BRER-RABBIT & TAR-BABY REVISITED

THE "BRER RABBIT-TAR-BABY STORY" FROM ANTEBELLUM AFRICAN AMERICAN ORAL HISTORY, APART FROM ITS LITERAL SENSE, CAN SUGGEST THAT WE ARE INDELIBLY LINKED, TIED-INTO THIS LAND, THIS COUNTRY, THIS CULTURE; THAT EVEN AFTER WE ARE FREED BY BEING HURLED INTO THE THORNS AND THICKETS OF THE BRIAR PATCH, FROM THE ADHESIVE TAR-BABY'S GRASP OF OUR PAWS, WE ARE STILL IN THE SHRUBS.