African American Humor The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today

by Watkins, Mel; Gregory, Dick

• ISBN13: 9781556524318
• ISBN10: 1556524315
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-01
• Publisher: Lawrence Hill Books

Summary

This collection of anecdotes, tales, jokes, toasts, rhymes, satire, riffs, poems, stand-up sketches, and snaps documents the evolution of African American humour over the past two centuries. It includes routines and writings from such luminaries as Bert Williams, Butterbeans and Susie, Stepin Fetchit, Moms Mabley, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, Redd Foxx, Ishmael Reed, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, and Chris Rock. This anthology includes classic stage routines, literary examples, and witty quotations presented in their entirety.

Author Biography

Mel Watkins is a former editor for the New York Times Book Review and the author of On the Real Side and Dancing with Strangers. He lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Introduction	p. xvii
Playin' the Foor ... Slavery
Proverbs
Plantation Proverbs (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 3
Some New Proverbs (M. Quad)	p. 4
Animal Tales and Rhymes
Uncle Remus Initiates the Little Boy (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 5
The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 6
Why Mr. Possum Loves Peace (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 8
How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 10
Mr. Rabbit Grossly Deceives Mr. Fox (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 11
Mr. Fox Is Again Victimized (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 14
The Ape (Folk)	p. 16
Bad Birds (Folk)	p. 16
Catching the Snake and the Yellowjackets (Charles C. Jones)	p. 17
The Flea (Folk)	p. 18
The Woodpecker (Folk)	p. 18
A Roost on the Rim of the Moon (E. C. L. Adams)	p. 18
The Rooster and the Chicken (Folk)	p. 20
Numskull Tales
Talking Turtle (Folk)	p. 20
The Mojo (Folk)	p. 21
Amos and the Union Officer (Folk)	p. 22
John in Jail (Folk)	p. 22
John and the Blacksnake (Folk)	p. 22
Trickster Tales
The Laugh That Meant Freedom (Folk)	p. 24
Mo' Nigger (Folk)	p. 24
The Champion (Folk)	p. 25
Old Master and Okra (Folk)	p. 26
Strong Man Jack (Folk)	p. 29
Swapping Dreams (Folk)	p. 29
The Passing of Grandison	p. 30
Pompey and the Jackass (Peter Randolph)	p. 44
Rhymes, Riddles, and Songs
We Raise de Wheat (Frederick Douglass)	p. 44
Run, Nigger, Run (Folk)	p. 45
Massa Had a Yaller Girl (Folk)	p. 45
Comic Lyrics from Slave Folk and Work Songs (Folk)	p. 46
John and Ole Massa Tales
The Horsefly (Folk)	p. 47
The Ducks Get the Cotton (Folk)	p. 47
Baby in the Crib (Folk)	p. 48
The Fight (Folk)	p. 49
The Yearling (Folk)	p. 50
Old Marster Eats Crow (Folk)	p. 50
John Praying (Folk)	p. 51
Old Boss and John at the Praying Tree (Folk)	p. 51
Lay My Burden Down ... Emancipation to the Roaring Twenties
Lies and How Come Tales
Git Back! (Folk)	p. 56
Apple Peelin' (Folk)	p. 57
Heard the Bullet Twice (Folk)	p. 57
The Story of the Deluge and How It Came About (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 57
Why the Negro Is Black (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 59
The First White Man (Folk)	p. 60
The Water's Deep (Folk)	p. 60
De Ole 'oman an' Me (A. C. Gordon)	p. 61
Uncle Remus's Church Experience (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 63
The Conjurer's Revenge	p. 64
John Sharecrops for Old Boss (Folk)	p. 74
John on Trial (Folk)	p. 76
Uncle Remus and the Savannah Darkey (Joel Chandler Harris)	p. 76
Jesse James and the Graveyard (Folk)	p. 78
Post-Slavery Aphorisms (Folk)	p. 78
When Malindy Sings (Paul Laurence Dunbar)	p. 79
Practical Preacher (Folk)	p. 81
The Preacher and the Board Meeting (Folk)	p. 81
Colored in America (Bert Williams)	p. 82
The Fruitful Sleeping of the Rev. Elisha Edwards	p. 82
Move My Ears (Billy Kersands)	p. 87
Bank Robbers (Williams and Walker)	p. 88
Jokes, Stories, Songs, etc.
Stories and Jokes	p. 88
Songs and Rhymes	p. 91
When It's All Goin' Out and Nothin' Comin' In	p. 91
Believe Me	p. 92
Dat's Harmony	p. 92
Jonah Man	p. 93
The Pig and the Porcupine	p. 93
Doughnuts Round	p. 93
The Medicine Man	p. 94
Nevermo'	p. 94
Sayings and Observations	p. 94
Objections (Folk)	p. 98
Children's Rhyme (Folk)	p. 98
Lord, Will I Ever (Folk)	p. 98
An Indignation Dinner (James David Corrothers)	p. 99
Same Old Question (W. E. B. DuBois)	p. 99
Indefinite Talk Routine (Miller and Lyles)	p. 100
Bad Nigger Tales
Jack Johnson and the Hotel Clerk (Folk)	p. 101
Champion's Still a Nigger (Folk)	p. 102
Jack Johnson in Georgia (Folk)	p. 102
Looking for Change (Folk)	p. 102
Who Goes There? (Folk)	p. 102
Mind Yo' Business (Folk)	p. 103
Kill Me if You Can (Folk)	p. 103
John and the Judge (Folk)	p. 103
Can't Win for Losing (Folk)	p. 104
Guilty as Charged (Folk)	p. 104
Bottom Bound (Stringbeans and Sweetie)	p. 105
Shine, or the Sinking of the Titanic (Folk)	p. 105
The Signifying Monkey (Folk)	p. 108
New Day's A-Coming ... The Harlem Renaissance to the Fifties
Jokes and Routines
Get Yourself a Monkey-Man	p. 113
Too Many Ups	p. 113
I Want a Hot Dog in My Roll	p. 114
I Ain't Scared of You	p. 114
Until the Real Thing Come Along	p. 115
Indefinite Sentence (Folk)	p. 116
From The Walls of Jericho	p. 116
The Faith Healer (Folk)	p. 130
Early Blues Lyrics (Folk)	p. 130
Ghost Story (Tim Moore and Andrew Tribel)	p. 132
Why Women Got the Advantage of Men	p. 134
Sound Advice (Folk)	p. 138
From Black No More	p. 139
Hanging Out (Folk)	p. 158
Great Men (Oscar Micheaux)	p. 158
Chitlin' Circuit Routines
Go Ahead and Sing (Rastus Murray and Henry Drake)	p. 161
Ain't Nobody Here! (Willie Too Sweet)	p. 162
Open the Door, Richard (Dusty Fletcher)	p. 163
Where's the Money? (Spo-Dee-O-Dee)	p. 166
Here Come de Judge (Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham)	p. 166
Half Mine (John "Spider Bruce" Mason)	p. 167
The Conjure-Man Dies	p. 168
No'lasses (Folk)	p. 171
Quips and Cracks from Hollywood Film Clowns
Stepin Fetchit	p. 172
Mathew "Stymie" Beard	p. 173
Willie Best	p. 173
"Butterfly" McQueen	p. 173
Mantan Moreland	p. 174
Radio Repartee (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson)	p. 174
Laziest Man in the World (Stepin Fetchit)	p. 176
How Old? (Satchel Paige)	p. 176
Mexicana Rose	p. 177
Fastball (Monte Irvin)	p. 182
Cartoon (Oliver W. Harrington)	p. 183
Jokes and Routines
Old Men	p. 184
Counting on His Fingers	p. 184
$25 a Question	p. 185
Cab Calloway	p. 185
Love Is Like a Game of Checkers	p. 185
Miami-Red Light's for Us	p. 186
Old Man in the Hospital	p. 186
Old Men Left Behind	p. 187
Accidents	p. 187
Robbers	p. 188
Thought I Was Having a Good Time	p. 188
You Ain't So Smart	p. 188
Dog on the Bus	p. 189
Trouble with Old Men	p. 189
Jesse B. Simple Tales
Temptation	p. 190
There Ought to Be a Law	p. 192
Race Relations	p. 194
That Word Black	p. 195
Dear Dr. Butts	p. 197
From Amos 'n' Andy (Various Writers)	p. 200
Observations
Illegal Pitches	p. 203
In Demand	p. 203
Second Base	p. 203
Second-Class Immortal	p. 203
Ain't Ghana Eat (Nipsey Russell)	p. 204
Still a Nigger (Nipsey Russell)	p. 204
Comeuppance (Junior Mance)	p. 205
Train to New York (Two Tons of Fun)	p. 205
My Nigger (John H. Johnson)	p. 205
Jokes and Routines
Boss Spelled Backward	p. 206
Snakebite	p. 206
Black Scientists	p. 206
Sneezes	p. 207
Toasts	p. 207
Knives	p. 207
Eat What You Love	p. 207
Backing Up	p. 208
$240,000	p. 208
Oh, George!	p. 208
Sugar Ray	p. 209
Revival Preacher	p. 209
FM	p. 209
President Johnson	p. 210
Depression Time	p. 210
First Politician	p. 210
Love Song	p. 210
What You See Is What You Get ... Civil Rights to the Millennium
From Nigger: An Autobiography	p. 214
The Battle of Little Rock (Folk)	p. 218
Heroes Ain't Born (Redd Foxx)	p. 219
Cadillac Flambe	p. 219
From The Wig	p. 233
Temporary Job (Timmie Rogers)	p. 241
Steamin' (Folk)	p. 241
Closer to Welfare (Slappy White)	p. 241
Running for Vice President (Slappy White)	p. 241
A Fair Fight (Folk)	p. 242
Cartoon (Oliver W. Harrington)	p. 243
From Blind Man With a Pistol	p. 244
Lean and Mean (Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.)	p. 249
Blackface (Ossie Davis)	p. 250
Tall, Tan, Young, and Fly (Frankie Crocker)	p. 250
Black Rioters (Dick Gregory)	p. 251
American History (Dick Gregory)	p. 252
Kittens and Biscuits (Malcolm X)	p. 254
From Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down	p. 255
Before God Get the News (Muhammad Ali)	p. 265
From for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (Ntozake Shange)	p. 265
Jokes
After You	p. 267
Eating Too Well	p. 268
The Suburbs	p. 268
Just in Case	p. 268
From The Loves and Lives of Mr. Jiveass Nigger	p. 268
Jokes and Routines
Cowboys and Colored People	p. 272
Kids	p. 274
Cheap Hotel	p. 275
Church on Sunday	p. 277
Ugly Baby	p. 277
Christopher Columbus	p. 278
Jokes
Paul Revere/Betsy Ross	p. 280
Blame-a-Nigger	p. 281
Nigger Raisins	p. 281
From South Street	p. 281
Magid and Mudbone	p. 291
Baseball Jokes (Various Players)	p. 300
Nigger Look Just Like You (Richard Pryor)	p. 301
Don't Let Me Down (Eddie Murphy)	p. 301
O.J. Simpson Jokes
Going to Cancun (Folk)	p. 302
The Best Defense (Folk)	p. 302
Bad Fit (Johnny Cochran)	p. 303
The Dozens--Caps and Snaps
Smell and Looks Caps	p. 303
Dumb and Poor Caps	p. 304
The Dozens--Yo' Momma Caps	p. 305
Women and Men
Marital Counseling (Folk)	p. 307
Equal Rights (LaWanda Page)	p. 307
A Prayer and a Promise (Folk)	p. 307
Different Strokes (Richard Pryor)	p. 308
Old Man and Young Man (Moms Mabley)	p. 308
Perfect Health (Folk)	p. 308
Women vs. Women (Damon Wayans)	p. 309
Payback Is a Bitch (Michelle Youngblood)	p. 309
Lost Luggage (Folk)	p. 309
Curb Your Dog (Eve)	p. 310
Hunters (Dave Chappelle)	p. 310
Overeating (Janet Cormier)	p. 310
Random Quips from Famous Wits
Gettin' It (Steve Harvey)	p. 310
Senility (Bill Cosby)	p. 311
New Tricks (Bill Cosby)	p. 311
On My Feet (Spike Lee)	p. 311
Not All Black (Redd Foxx)	p. 311
Just Us (Richard Pryor)	p. 312
Being Famous (Dave Chappelle)	p. 312
The American Dream (Paul Mooney)	p. 312
Pass the Milk (Bernie Mack)	p. 312
From You So Crazy	p. 313
The Old School
All Turned Around (Folk)	p. 315
Cockeyed Junior (Richard Pryor)	p. 315
Old Bull and Young Bull (Folk)	p. 315
Running Machinery (Folk)	p. 316
I Ain't Loss! (Folk)	p. 316
Trifocals (Bill Cosby)	p. 317
Hard to Fool (Folk)	p. 317
Pennies from Heaven (Folk)	p. 317
Top That (Folk)	p. 318
The New School
Worse Than That (Folk)	p. 318
One White Guy (Dave Chappelle)	p. 319
Hyde Park (Folk)	p. 319
Fool Me Once (Folk)	p. 319
Unforgettable (Folk)	p. 320
Rappers (Damon Wayans)	p. 320
Formal Introduction (Folk)	p. 320
Don't Blame Me (Folk)	p. 321
Yardwork (Folk)	p. 321
From Oxherding Tale	p. 321
Jokes
Acne Cure	p. 336
Big Words	p. 336
Third World Perfume	p. 336
Wrong War	p. 337
From Rock This!
Reverse Racism	p. 337
A Country Divided	p. 338
The Black Experience	p. 338
We All Look the Same in the Dark	p. 340
Help Wanted: One Leader. Please Apply Within	p. 341
A Creative Solution	p. 343
Who You Calling Racist?	p. 344
Mommy? Can I Say "Nigger"?	p. 346
The Most Racist Guy in the World	p. 347
Color Coding	p. 348
Supermarket Sweepstakes	p. 349
Why Do You Think They Call It "School?"	p. 350
Money Money Money Money	p. 352
Authors and Comedians	p. 357
Credits	p. 370
Index	p. 373
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