The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HAMBONE

A DANCE IS RECITED WITH THE DANCE, BUT I WISH THIS ITEM TO
BE THE DANCE ITSELF. AS CALVIN, COMPLETELY NEGRO AND WITH
AN AMAZING SENSE OF RHYTHEM, RECITED "HAMBONE, HAMBONE,
HAVE YOU HEARD?" PAUSE. "POPPA'S GONNA BUY YOU A MACKIN'
BIRD!" ETC., DURING THE PAUSES HE PERFORMED AN EXTRAORDINARY
"DANCE" WHICH ALMOST HAS TO BE A NEGRO CUSTOM. HE'D
VIGOROUSLY AND RHYTHMICALLY ALTERNATELY SLAP HIS FOREARMS,
THIGHS, HANDS, AND CHEST.