Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters.
That's a good point. On the other hand, John Henry and Johnny Appleseed and etc. could be seen as stories about poor or working people being good for their "industriousness" rather than for being wise and virtuous. Brer Rabbit and Casey Jones are definitely good counterpoints though.
That is so true, holy shit.
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That's good too.
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That's a good point. On the other hand, John Henry and Johnny Appleseed and etc. could be seen as stories about poor or working people being good for their "industriousness" rather than for being wise and virtuous. Brer Rabbit and Casey Jones are definitely good counterpoints though.
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