The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

VARIANT OF POLITICAL-BIBLICAL ALLEGORY

THE INFORMANT IS A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SOPHOMORE IN A
DETROIT COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL. HE RELATED THE STORY TO
ME WHEN WE WERE ON THE SUBJECT OF CHANGING ATTITUDES
TOWARD HISTORICAL LEADERS. HE HEARD HIS FATHER
TELLING THE STORY:
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO MOSES SAID TO THE CHILDREN OF
ISREAL, "PICK UP YOUR SHOVELS, MOUNT YOUR ASSES AND
CAMELS AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND."
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS LATER FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SAID,
"LAY DOWN YOUR SHOVELS, SIT ON YOUR ASSES, LIGHT UP
A CAMEL, THIS IS THE PROMISED LAND." NOW, LYNDON
B. JOHNSON IS STEALING YOUR SHOVELS, KICKING YOUR
ASSES, RAISING THE PRICE OF CAMELS, AND GIVING AWAY
THE PROMISED LAND TO THE NIGGERS."

Submitter comment:

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO I HEARD THIS STORY FROM A
SOUTHERN WHITE RESTAURANT OWNER, EXCEPT AT THAT TIME
THE REPUBLICANS WERE THE ONES CASTIGATED INSTEAD
OF LYNDON B. JOHNSON (PRESIDENT).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-09-1967