Not a Parody – Drapetomania

When I first came across this term, drapetomania, (on DiggsWayne’s twitter stream) I really thought someone must be putting us on. But, no – there seems to be no depth that scientific rascism will not aspire to. So, what is drapetomania?

“DRAPETOMANIA, OR THE DISEASE CAUSING NEGROES TO RUN AWAY.”

From “Diseases and Peculiarities of the Negro Race,” by Dr. Cartwright (in DeBow’s Review)

The whole thing really has to be read to be believed – and even after you read it you might (like me) not even believe that someone actually wrote that with a straight face.

Still, not all is bad. Wackity stuff, but boy can I use it as material in my book!

african creation stories

Use these to possibly sprinkle through the story – Momma or some of the elders telling what their elders were told by their elders, so on. Stamped out by christian religion tho

From here:

Iyadola’s BabiesIjo Orunmila Cosmology

West African Cosmogony

Curriculum: World Mythology– Yoruba Religion

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The following links are papers prepared by members of our class, which use the above stories to examine the similarities and differences in the beliefs of various African peoples:

Themes In African Creation Stories by Nicholas FortunaComparison of Four Creation Myths by Jill Stuckwisch

African Creation Stories by Willow A. Klitz

African Creation Stories by Ileana Fernandez

African Mythological Commonalities by Christel Wiener

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http://www.gateway-africa.com/stories/

google search

An African Creation Myth

Louis meets Henry

On a trip to New Orleans in his capacity as secretary for Vincent, Louis gets the shock of his life when he comes face to face with Henry, who should not be there.

They pretend they don’t know each other but later meet up in secret (“It’s a good thing they think we all look alike so that when we really DO look alike, they pay no attention”).

Henry tells Louis that he is in the process of running, but somehow is using the boats. In the family story, he sails down the Mississippi on a river boat and disappears.