Story Summary
Experience the legendary tale of The People Could Fly, a powerful African-American folk hero story about enslaved people reclaiming their wings and freedom.
Long ago in Africa, many people had the power to fly, but they lost their wings when they were captured and brought across the ocean in the hulls of slave ships. On a plantation where the sun beat down like a hammer, a young woman named Sarah struggled to work with her baby strapped to her back. When the baby cried from hunger and heat, the Overseer lashed them both with his whip. An old man named Toby, who still remembered the ancient magic, saw Sarah fall. He walked to her and whispered secret, rhythmic words from their homeland. Suddenly, Sarah stood, took a step into the air, and began to soar like an eagle. One by one, as the Overseer's whip struck other workers, Toby whispered the words 'Kum... buba yali... buba tambe.' The field hands dropped their hoes, clapped their hands, and rose into the sky in a great black cloud of liberation. They flew over the fences and the trees, leaving the Master and the Driver shouting in the dust, as they followed the wind back to the freedom of the sky.
The Moral
The human spirit possesses an innate power to transcend physical bondage through the strength of hope, heritage, and the shared memory of freedom.
“They rose close together in a heavy black shadow that covered the sun.”
Fun Fact
This tale is part of a rich tradition of 'Flying African' myths, particularly prominent among the Gullah people of the Sea Islands, where it was often used to explain the disappearance of those who escaped or died.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The People Could Fly?
The story teaches that while the body may be enslaved, the spirit and cultural heritage provide a path to ultimate liberation and dignity. It emphasizes that hope and communal memory are tools for transcending even the most brutal circumstances.
Is The People Could Fly based on a true story?
It is a piece of folklore rooted in the 'Flying Africans' legend common in Gullah culture. While not a literal historical event, it represents the very real psychological and spiritual resistance of enslaved people against their captors.
What does flying symbolize in this story?
Flying is a powerful metaphor for both physical escape and spiritual transcendence. It represents the reclamation of one's African identity and the refusal to let the soul be broken by the institution of slavery.
Who is Toby in the story?
Toby is a 'seer' or an elder figure who retains the ancestral knowledge and magic of his African roots. He acts as a catalyst for liberation, using his wisdom to help others remember their inherent power to be free.
Why is this story significant in African-American folklore?
It served as a 'protest tale' that provided hope and a sense of agency to enslaved populations. It helped preserve the idea that their ancestors were powerful beings, countering the dehumanizing narratives of the time.
Who wrote the most famous version of this tale?
While the story originated in oral tradition, it was famously compiled and retold by Virginia Hamilton in her 1985 award-winning book of the same name, which helped bring the legend to a wider modern audience.
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