Joel Chandler Harris

First I will address Joel Chandler Harris' story "How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox." I grew up with a book of Uncle Remus stories and found them to be humorous anecdotes as a child, but after reading this story as an adult I was offended by Harris' portrayal of the slave community.According to his biography he was just recounting the stories he had heard growing up. I don't think he did them justice though. I don't think his stories would be considered legitimate literature in this day and age, and I believe Harris would be branded a bigot and racist were he to try and publish these stories today. His decision to use the black vernacular seemed extremely patronizing and mocking of the people he supposedly respected. I do believe, however, that Harris was simply trying to honor the stories and beliefs of the "negro" population of his time. He probably meant absolutely no harm when he set out to write these stories, and if I look beyond the dialect and goofy portrayal of these people I can see a good message and a hint of the humanity and intelligence Harris could have put in the forefront of the stories.

Now, on the other hand, in "Free Joe and the Rest of the World" we see Harris portraying the "negro" as a human being lacking the respect he justly deserves. This was a very sad tale of a man lost in the world once he was freed from his servitude as a slave in the American South just after the Civil War. I think Harris more than adequately described the plight of the Southern African-American who had the illusion of freedom in the late 1800's. Once released from their "masters" these unfortunate souls had nowhere to turn for solace. They were trusted and accepted by no one other than the "poor white trash" who also lacked the respect due to all human beings. These "free" people had nowhere to work because they were trusted by no one. Both the former slave owners and Joe's own people shunned him and treated him as an inferior person who should not be given the time of day. Joe was forced to live hand to mouth on whatever charity he could find. His lot was to suffer silently and alone. For all intents and purposes he was invisible to almost all others.

Although I don't agree with the portrayal of the African- American in the Uncle Remus stories, I do think that overall Harris was an insightful and intelligent writer. He obviously knew his subject matter well, and wrote thoroughly and believably.