Re: GEN:Uncle Remus Tales?

[Jan Helene Moore <janmoore@TENET.EDU>]

Recent editions of these tales (_Jump_ and _Jump Again_ and others) are
available by African-American authors and illustrators.  Virginia
Hamilton's _The People Could Fly_ includes at least one "Uncle Remus"
tale.  I use these, some of which are written in dialect, because they
are  from African American sources and, IMHO, reflect a pride in their
past.  FYI, in one of my graduate courses, my professor told us that the
Uncle Remus stories are versions of the Anansi stories from Africa.  The
slaves retold the stories of their homeland using the animals of their
new country (i.e. the rabbit, bear, fox, etc.).  The name "Anansi" became
"Aunt Nancy".  Joel Chandler Harris, when writing down the stories,
changed the name to "Uncle Remus" from the old slave storyteller. One
episode from _A Story, A Story_ is very similar to the "tar baby" story.
I use the Anansi stories and Uncle Remus stories side by side with upper
grades.
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        Jan Moore                               Foster Elementary
        Library Media Specialist                1025 High Point
        janmoore@tenet.edu                      Arlington, TX 76015
        FAX (817)468-8292                       (817)465-4702
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