The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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

Date learned: 10-00-1974

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