT THE COLOR OF THE UNBORN. THIS
USUALLY APPLIES TO BLACK FOLK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPLECTION COMPLEXION ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: CA06171966
GREETINGS
SOME OF THE WAYS OF GREETING OTHER FOLKS, WHILE PASSING ARE:
WHAT IT IS: OK...WHAT'S THE DEAL: YOU MIGHT REPLY..AIN'T NO
HAPPENINGS: YOU: OR NOTHING TO IT MAN (IF IT IS A MALE).
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED IN MY EARLY ADOLESCENT STAGE IN MY HOME TOWN.
THIS WAS SOMETHING LEARNED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY PLAY MATES.
THESE ARE GREETINGS WHICH ARE NORMALLY SAID AMONG THE
YOUNG BLACK FOLK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PHILADELPHIA
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: CA06171966
A BAG OF CHARMS, CALLED AN ASP, WAS A VERY POPULAR SUPERSTITION
AMONG SOUTHERN BLACKS. IT SUPPOSEDLY KEPT ALL BAD THINGS AWAY FROM
YOU. IT IS SUPPOSED TO GUARD YOUR HEALTH. THE INGREDIENTS,
ALTHOUGH UNKNOWN, WERE VERY FOUL SMELLING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; ASAFETIDA ? ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 |
Date learned: 11-02-1972
ALABAMIE COON
"GO TO SLEEP MY LITTLE PICK-A-NINNY/BROTHER FOX'LL CATCH YOU IF
YOU DON'T/ROCK-A-BYE, HUSH-A-BYE, MAMMY'S LITTLE BABY/ MAMMY'S LITTLE
ALABAMIE COON"
Submitter comment:
I WAS TAUGHT THIS SONG WHEN I WAS ABOUT 3 OR 4 AND IT IS STILL
FAMILIAR TO ME NOW.
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
Date learned: 00001954-00001958
SPIRIT IN HER SHOES
THEODORA HAYNES WAS MARYLOU'S ROOMMATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY
BEFORE GOING TO BED, SHE WOULD PLACE HER SHOES UNDER THE BED SO
NO SPIRIT COULD COME DURING THE NIGHT TO COMMAND HER SOUL,
HER. {SIC} /THEODORA WAS 18, A BLACK-AMERICAN AND SINGLE
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT AMULET ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
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
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EXPRESSIONS OF ANGER
I HEARD THE COLORED LABORERS OF THE CITY OF DETROIT
USE THE EXPRESSION PUT THE SCREAMS ON, TO MEAN A BAWLING OUT
GIVEN ONE PERSON BY ANOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; NEGRO EXPRESSION ; REPRIMAND
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 08-10-1964
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO
ONE DAY A LONG WAY FROM HERE AND NOT YET OVER THERE, PEOPLE KNEW OF
A BOY NAMED SAMBO. NOW SAMBO WAS A LITTLE AND DARK ONE, SO THE
PEOPLE CALLED HIM LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. ONE DAY SAMBO'S MOTHER AND
FATHER WENT AWAY LEAVING SAMBO WITH NOTHING BUT A BREAD CRUST TO EAT
AND NO CLOTHING BUT HIS SUNDAY BEST; A NEW YELLOW COAT AND MATCHING
CAP, A BRIGHT RED SHIRT THAT ONLY HAD BEEN WORN BY A HANGER AND A
PAIR OF SHINEY SHOES. SAMBO WAS A LITTLE FELLA BUT HE WAS ALIVE AND
HAD TO EAT TOO, TO KEEP THE LITTLE WEIGHT HE HAD - PUT. SO SAMBO HAD
TO DIVIDE THAT LITTLE BIT OF BREAD FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER
FOR TWO DAYS. "NOW I GOTTA DO SOMETHIN' 'BOUT MY EATIN' SITUATION",
SAMBO SAID ON THE THIRD DAY, HOLDING HIS BELLY, BUT ALL I GOT IS MY
NEW CLOTHES, NOBODY CAN WEAR 'EM BUT ME, NO HOW." SO SAMBO STARTED
OUT TO FIND A WAY TO FIND SOME FOOD. HE HAD TO CROSS THE RIVER THAT
WAS TOO DEEP TO CROSS, THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS TOO HIGH TO CLIMB, THE
JUNGLE THAT WAS TOO THICK TO BREATHE IN AND THEN THE TOWN WHERE ALL
THE SHOPS WERE. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO THE RIVER AND SWAM ACROSS,
STOPPING BUT ONCE TO ASK AN OLD FISHERMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER,
"WOULD YOU GIVE SOME BREAD? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT AWAY AND LEFT ME
NOTHING BUT MY OWN AND MY NEW CLOTHES." THE FISHERMAN SAID, "SORRY
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO, I'M HERE WITH NOTHING BUT MY OWN AND A FISHING
HOOK OR TWO BUT IF YOU GIVE ME THOSE SHINEY SHOES, MAYBE I CAN HELP
YOU. SO THE FISHERMAN GAVE LITTLE BLACK SAMBO A LINE AND A HOOK SO
THAT SAMBO COULD CATCH HIS OWN FOOD. AFTER WAITING TEN MINUTES SAMBO
DECIDED, "FISHING WAS TOO SLOW, I'L FIND SOME FOOD IN THE MOUNTAINS
I HOPE." SO HE STARTED FOR THE MOUNTAINS, BIDDING THE FISHERMAN WELL
AND LEAVING BEHIND HIS SHINEY SHOES. AS LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO
THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN HE MET A MOOSE. "MR. MOOSE WILL YOU HELP ME
GET SOMETHING TO EAT, PLEASE? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT AWAY AND DIDN'T
LEAVE ME NOTHING BUT MYSELF AND MY NEW CLOTHES," LITTLE BLACK SAMBO
SAID TO THE MOOSE. "GIVE ME THAT PRETTY YELLOW CAP AND I'LL SHOW
YOU HOW TO GET FOOD FOR YOURSELF," THE MOOSE SAID TO LITTLE BLACK
SAMBO. "OKAY, THAT SOUNDS FAIR ENOUGH, ALTHOUGH I WANT MY YELLOW
CAP," SAMBO SAID. WELL THE MOOSE STARTED WALKING AWAY WHEN SAMBO
SAID "BUT I DO WANT TO EAT TOO, OKAY."" "WELL, DO YOU LIKE BUSHES AND
TREE LEAVES", THE MOOSE ASKED LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. THE TRUTH MR
MOOSE IS I HAIN'T NEVER TRIED NO TREES AND LEAVES FOR SUPPA, BUT I
GOT NOTHING ELSE TO EAT. I'LL TRY EM:," LITTLE BLACK SAMBO SAID TO
THE MOOSE. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO FOLLOWED BEHIND THE MOOSE, PICKING OVER
THE BUSHES AND TREE LEAVES LIKE THE MOOSE UNTIL HE SAID, "THESE
TREES AND LEAVES FOR SUPPA AIN'T GONNA GET IT, MR. MOOSE" AND
CONTINUED TO THE JUNGLE WITHOUT ANYTHING IN HIS STOMACH AND WITHOUT
HIS LITTLE YELLOW CAP, SHINEY SHOES AND STILL NO MEANS OF FOOD. AS
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT NOBODY COULD
CLIMB HE LOOKED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPOTTED A
TIGER. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CALLED OUT, "MR. TIGER, WILL YOU HELP ME
GET SOMETHING TO EAT? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT OFF AND LEFT ME AND MY
NEW CLOTHES ALONE." THE TIGER YELLED BACK, "IF YOU GIVE ME THAT
BRIGHT RED SHIRT I'LL TRY TO HELP YOU." LITTLE BLACK SAMBO FIGURED
HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO LOSE, SO HE AGREED, "OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE MY
BRIGHT RED SHIRT." THE TIGER TOLD HIM TO DO AS HE DID,
KEEP BEHIND THE RABBIT AND DON'T LET THE RABBIT OUT OF SIGHT. WELL
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO TRIED AND TRIED BUT HE COULDN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH
THE TIGER. SO HE SAID "I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH YOU, MR. TIGER, WILL YOU
PLEASE CATCH ME THE RABBIT AND I'LL GIVE YO ALL I HAVE - MY NEW
YELLOW PANTS AND COAT." THE TIGER SAID "AGREED, BUT FIRST, YOU GIVE
ME THE YELLOW PANTS AND COAT," INTENDING TO CATCH THE RABBIT AND KEEP
RUNNING WITH THE RABBIT AND CLOTHES. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO DID AS THE
TIGER TOLD HIM TO DO. THE TIGER WAS RUNNING, RUNNING, AND WAS
ABOUT TO CATCH THE RABBIT WHEN "BOOM!!!," A GUN SHOT KILLED THE TIGER
OVER. IT WAS LITTLE BLACK SAMBO'S MAMMA AND PAPA AND A TIGER FOR
SUPPA.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A LONG STORY; I THOUGHT SINCE MY INFORMANT'S BEEN HANDED DOWN
LONG NARRATIVE STORIES, HE MAY PASS THESE SAME STORIES ON IN A
SIMILAR FORM IF NOT THE SAME AS THEIR ORIGINAL VERSIONS.
THIS STORY PUSHES A BLACK IMAGE; THE MAIN CHARACTER, LITTLE BLACK
SAMBO, BREAKS AWAY FROM ALL OF HIS PROBLEMS IN THE END BY DOING FOR
HIMSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO MARALE? ; PERSONIFICATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
IT IS CONSIDERED UNLUCKY AMONG NEGROES TO BEGIN ANY PIECE OF WORK ON
" CHILDEMAS DAY " ( DECEMBER 26 ). THEY WILL WORK LATE INTO THE
NIGHT RATHER THAN WORK ON THAT DAY.
Submitter comment:
HE NOTICED THIS AMONG SEVERAL OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS, AND UPON
ASKING THE REASON, WAS TOLD THIS BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NEGROES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 26 Boxing Day St. Stephen's Day |
Date learned: 02-15-1968
UMBILICAL HERNIA
A TREATMENT FOR UMBILICAL HERNIA, A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NAVEL
APPEARS VERY LARGE AND BULGING, IS TO BIND THE ABDOMEN VERY TIGHTLY.
Submitter comment:
THE CONDITION, WHICH IS NOT SERIOUS AND OFTEN DISAPPEARS WITHOUT
TREATMENT, IS COMMON AMONG BLACKS, AND PROBABLY GENETICALLY CAUSED.
ONE PATIENT TOLD MISS BAUER TO FIRST SCORCH THE CLOTH.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
ARTHRITIS CURE
SHE WEARS A COPPER BRACELET THAT LOOKS LIKE A KEY CHAIN
BUT IS A LITTLE LONGER.
Submitter comment:
SHE IS A COLORED LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE WHO LEARNED THIS CURE
FROM HER FAMILY WHEN YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Surgery |
Date learned: 03-18-1967
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Belief: Children's Song
(1) DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
(2) IF YOU STEP ON A LINE YOUR MOTHER DRINKS WINE.
Submitter comment:
MY BLACK NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOORS TOLD ME THESE TALES WHEN I WAS A KID.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; Wine
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001960S
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