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Excerpt
from
Uncle Jesse
Category: Game Song
Source: Multiple Sources
Now, here comes Uncle
Jesse
comin’ through the
field
with his horse and
buggy,’
and I know just how he
feels.
Walk, walk, Uncle Jesse,
walk.
Walk, Uncle Jesse, walk,
walk.
Step, Uncle Jesse, step,
step.
Step, Uncle Jesse, step.
“Uncle Jesse” is an excerpt of an old African
American ring game (circle game) song.
This song originally was composed after slavery to poke fun at the
African American slave driver who was feeling sad because he lost his job
and his privileged status. A
“slave driver” was supposed to make sure that the slaves did their
jobs well. Sometimes an
African American man was chosen for this job.
During slavery and for some times afterwards, African Americans and
Caucasians were supposed to use the titles “Uncle” and “Aunt” to
refer to African American adults. The
titles “Mr.”, “Mrs.” and “Miss” were only supposed to be used
to refer to Caucasian people. Sometimes,
“Uncle” was used a title of respect for an older African American man.
However, the children who played this song didn’t respect Uncle
Jesse.
To play this game,
children form a circle (also called a “ring”).
The person picked to be “Uncle Jesse” stands in the middle and
imitates the motions suggested by the words of the song:
He acts likes he is driving a horse and buggy (carriage).
And he walks and struts (steps) in a funny manner.
The other children imitate him and take turns being “Uncle
Jesse”. Southern African Americans used to
call this type of song a "play", which emphasized the dramatic role
playing that occurs, more than the recreational fun of the activity.
Share the traditional African American game songs and rhymes with CocoJams!
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