Storyin'

Long before black folk passed through the MIddle Passage to these American shores our stories were shared one with another and passed on from mother to son, father to daughter, neighbor to neighbor, village to village. Storytelling is woven into the fabric of a nation of colored folks. Stories tell who we are and why we are in the midst of God's creation. The tales we tell paint the pictures of our determination, our resiliance, our purpose, our struggles, our joys and our sorrows. Our stories have long inhabited our praise.

No one can better tell our stories than us. Every family has its teller and keeper of the traditions and histories. Sometimes stories are told and retold and sometimes they change greatly over the years. Stories are really never told the same way twice, you see.

With all of this in mind, here is a compilation of tales for telling. Some are original tales and other are stories passed down to me from my mother and grandmother or folks I know. Still others are traditional African folktales that bare repeating over and over because the messages they hold inspire and enlighten listeners of all ages.

For tellers, professional or story enthusiast, age appropriatness is noted. Most of these tales are snatched from the black experience including bible interpretations. Enjoy these stories. Tell them often -- pass them on!