History of Black Folklore

Black creatives have a way of embedding our culture in everything we create, regardless of typical standards or expectations. This spans music, film, the arts, dance, and literature, though the latter isn’t as widely recognized. African, and later African American, communities use folklore and literature to pass down history, lessons, and knowledge through storytelling. Folklore is also a way for African Americans to process and discuss the struggles and resilience they and their ancestors have in the face of trauma and oppression. Something I appreciate in Black storytelling is the pure charisma Black characters bring to their stories; this is seen especially in modern day Black stories as more and more creatives, such as Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler, get the recognition and platforms they deserve, particularly in speculative genres that often pull from folklore, mythology, legends, and fables. 

Exploring the History of African Folklore 

African folklore spans centuries, and as the birthplace of humanity, some of the oldest stories in all of history stem from there. Many African myths and legends were passed down from generation to generation, featuring tales of animal tricksters, ancestral and elemental spirits, and connections to nature. These stories are meant to inspire children and adults as they preserve the history of the people and lands. Original African legends mainly focus on how humans are connected to and interact with the natural world, a theme seen in many native and indigenous tribes across all cultures. 

Unfortunately due to colonization and the Atlantic Slave Trade, many written renditions of African folklore and mythology no longer exist, and oral history is essential to remembering the culture.

The Impact of African American Folklore in Pre-Civil War America 

African American folklore can be traced back to the 1700s through the 1900s; it was common for enslaved African Americans to use storytelling as a way to remain connected to their homelands and communities. They eventually created new stories that featured themes of slavery and trauma to teach their children how to protect and express themselves in a world determined to erase their humanity. Not only were folktales used as a form of entertainment for enslaved Black Americans, but they were also used to pass information to one another without slaveholders knowing. 

Like African folklore, many African American tales feature animals, and are used to teach children about the world around them including nature and animal behaviors. They also include characters who represent strength through intelligence rather than brawn to teach children about danger and survival instincts without resorting to violence. There are several supernatural creatures featured in Black Southern mythology such as “Haints” and the “Boo Hag” that warn of being out at night or speaking with strangers. These lessons and stories are especially important for African American children learning to navigate a racist world. 

Modern Renditions of Black Folklore within Pop-Culture

While African and African folklore have made its way into pop culture, it’s often miscredited or misinterpreted by White-owned media. For example, the popular story of the Br’er Rabbit, a tale about brains outsmarting physical strength, was featured in the controversial Disney movie Song of the South as Brer Rabbit. Song of the South was inspired by the stories of Joel Chandler Harris, a white journalist who incorporated the folktales he heard from enslaved African Americans on his boss’s plantation in his Uncle Remus novels, something that led to his fame. Aside from the story’s origins being so connected to slavery, Disney’s Song of the South perpetuated several negative stereotypes against Black people and romanticized slavery. 

Other aspects of Black folklore have simply been erased or overlooked in certain genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, with White writers and creatives acting as the face of speculative fiction for decades. A study by FIYAH Lit mag showed that only 2% of speculative fiction published was written by Black Authors. Luckily this number increased to 7.5% in 2021 and is continuously rising, but there is a large gap to fill. 

The gap is filling faster thanks to the efforts of Black creatives breaking through the noise in the creative industry’s gatekeepers. Beyoncé and Childish Gambino regularly use Southern Black culture imagery and themes in their music. Jordan Peele, while mainly sticking to film, has started dipping his toes into editorial work with the release of a Black horror anthology Out There Screaming featuring contributions by N.K. Jemisin, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tananarive Due, and Nnedi Okorafor. Sinners, the southern gothic film by Ryan Coogler, has made history as one of the most Grammy nominated films and is a high contender to receive the Oscar’s Best Picture. Black Southern Gothic fiction is dominating the horror genre currently with authors like Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Victor LaValle, and Erin E. Adams staying on the Best Sellers list. Black creatives are on a rise as our stories and culture are being shared with the rest of the world on the scale it has always deserved. 

Black media just hits different, whether it is the visuals, the energy, the soundtracks, or the language. It is full of culture and soul that shines through every single time no matter what it is. Black folklore and storytelling are a passage of narratives, but it is also a shared strength and experience that connects the Black community across state and nation lines. If you want to add your voice to the chorus, submit to F(r)iction for an opportunity to share your work and art with others.