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Uncle Remus and
An Autograph
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I've been listening to our words - as a people. And I wonder
if we - as a people - have gotten ourselves cornered. The following is
why I wonder:
The whole NFL boycott has gotten so out of hand - tainted with racism.
But see - I have not heard (for myself) any white people say anything
about slavery, picking cotton, etc.
And in the whole NFL "arena" - I've not heard of anyone being accused
of making any racial slurs (formal charges could/would be brought
against the slanderer).
And I believe we are omitting some wonderful old stories of "lore" - of
wisdom for living our lives.
Let's start with black lore's Uncle Remus. (I mean no disrespect). I
was taught in elementary school that we are all different colors for a
reason - that we all have something to contribute - that we all have a
rich "racial heritage" to embrace and share.
Uncle Remus is a fictional character. One of my favorite stories is
"Tar Baby." To highlight: Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit got into a
disagreement. Brer Fox is mad and makes a tar baby out of tar and
turpentine. Brer Fox puts the tar baby in the middle of the wide road
(most travelled). Brer Fox hides in the brush at the side of the road
and waits for Brer Rabbit to find it.
Brer Rabbit comes along and finds the tar baby. He tries to talk to the
tar baby - who says nothing. Brer Rabbit gets mad and hits the tar baby
with one of his front paws - which gets stuck. He is mad and demands
the tar baby say something. The tar baby does not speak. Brer Rabbit
hits him with his other front paw - which gets stuck. The same
thing happens when he kicks tar baby with both of his hind feet. Now
he's stuck good and out comes Brer Fox to laugh at Brer Rabbit. The
story says that Brer Rabbit did something to Brer Fox first.
"Tar Baby" has since come to mean: "A difficult problem that is only
aggravated by attempts to solve it."
The Greeks had Aesop (E-Sop). He was a slave and a story-teller -
according to Wikipedia. In the book "The Aesop Romance" - Aesop
acquires the gifts of speech and story-telling. He works hard, uses
these gifts, and gains his freedom. Later he becomes an advisor to
Kings and City States.
The Chinese had Confucius. He was a real man - a teacher, editor, and
philosopher. Some say the Emporer told Confucius to use Chinese
folktales when he spoke. However it went - Confucius is credited with
emphasizing personal governmental morality, correctedness of social
relationships - of justice - of sincerity.
I was taught ....1964-1970 (roughly)...that Indians danced when they
were happy....when they were sad. I learned that they hunted animals
for food - for shelter - for clothing. Nothing was wasted. Bones were
used for food dishes, needles, and the framework for their tepees. I
learned they used the bladders of the animals for drinking water when
they travelled...nothing was wasted. Pretty cool.
I learned that the Mexicans (no disrespect) wore big hats to shade
their bodies from the sun. I learned they took a noon-day nap....called
a siesta. They do this in the hottest part of the day.
I learned that we all adapt to our local climate or find another
climate and adapt there. I learned that everyone in the long ago past -
used whatever materials (clay, flowers, etc) were there to dye clothing
and make "paint" to decorate their homes. They used this "paint" to
keep track of their history...hunts that made a boy a man...hunts that
brought food...hunts that brought the white buffalo - a blessing from
the gods. I learned that early on - we all - as people around the world
- figured that the thing to do was to trade someone else something you
had for what you did not have.
So - I ask myself: Couldn't we all use a black (again, no disrespect)
Uncle Remus to make or help us see truth and wisdom? Sometimes another
way of saying something...another accent...helps an idea "click" and we
have a new-found ability and desire to say: "I see what you mean."
PS - I had an "Uncle Remus" - he was Uncle Bobby. I asked him to sign
my autograph book. He asked me what I wanted him to write. I said your
name. And - that's what he wrote: "Your Name." I was 12. I still have
the autograph book - still makes me smile. That was Uncle
Bobby...always trying to get you to use your head...think things
through.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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