Doris Hoenig interview with third grade students from Ragsdale Elementary School

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Note: This recording is available upon request. In this interview Doris Hoenig interviews four groups of third grade girls from Ragsdale Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, about their favorite hopscotch patterns and rhymes for games like hide & seek, jump rope, and tag. The second group starts at 07:11, the third at 18:24, and the fourth at 26:19. At 35:46, two girls from the first group described how to play the game Man from Tennessee. Then at 40:10, two girls from the second group sing Old MacDonald. Ragsdale Elementary school was built in 1955 in the Edgewood neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The Atlanta Public Schools system authorized the demolition of the building in 2018. AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information nCuamtabloegrue 'NSS IOr::( . \o.\Ll Source Field* (ContentDM) Release form Yeso~ Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes o(~()) Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org. name> Georgia Foiklore Coiiection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the phvsical object here: 0<.,\ \)\;),' , i'\ PI t\' \", { ~~~:rviewee W~'':'~~\('\) 1\\X'I \<\'C. ,(~('\\ ,()O\ name and date i nt \' \ \ )\ ('( J"\ \ ('( tf{ of interview) , 'l'.aJ Hol'C. \lu~~\ ~('I J;\~( 'k. vicki <L "-',\,i6 t" rio.. S\,'{\::,,,\y) C(H I\"i' "("flC! I ,)c\ CJ/ veJ1"\ \\ Acl, 1 \ \ 1',:."(\',,, C'IU"'e I\\('~-t ,,'I .. ~[)'1ty~)\/' AW(I'" III I {'I,) ZJ'A\Jl.A/\t\' 't~'(\~ld\'" \ (,L\ ('I,,,v( \~J}/\()I.' ,J:'. \ (,11"1'\\ !MoJ, Description (bio on interviewee) 1 Creator ,\\ \ '" t\c)(ln( r)(~ ('S, /,}j'..".. ,",j.}..,/ \ \ (Enter either \ \j " .. ,\,~ an individual's Burrison Folklore Class " name or an organization) Collection Name (within the Georgia Folklore Archives organization) Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) \q,/{ (Jf,l;riSr1)f)/Jj7 Z/' atg (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Object Type Image_ Text - Text and image _ Video and so~/_ Sound only_ Media Format Reel-reel (VHS, reel to reel, etc) Recording Hours: Otl extent Minutes: II 7)( , ~,'~ t, ) f. 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I . \. ;' \ II " \.\j ,,' I, ) l ) Subject Country State County Town Local Name Location \)\)1\ (',/\ Q\CVd'\U\ SUbject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOC subject headinos only) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names 3 Corporate names Geographic locations Topics 4 IWl'HODUCTION The field of Children's Folklore VI8.8 appelJJ.ing to me because I plan to teach elementary children. With the aid of Dr. FlorE,ine Hudson. Dept. of Gurri.culumsmd Instructi.on. Georgia ,'It'1te lJnlv"rs 1ty. the l'lesley' Avenue Hohool vms ohosen for my oollecting project. '.J'he prlnclpal WD.8 agreeable to my working w1th children i.n hls school. \1esley Avenue 8chool 1s located 1n E8.Ht AtID.nta. Georgia. just e'wt of Moreland Avenue. between BoulevD.rd Drlve'1ud DeKD.lb Avenue. On October 21+. 1969. I v:i.sited the nchool ODd met the principal. loir. Hobert \1arren. I explo.:i.ned the project .gnd I,w]ted for a thi.rd or fourth grEl,de olass. At first he thought I ,!anted to obflerve ehUdren durin)'; their Physical Educati.on period, but I explained that I wanted to interview ch:i.ldren Elnd colleot their tracli tional gomes. ,iump rope rhymes. counting rhymes. and hopskotch p8.tterns. independent of elassroom instructIon. The c19Bs of liLY'S. H. Arnold, 8, thlrcl grade clas~,), tHH1 selected. '.J'here are 30 oh:U.dren In the oll3.8s. 15 boys and 15 gir18. I explained the plan to ]'iiI's. Arnold briefly ,md she agreed to pE)rm i t me to work wi. th her CIOBS. Plans were made to return to the school on the following [Ijonday to work with the girls only durIng their PhysIcal E:dlHl8.tlon period. I fmgJ>;ested that we meet loI.fter school. but both 1011'. \varre)n 8.nd 1111's. Arnold felt that classroom time oould be spent on the pro,)ect. I returned to the school on liJonday. October 2'1. 1969. 11'11'0. Arnold introduced rne to the c laSH and I seJ,d I would like to tallt with the gtrls about thetr games aDd rhymes. '1'his met I'll th a cheer from the gtrln. 'l'hey ranged in age from '1 to 10 ye8.rs 6 [1erlo J'ohnson 7 AmelIa Crump 8 Alecia Brown 8 Avera Almond e H,':tUand a Brown e Celia Clarke e ,'landa lUll e Cheryl \1e8t 8 Benita Dester 8 'l'anya ,stinson e Carmen Ferrell 8 Jacquelyn fn tchell e Amanda \'i:lllio.mn 8 JuLiette Hockmore 9 Vlckl.e Hughley 10 ThIs ~ras theIr Physica.l Educ[J,tion period. fill'S .Arnold nu,;,gested that when we finished !'Iorkinl': In the clFJ.fJBroom we might go outside for a whIle. Hhe left with the boys. - 1 - I I . j j j I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ClULDHl1:N' S FOLf(LOHE GArIIES. HOPSKOTCH PA'I'1'lmN,'3 J1JIlJP-ROPE HHY/liES, COUN~;ING HHYlijJ1:S Folklore 300 Jllr. John l3urrlson, Instructor Fall 1969 Dori.s HoenIg Introduct:1.on 'rape 'l'rr,lwlcrlpt:ton \'iork 8esslons Hopskotch Drawing Games Jump-Rope Rhy'mefl Count:tng Hhyroes COYlc1uslon 'l'ABLE 01" CON'I'EN'l'S PB.ge 1 2 2) 25 41 ~'2 ''''f 45 46 'l'APE THANSCIUPTION The collector is Doris Hoenig in Folklore 300 with Mr. John Burrison as instructor. I 8.m at the ('lesley Avenue School, 187 \vesley Avenue, NE, in !East Atlanta, Georgia. I am working with !'t group of third grade girls from the class of I1rs, Arnold. There are lit (should be 15) girls in the group. 'l'he Principal is Mr. Robert Warren. I am making a collection of rhymes, hopscotch patterns, jump rope rhymes, Emd games. 'l'oday is October 28th (1969) and I am talking to Ameli~J. Crump, Merle Johnson, and Alecia Brown. (Each girl gave her e.r;0 to test the recordine; level) Doris I I cwked you yesterday if you would make me a pattern of your jump, of your hopslwtch pattern. Amelia, tell me about yours, on the bottom there, your eight and nine are in nuch a fancy design. Who taught you how to make that? Amelia: Hm, I only look in' e.t my mama how she be standin' nometime, her legs look like they be stendid like this, so I made mine like that. I make it like that sometime. Doris I SO you make them come to a point. Yes. And who taught you how to play hopskotch? .Amelia: My sister, she, when she, she taught me when she W88 eight I think, I don't know when she teached me. Doris: Howald is your sister now? Ameli9.l She twelve. Doris: O. J(. r~erle, \'Tho tanght you how to make your hopslwtch pattern? Merle: My sister, Vanessa Johnson. Doris: And how old ill she? ['I1erle: Eleven. Doris: And Alecia, how about you? Alecia: My ,1ister ne.med \oJoq1l1ta Brown. Dorls: And she taught you how to mal,e your hopskotch pattern? Alecia: Yes. Doris: Does she play hopskotch Ni th you? Alec 113. I Yes. - 2 - Doris I She (loes, good, nnd Merle, you told me th8..t you knew how to make another one, ".nd you called ita Japancse hopskotch. How did it get that name? (Snicker) How did it get the DeHne .Japanese hopslwtoh? Merle: My daddy. Doris: How? Merle: My daddy. Doris I Your daddy calls it that? Does y'our dadd_y play hopslwtch with you? Merle: Sometimes (snioker) Doris: Oh really. Did he shol'l you how to make it? Merle: No. Doris: Oh. But after you made it he oa lIed it Japanese hopslwtoh? t1erle: My daddy told me how to dravi it. Doris: He told you hol'l to dr"u~ it. Oh, very good. Amella, you told me yesterday that you knew hol'l to play a game CAlled "Blue Bird". Is this your favorite gE'me? Amelia: Uh, it's Dot my favorite game, but it's my sister's favorite game. \.Jell, sometimes that's vlhat she plays. Doris: Anel you play it with her? Amelia: Yes, mam. Doris: Tell me how you play it. (GAme ,.2) Amelia: You make a olrole, and then the person th8.t has the most blue on, they say, "Blue bird through my window", rmd then I say, "1'ake a little boy and pat hlm on the - " no, "talre a little L,:lrl and pat her on the shoulder", and then I say, 'take a little boy and pat him on the shoulder." Doris I Do boys and glrls play this game together? Amelia: If they' want. Doris: Oh, do you stand In a olrole when y'ou pley it, when you sing this little rhyme? Amelia: Yes. Doris: Alright, 13 ing the I'lhole rhyme for me, or tell me the whole . rhyme. - :3 - Amelia I (singing) (Game 112 ) Blue bird, blue bird, through my window Blue bird, blue bird, through my wlndow (laughter) Blue blrd, blue bird, through my 1'/1ndo\'/ All the g11111t higher. " ..- ) j\/ ..'),)\) I Talce a. little girl 9nd pat him on the shoulder Talce a little girl and pat him on the shoulder Tal{(') a little girl 8nd. pat h1m on the shoulder All the giant higher. 'r!".ke il little boy 8.nc1 pat him on the shoulder 'I'ake a little boy and pat him on the shoulder 'rake a little boy 8.nd. pH,t him on the shoulder All the giant higher. (The last line was not clear ,gnc1 I asked Amelia to write the line out for me. ilhe Im.s not sure how to spell it. The others helped and this is as close as we could aomo to what fJhe B'3.id.) DoriBI \1'011, that's very nice. And I'/hat do you do vrhile you're singing this? Amelial You go around in a circle - and then - and when you - uh - when they said "talce a 11ttle g'lrl and pat hlm on the shoulder" you pat 'em on the shoulder. Doris I 01'1, you sto.nd in front of' them and pat them? ~lelial In the back. Doris I In the baek, 01'1, well, tha,t sounds like a re8,1 fun game. 1'lerle, y'ou told me yesterday about ,9. game called "11an from Tennessee". 'rell me how you p18,y th1s. Nerlol I don't know how to play it. I know how to slug it. Dorlsl Oh, alright, sing lt for me. (Game IIJ) ~lerle I 'I'here was 8. big fat man from Tennessee - uh - (pause) There NaB a blg fat man from TenneBsee I pUlled up my dreBs up above my knee The dootor said - got a po,in in my leg (snicker) Doris: Is lt a funny song? IVjerle I (Laugh) - yes. Dorls: 01'1. O. K. I've got 8, paln in my leg - Vlhat comes next? MerIel Aleoia's got a different one. Doris I A1ecla knows d. d iffereYlt version of the same song? Nerle I No, she's got a different one. know what I meant by version) (Nerle probably didn't Doris: Oh, e,lrif':ht, Alecia do you l:rant to sing yours for me? Alecla: I'm going to stay right here and sing it. Here l~e go zudl0, zudl0, \ Here we go zudl0, all nlg:ht long Step outslde SallY I see a blg fat m8.n from Tennessee. I pUlled up my dress up above my knee. lily mama called the doctor, the doctor said I've e;at iJ. pain in my stomaoh - oo-she-l I've got a paln in my head - oo-she-i I've got a paln in my feet - oo-she-i I've eat a pain [md it's :>;onna cost (? mumbled) (At a later session I asked Alecia what the last \~ord or \'lords Vlere and she said, "f.!y s is tel' told me, bu t I forgot") Doris: When do you sing thls song about the man from l'ennessee? Is thls just a song that you sing or is there a game that goes \'lith it? Alecia: It's a game. Amelia: It's a game, I think. Alecla: Amelia, y'ou shut up! Alecla: You gonna get beat up after BC.hOO1. DoriB: Alecia, when do you, how do you pla.y the game? In 9. circle? Aleoia: Amelia: All: Aleoia: Amella: You're supposed to choose your partner (cough) and cross hands, 8ud say, "here we B;O ... It You do like thls (Took Merle's hands, armB outstretohed to partner, croRsed at \'Irist, move arms b,wk and forth ln pulling and push ing movement) 8.nd then you say, "Here we go Zudio, zudio, zudio, zudio, all night long." (Helease hands and clap while stepping back to rhythm) Step back, Sally, Sally, Sally Vlalldn' dOlm the alley, alley', B.lley I pUlled up my dress, up above my knee My mama called the doctor, the doctor said, I got a pain in my (indistinct), oo-she-i I got a pain in my head, oo-she-i I got a pain in my stom--, oo-she-i I got a paln In my butt 'cause I stick my ba.by up. gy baby - ha - it's not a butt, cause I stick my baby. (ThiB group \'las dismissed and another group came in) - 5 - (The girls eaoh gave their age as before) Doris: J'uliette, yesterd ay you drew for me a hopsJ(Otoh pattern. '1'ell me, who taught you hO'N to make it? Juliette: Nobody. Doris: Nobody? Didn't you learn from somebody, or see one someplace else', Juliette: I seen one. Doris: l1here? Juliette: When - uh, it was a girl, she made one, and I saw it and I copied off of that. Doris: \1as she a gJ.rl frJ.end of yours? (Shook her head, yes) And clid she live cloBe by to you here in East Atlanta? (shook her head, yes) Alright, you'll ha.ve to answer yes or no, because when you shake your he9.d it doesn't show up on the tape recorder. Yes, she 11ved here in E'wt At18nta. JulJ.ette: Ye8. Dor1s: Alright. Now you told me too that you had a counting rhyme vlhen you were chaos J.ug the person who 1'/3.13 [1;oJ.ng to be 1t for a g81ue, and it started "One potato". Do you Nantto say that one for me? Alright, tell me what J.t is. (CountJ.ng 111) Juliette: One poto.to, two pot$.to, three potato, four FJ.ve pot~).to, slx potato, seven potato, more. DorJ.s: And what do you do 1',lhen you count the rhyme? Juliette: If they pJ.ck thJ.s hand, they have to put a hand behind their back. (Hands are made lnto flsts 8.nd extended 1n front of the body, then removed to behind the back.) Doris: And then you go around 8Xld l,eep counting unt11 everybody is out, 9.nd there's just one hand left? Juliette: Uh, huh. Dorls: And then that person 1s 1t? J'ullette: ~(,hen they'll be it. Doris: It for the game. O. K. Cheryl Hest, you told me yesterdrcW that y'ou knew a oonnting rhyme. Do you Vlant to say yours for me? (CountJ.ng 112) Cheryl: Yes. Apple, peach I cmcl pumpkin pie If you ready, holler aye. - 6 - Doris: Cheryl: Doris: Cheryl: Doris: Cheryl: If you're what? If you're ready, holler aye. Oh, and how do you count this'? You do IDee this: (hands olenohed in fists, alternate punohing at the ohin as you speEd,) well, you do like uh, you - "Apple, peaoh, and pumpkin pie, If you rercJ,dy, holler aye." And then you holler aye if you ready and then they'll oome lookin' for you. ah, is this when you play HIde and Seek? Oh, instead of the pe:l'son counting to a oertain number before they come to look for you, they have to say this rhyme. Yea. Doris: Do you ever play where they have to count? (I meant, countIng by 5's or 10's to 50 or 100, etc.) Cheryl: Yea, sometimes. Doris: Hot'l many times do they count? Cheryl: 'rhey count how many' times when they said I'm ready, that how many times \'Ie count. (She means they keep repe9ting the rhyme until they holler aye) Doris: Oh, O. K. Vanita, yesterday you said - no - not Vanita, Viokie, you said your favorite game WElS PUllchinello, end you took us outs ide Fmd showed us ho\>/ to play 1t. Tell me again how you p1e,y Punch lnello. Vlokle: Slng. Doris: All: Alright, do yon want to sing the rhyme and maybe !'lon1d sing A,lone; VII th you. O. K. (GA,me 111) Oh, loolc who's here, Punchinello, Punchlnello Look, who's here, Punchlnello in a shoe. Oh, !'Ihat can you do, Punchlnello, Punchinello \1hat Can you do, Punchlnello in a shoe. Oh, we c,stn do It too, Punchinello, Punchinollo \10 can do 1t too, Punchlnello In a shoe Oh, who do you ehoose, Punchinello, Punchino110 vlho do ,you choose, Punchlnello In a shoe. the glrls , (I CJ () (\ Doris: 11hy do you say, "Punchinollo In a shoe"? VickIe: That's the endlng. Dorls I That's just tho onding of tho song. \-lhoro c11d you loarn how to play Punchinello'? - 7 - Vickie I 1'h1n glrl. thin girl. l'!hen we -- one day \'Ie were down 1n Ale.bama, my mama carry us to Alabama and so she had to see her fr1end. and so we l,ere d own there and so this here girl learned me how to play 1t. Doris: And then you CB.me be.ck to Atlanta and you te.ught your friends how to play it. Vickie: Uh. huh. Doris: Vlell. the g1.rls seemed to enjoy play1.ng it yesterday when we ~rere outside. ~r.hey looked as 1f they \~ere havine; a lot of fun when they played it. JUliette. you sa1d you had a jump rope rhyme you could tell me. (Someone touched the microphone.) (Rhyme #1) Juliette: Ice cream. ice cream. cream of tarter '.rell me the name of s\~eethea.rt- sweet. sweetheart ABC D E F G H I J K L MN 0 P Q R STU V WX Y Z Doris: lilhAt h,9.ppens if you miss? Juliette: If you miss. you have to, if somebody play in' with you. you have to. uh. you have to get. uh. 1.f they. if you're takin' 9. turn, if ,your friend and you playin'. if you takin' turns. you and your friend taldn' turns. if you stop you have to g1ve it to them. Cheryl: That don't go like that. Ju11ette: That hO~1 we play 1t. Dor1s : How do you play 1t? (Hhyrne Ill) CherYl: Ice eream. ice cream (,joined by Vick1e). cream of tarter Tell rne the name of your sweethe9.rt ABC D E F G H I J K L MN 0 P Q R STU V VI X Y Z Doris: Alr1ght, 9.nd then what happens if you miss? Viclde: See. if. it's just like. if you playin' by yourself. then if you stop on a boy's nrune. you got to say. you got. just like you stop on "D". then like you say, Davld. Davld. (joined by Cheryl) do you love her. Yes. nq maybe so Yes. no. maybe so. If y'ou stop on yes. he love you, but you ntop all no. he don't love you. you stop on maybe so. that me8n maybe so. Cheryll And then you he.ve to do your own name. 8nd see If you love him. Ju11ette: He got to do you and see do he love you. V1ckie: (enthusiastically) The.t'n 8. good game. (He Nere Interrupted here by orlYlouncements over the PA system) - H - (Hhyme /12) Cheryl: Skip, skip, skip, to-a-loo Skip, to-a-Ioo my darling. Skip, skip, skip, to-a-loo Skip, to-a-loo my darling. Skip, skip, skip, to-a-loo Skip, to-a-loo my darllng. Doris: And you SEW thls while you're jumping, Cheryl? Cheryl: Yes. Dorls: Vicklo: Vickle, you said you hove another one. (Rhyme /13) It's - 00, I, I want a piece of pie. Pie too sweet, I want a plece of meat. 1'he met,t too brown, I \'Tant to go to town. Town so full, I Hant to catch tho bus The bus too fast, I \'/ant - the bus too slow I thlnk that's all. () (/:, 1\ (' --- let me see Juliette: 1'ho bus too fo.st, I want to cut th.J grass The grass too hard, I want my money (Laugh) Dorisl I want Hhat? Juliette 1 I \'To.nt my money bo.ck. I wont my money back. (Vie were again interrupted by FA announcements. \ve were talking during the announcements and Juliette began to tell this story) Juliette: She said it was a peanut butter boy, and it \%~s a man, and they came back and asked, they BB]ced that lit tle boy if he keep on stealin' people, that boy keep on stealin' people peanut butter' sandw:l.ch every t:l.me he see them, then this other, that pol-, it was a big black man CBme and dB.t night he say if he keep on stealin' peanut butter sandwich he gonna eat him up for his Sllppe):. Dis fel .. when he 09.me b8.ok d').t ni:\ht h(~, the little boy ],ept on stealin, peanut butter sand - he kept on, (change in voice) "Please, please, don't eat me up", and they saId he do It one more tIme they [';onna eat him up for real, 'md they l"8.nt kill him, and then, so, she said, the.t boy did that other nip:ht, ,md thnt man come bnek that other night, Nhen he in the bed, den so, he said he ate him up Bnd thnt lIttle boy' VI8.8 erY'ing for he put hlm tn the mouth, It vm.s a little boy, and he got hIm and et hIm up. DorIs: Is that a story thB.t someone told you? (Shakes head, Yes) Vlho told you the story'? Jullette: A glrl named Cheryl, gnd her Bister named Alici1J. DoriB: And VIckie sald she had another one, another jump rope rhyme. Cheryl: I knovi e.nother one. - 9 - I , '! ('PrJ)'} Doris: He'll let Vickie go first. Vickie: I lmow one 13,bOlJ t the beld-headed Ch inese. " ',I Doris: Alrl.ght, br3.1d-helJ.ded Chlnese. (Rhyme /I!+) Vickle: It's a.bout a Chinese came, he lmocked on this lady's door, he said, It go llke this: (pause) 'J'he old ba.ld -head ed Chinese Came knoekin', came lmockin' at my door And I opened the door (let's see) (Help from Cheryl) He fell on the floor, Vii th the big bald-headed Chinese. jVJy mama told me to glye - 11y mama told me to tbJce him "bout I take h1.m about, he (let's Ilee) my mamD. told me to Cheryl: Put him 1.n the bed Chery 1 a.nd V1.ckie: I put him In the bed, He ate up the Ilpread, 'rhe big bald-head ed Chinese. I'Jy marne. told me to take him to town I take him to t011n, he pullout the ground \~ith the blU; bald-hea.ded Chinese. I'W mama told me to 101.ve him some breo.d I gave him Ilome bread, he ate up, he ate up the pan With the big bald-headed Chinese. Ny mama told me to give My mama told me to calTy him to church I co.rry him to church, he put off his shirt With the big bald-headed Chinese. Ny mo..ma told me - my mama told me to - uh, take him take him e.. bath I took him a bath, I took him a bath, he ate up the, uh, Juliette: Soap. Vickie: Vh, nh. Juliette: Water Cheryl: Ate up the b8..thtub. Vickie: Ate up the bathtub \'lith the big bald-heacled Chinese. r"ly mD.ma told me to give hlm some meat I gave him some mee.t, he put out hla, he put out hla, - uh, - 10 - Jullette: lUs pants - his bloomers - what', Vickie: I forgot some of it. Doris:: You forgot nome of it. But that's (), jump rope rhyme. \'Ihen you jump rope you Bay that. Juliette: I know another one. Vlckie: Slnging Apple, peach, or pumpkin pie, Be your guest tonight. Juliette: Oh, Ne he8.rd that on the radio. All: be alright Nhere the folleB are tonight. Juliette: 'I'here's a little girl told me that. (Grunts - words mixed) Juliette: There's a little girl named 'rowa, she five years old. she told me that. Vickie: I lmow "Bang Shing-A-Ling" (They were going to sing songs so I terminated the interview.) * Today is November 4. 1969. and we are again at the \'Ic,'sley Avenue School in Eqst I\tlanta. Georgla. \'Ie are talking to Avera Almond, Sauanda Brown. Celia Clarl{e. and Handa Hill. ('l'he glrls were 8.sked to glve their ages 9,1l before.) Dorls: \>Ie11. I have all eight-year that. Now Avera. last week pattern. 'I'el1 me A,bout it. old glrlll today, ho\q about you made for me 13, hopllkotch \'Iho taught you how to make it'? Avera: Hhen I flrllt mov(,d up here. I met some frlendll up the street from me and I used to go there and play wlth them and they used to f!how me how to play hopslwtoh, they used to Bhow me how to drow 1t, ond thot' B ho\q I learned how to dra~1 a hopslwteh. Dorls: \>Iere these girls older than you were? Avera: Yes. Dorls: Oh. -'mel they taught you YlO\q. I th lnk that' B 10tB of fun to learn from fJomeboely else. I told you I was golng to ".sk ;y'ou if you lcnew nome jump 'rope rhymes. Sauanda. you sald you knew one. 'l'ell me. 8aurmda: Oh, d lel I say that? - 11 - Doris: Don't be afra1.d to talk up n1.oe and loud, and keep your hands away from your mouth. Sau8,ncla: Ice cree.ll1 0 Doris I Say it .Just as if you were jumping rope. Just pl'etend you are jumping .rope. \1hat do you say'? (Rhyme Ill) Sauanda: Ioe' oream, ioe cream, orOEun of tarter, Tell me the name of your swoethearter. Doris: Alright, you'll have to take your hands a.I-lay so loan hear you. Nioe a.nd loud. Sauanda: Ice cream, ioe oream, cream of tarter, 1.'e11 me the name of your sweetheart. Doris I Is that all? (Shakes her hegel., yes). O. K. Anybody else'? Avera, do you say the same one, or do you S8.y another one? (Hhyme (!l) Avera I I sa.y the same one, but I say: ABC - and the one that you quit jumping rope on - Another voice: That's how we play it. Avera: That's the one that you have to name a boy for you to go w1.th. Dor1.s: Oh, anybody else play 1.t a dlfferent way? Anybody else have a. different rhyme that you say when you jump? How about when you are ohoosing somebody to be lt for a game. How do you choose the person to be ll? \1anda, you tell me. Handa: I say, I'm going to ohoose whoever I want to be, like 1.f I Vlant them to be JJ;, when we playln' "Booger Man", and I want SOlM'body to be "Booger Ilan", I say, I'm gonna see who I'm e;olng to choose to be Booger 111an ,cl.nd then I olose, I do my eyes 11.ke that (put one hand over ",yes) (Sa1.d the rhyme, but it was unclear) Dor1.s: \'ionda, I I'/ant you to tell 1t to me 8.gall1, nO~1 say it just a 11ttle louder, aDel ill8.ybe the other girls C8.n help you say 1. t (Count1.ng li3) All: All around the b.'1.thtub, ABC If you want a pretty glrl, please plck me. Not be08.use you '. re ugly ]\10t beor'.use you're pretty Not because you kissed the boy behind the magazlne. Doris: Awl then you point to soneone? Handa: Yes Dor1.s: Are you turn1.ng 8,l'ound wh1.1e you say' thJ.s? \vand8.: Y(~S - 12 - Doris: With your eyes closed? ~1t~_nda: Yes 11 Doris: And then you point to someone 'md they are II for the game? ~ianda.: Yes e Doris: Does somebody have r-mother way of chooBing somebody foi' it? (Sauanda "ivell a )~hyme but it iB incHBtinct.) Doris: S,),uanda, I want you to Bay it again for me nnd you'll have to say it louder and Blower, mld don't put your hands over your mouth. (Counting iJ4) Sauanda: I went up the hill, the hill was mUddy Stubbed my big toe, m[{de it bloody All, all, all you hid. Doris: And this is for "Hide and Go .'3ee)<". And if everybody is ready then you go and find them. AlII I know one. Doris I I'll let Celia tell one first. Nice and loud. III thls H counting rhyme? Celial Punchinello. Doris: To choose somebody for it. l3ecHuse we played Punchinello outside. it/e played the@;Hme outside in the school yard. Avera, you have another one'? (Counting 115) Avera: Yes, I say. I go: I aln't gonna to count but one more tlme One more time, the merry-go-round By 5 - 10- 15- 20 - 25 - JO - J5 - 40 - 45 - 50 55 - 60 - 65 - 70 - 75 - 80 - 85 - 90 - 95 - 100 All ye h iel, re8.dy or not, here I come. Dor1s I Tell me the ftrst part again. I don't thlnk I got that straight, How does 1t start? Avera I You say, (Repeats the rhyme) Dorts I No, the first part, before you start count1ng. Say that just once more slowly. Avera I (nepes,tn the rhyme) Sauanda: (Jo1ns 1.n rmd cl1.'omges the rhyme by il.clding: I went up the h111, the hill was muddy Stubbed my toe and made lt bloody An ye h1d. Avera: '.Chat's dlfferent. - IJ - Wanda: I know another oounting' game. Doris: Alright \'lana.a, tell me another one. \vanda: Kiok ball. Dorlll: Oh, but that illn't the way you clvJoll6 somebody to be it, that'll a game :isn't it - yes - I jUllt want you to tellme how you choose llomebody to be it. Does anybody have another one'? Avera: I do. Yesterde.y we ViaS pl/.l,yin I th:is game of "Booger Nan", and so :it's just a boy in our room named Andre and he scared another little boy. 'fh:is Ilttle boy was crylng because we told hlm we was golng to eat him up, and he started orying. And so he kept on crying and his little sister she told us to don't come over there and don't SCare him anymore, and llO we seared her and she dropped him and llhe made him fell. A lady dragged him on the floor. 1'hey put his little brother in something like a little bowl r)auanda: It wasn't a bowl. Avera,: Something like a bowl, but it ain't. :'lauanda: It made like a ballket, like little kittens sleep In. Avera: But it wasn't lltraw, l t vms liJ{e - something lJ.ke - I don't Imow hO~l to - but a.nyway ~Ie soared him. Doris: Oh, when you were playine; yesterda.y. Does anybody hD.ve another oounting rhyme they oan tell me? Alright \vanda, tell me. (Someone touohed the miorophone) (Counting /11) Wanda: One potato, two potato, three potato, four F'ive potato, six potato, seven potato, more. And whoever hand they stop on, they have to put one of their he.nds behind their back, and when they say it again, (repeats rhyme, joined by others), and if you stop on the same person, you have to put your hand behind your be.ck, and you be out. And whoever be the last one, they' have to count (In other \10rds, they ore 1 i; for "Hide9nd Seek".) Someone I And Celia coughed. (Lau[r,hter too.) (Thls group was dismissed and another group Came in.) Doris: I hrwe anot her group of girls now who are going to talk with me, So,oquolyn t'1J.tchell, Carmen P'errel1, '['r~,nyo, fltinson, Beni ta Dostel', ,md Ama,nda vlillil3JHs. And Amanda Nas not in our group lo,st wee]c, so Amanda is drm~ing for me l'i,ght nON a hop8kotch pattern. Let'n loole '3t lt, Amanda. \'Ihere do ;you play hopskotoh, Amancla? Amo,ncla: At home. Doris: On the sid ewalk? Amanda: Yes. Dorls: I'/ho do J'ou play 1'Iith? Amanda: Hy friends. (Here the girls \~ere aslred the lr f3,ges DB usual) Doris: vlell, I have all eight-ye',r aIds again. liJy last group was all eight-yenr aIds. There are a couple of special questions I want to 8.8k. I:/hen we talJeed last \qeek, ,Benita, told me she knew how to play " C;.9me c8.11ed ZucHo Benito., tell me how you play the game. (Game /J!J.) , Benlta: Ivell, you h:we to get a IJrJ.rtner, 8nd you do IH:e this. (l3he 8tood up to demonstrate, took J'acquelyn 88 a partner, extended arms with handf3 croGsed at the wrild;) Darts: You cross your hand s ~ Benl ta: And then you move your hDnds l:11,e thls (a pushlng "md pulling motlon) and then you step back, then Y'ou come back, and then after you do that then the first part, you have to go back. Dorls: Tell me wl'wt you sayar do you sing or say something while you play' this. 'l'ell me Vlhat 1t is. (Long pr3,Use) Alri.e;ht, talce D. partner, take I),hold of Jaequelyn' shand s and cross them and tell me what you 8ay when you do 1t. BenJ.ta: Here we go Zudio, ZmUo, Zudio (Pushi.ng and pulllng motJ.on) Here we go Zudio, 8,11 night long, " Oh, step back Sally, nally, Sally (hands dropped and partners .Jump away from each other while clapping) vialkin , through the alley, [l,lley, alley Here we go Zudio, '3.11 night long. (act10n not clearly defined or expresGed on these last two lines) (Snicker) Doris: Alright, and then what come8 next. Benita: That's all. DorJ.s: That's all there is to J.t? Benlta: Uh, huh. .. 15 - Doris: You just do this with a partner. And you do the movements while you sing the song. Vlho tau[,ht you how to pl[,_y this? Benita: A frlend. Doris: Someone here in East Atlanta? Benlta: Yes. Doris: Just a glrlfriend. And this is ;your frworite game, you told me last week. I want to know if anybody knows a oounting rhyme when y'ou m~e going to ohoose someone ~lho is going to be it for [) game. 'ranya-, how do you ohoose who is going tobe it? Tanya: (Gives a rhyme) Doris: Alright ~ranya, I'm going to r:wk you to say the rhyme for me again, just say it slower and louder so loan hear every word. (Counting 16) 'rr;(nya: Two pounds of washing powder Two pounds of soap All that's hid is a holler billy goat. Doris: And when do you say thls - ~'1hen you're playing what game? Tanya: m.de And Go Heek. Doris: And then do you e;ive them a ohanoe to hide? You'll have to say yes or no, you can't Bhnke your head. ~'anya: YeB. Doris: Jaoquelyn, you said you hnd another one. (Counting 117) J aoqu e lyn : lve play "20 Boog". Doris: You'll have to say it olearly. You play "20 Boog". How do you spell it? BOO G? How do you count it? J"",cquelyn: \'Ie say, if th is person called five, then another person called 10, and nnother person called 20, well they hid, and so we have to be runnin' where they can't touch us, and if they touch us, then we'll h,cwe to be it. Doris: Vlhoever you toueh 1'Iil1 be :l. t. Jacquelyn: Yes. Doris: Does somebody have another counting rhyme? Carmen dId you have one? Cermen: No. - 16 - Doris: Anlta, flroa.nda, I'll e;lve y'ou a minute to thlnk. (Pause. Noone could thin]e of another countlne; rhyme for It.) Dorls: Now we're [';oing to do fJOme jump rope rhymes. JD,cquelyn, you told me you knew one. Tell me your jump rope. (Rhyme 115) Jacquelyn: Johnny o'er the ocean ,Johnny 0' er the sea J'ohnny broke a mllk bottle Put it on me. I tala mama, mama told papa Papa told me how m8.ny licks did ,Johnny get 1-2-3- 1j. Dorls: Do you stop at four? J'ac<]uelyn: If NC a i[J jump rope, like 11' we stop, that how many lic]es he got. Doris: I1herover you miss when you're jumping rope. Jaoquelyn: Vie were play ing th,qt when I \18S in the country. Doris: Hhen you lived in the oountry'? \~here vms that? Not in Atlanta? Jacquelyn: He 8tlll, we be going dOlm 8.nd we be workin' dOl~n there, :ema so we get a rope, and then Ne 13tart <loin' lt and they say, they tell me I can jump, see nobody' can jump now but me. Doris: And you taught the others how to jump? Jacquelyn: Yes. Darts: \!Jell. hO~l nice. Banita, you have one. (Rhyme /11) Beni tal Yes, it' 8 when you count to see, if you stop on the lettor between Z and A, then you name any of your boyfriends, you nAme 8, boy name beginning \~ith that letter. Doris: Can you say the whole rhyllle to me, or do you ,just stn.rt counting the alphabet? Beni t8,: You count the alphe),bet, and J.f you stop on one of them, then you name ono of your boy'friend s, the name of the boy. Tanya: For that letter. Dorls: Tanya (Hhyme Ill) Tr~nya: I lmow: Ice- oreanl, ice oream, cream of tarter Tell me the name of your s\'Ieethearter (JoJ.ned by Benita) ABC D E F G H I J K L MN 0 P Q R BTU V W X Y Z If you stop on (many voioes) Dorls: Alright, just 011e person tell, 'I'anya, you tell me l~hat happens if you mlss. _ 17 _ Tanya: If you miss, you're out. Dorls: Jacquelyn (Hhyme ,n) Jacquelyn: Ive play lll{e this. L:lI{e, if you stop on C, they'll say like you go w:1.th a boy named Carl, or like that. And then they gonna SEW if you "Del then you 8ay - ye8, no, maybe so. And if you stop on yes, that megns you golng with him, if you fltop on maybe 80, then maybe so. Benlta: And if you stop on no, then you won't go Nith hlrn. Jacquelyn: Then they'll do it to you if you gonna have B, brick, or a wood, or B. h9xn houne - 1f you stop on n barn house, you're gonna have a barn house. Doris: There are some other vernions of thin, after you count. vlhat else do you count for, Benita'? Benita: You count for clothes. bables, [md 80me nhoes, ',md cha irs, ,md H play house, hcm many play houses you gonna have, how maxlY CHI'S you [';onna hD,ve. (Someone snid, "It'n golng on 3 o'clock) AmHnda,1 And how wmy socks Y'011 gonnH hBve. All contri bu te I How TIl8,ny shoes, and spoons, ,md forlm, 8,nel bowls toys, chairs, And stocJcings. 8,way N:1.th this.) how many wtgs t rJnd how many and plr:d;es, ~',nd hats, and ('rhey were really c!J.rrled Doris: Tanya. 'ranya: About the [!tory I have to tell. Doris: You have a ntory'? (It Nan lrrelevnnt, and it was time to leave. ) On the way back to the classroom, the glrls took me through the schoolyard and showed me the hopskotch pattern pHlnted there. I copled the pattern on a piece of paper. * "* - 113 - Amelia Crump: I horp/it stay like thIs 8.11 day long. (It was a beautiful sunny afternoon.) 'roday is vlednesday. November 5. 1969. e.nd I am once 8.gain at the \'lesley Avenue I3chool and I am talking to AleciB. Brown and Amelia Crimp. Amelia: Crump. Dorls: Amelia: Doris: Amelia: (Ga.me Ill) Crump - CRUJlJP - I have it mlsspelled. Last week you told me f).bout a game called l~an from Tennessee. You told. me lt \~as a gl'l.me and I only got part of' the directions of how you play It. You told me that you hold hands, and you swIng back and forth. and then you clap your hands and .jump backwards when you say the part about Sally, and what happens after that? I don't know. Amella, you don't know. (Pause) Aleoia? Amella. you said that more than two people play thls. !Werybody takes a partner. !)nd then what happens when you BB.y IISally in the alley II? You say, I1l3tep baok. Sally. ilall,Y. Sally II ond when you say that they step back, and when you say. "Walkin' through the alley". people from one end, they' go down, and the peo plo from the other end. they go up, and then they' 11 do it agaIn, o.nd you [';0 on like that. Doris: Alrir;ht. no\~ wha.t about the part you said called for the doctor. the doctor ce.me". on that port? where. III \1h9.t do you do Arneli~l.: I don't kno~, that, Alecla kno~lS thfJ.t. Doris: Alecia, what do ;you do then? Alecla: You say. like you say, (repeats), "Illy IJlIl.ma Called the doctor, cmd the doctor say." llkc you got a pain anY~Jhere, like I got a pain - Dorls: You oan say you have a pain anywhere. Alec 18.: Yes. Dorls: And then do you point to the part'? And then 1<lhat do you do. e.re there movements or actlons? Aleoia: You ,just say, nnd then we ],eep on nay ing, and then that 'be i-d 1. Dorls: And t.hen that' [j all. vlhen do you play th:l.s garne '( Aleola: You could play :[ t any t.ime. when you like to. - 19 - Doris: \~hen (10 you play it mostly, you said this ~ID.S your fe.vorl te game. Aleola: I mostly plfJ.y 1t In the summer. DorJ..s: Do you play it at the school yard or e.t home'? AlecJ.a: Yea., and sometimes Nhen we go outdoors I play it, sometimes, last year, last summer, me and my sJ.ster and my oousJ.ns, we played 1t, "md le.st SU11110er my oousins they oame from Detr01t, .'~.nd so they learned us hOH to play I Aee a BJ.g Man from Tennessee. DorJ.s: '{ou mer"n they clUne all the way from Detr01t 8nd taught you how to play the I'lan from Tennes8ee. Aleoia: Yea. Dorl8: Isn't that Interesting. Is it more fun to play 1t Nhen you h8.ve a b1g group, or when ;lrou ;just have one or tNo fr1ends? Aleo1a: It's more fun when you ha.ve lots of people to play ~.fith - sometimes it's fun when you don't have no one. Dori81 Nhy do you like thi8 game? You said it was your favori to. AleoJ.a: Beoause I like - I just like, hON you play J.t. Doris: How about you, Aleoia? No, Amelia. (hnelia had been humming to her8elf to Aleoie.. Ahe found B. toy and "ms terrl.bly bor(~d by the intervl.eNing. the whole time I Nas playing Nith J.t too. Ahe dropped the toy talking She Nas in a box.) Amelia: I like to play it .'3ometl.mes, then my slster plays it with me. Doris 1 Oh, your sister plays it wl th you. How many s i8ters do you ha.ve? hnelial I hl3.ve three sisters. One of them grown, so that leave me two. D01'1s: /r~JO nlsters at home. Amella: IIJy other one l1ve down the street froll! me. I spend the nlght wlth her last night. Doris: Jlmel1a, Nhy do you like this game, why is 1t your favorl.te? Amelia: It's not my favorite, but I lil\O it. 1t has - you lmow when you be saying, you have somethln', like a pr-~rt to do. - 20 - I IJ.ke lt beoause you have some 'J.ctl.on, Doris: Oh, it's almost like well, make-believe, or pretend. ('I1hese e;lrls were d isrnissed . ) Doris: And nOl'I , I'm talldns to ,')auanda Brown Rl1Cl Vickie Hughley. Vickie:' (Cough) You gonna hear me on that b:1.g thing, I ooughed. Doris: '.that's alright. Vickie, the other day you gave me so many jump rope rhymes, and you knew how to play Punchinello, do you like to plFl.y r;ames 7 Vickie : Yes. Doris: Do you l:l.ke to play games by yourself, or with just one friend, or w1th "', lot of friends? V1ckie: A lot of fr1ends. Bomi3t Imes I play wi th Sauanda, Sauanda live near where my Grandma, and when we get out of school, vie play 1'1'1 th SauFJndg, "'Dd we go to Sauanda house. Bauanda live In the apartment over across the street from my [~r"ndma. Doris: And you said 1"unohinello was your favor1te ga,me. \1hy did you choose thls for your favori te game" Violde: Because I IH:e to play it, hol'l we play 1"unch:1.nello, you be c18nolng. (Her eyes glistened.) Doris: You lille to danoe. (yes) Do you like games \'Ihere you move around a lot" Viclcl.e: Yes, mam. Dorls: Hovi about you fj".ua.nd",,? (f:lneeze) I hope you're not eatohing oold. SF),uanda, what kind of gentles do you lil(e to play espeoially? Sa:uanda: I don't know. (Long p811se) Oh (P8.use). DorIs: Do you lU(e to play with just one friend, or do you :Uke games ~Ihere you have a lot of frlencls play ing the g8,me? Sau8.nda: Sometimes we play with one fri.end, sometimes we play with lots of friends. DoI':i.s: Do y'ou have d l.fferent games the,t you play with just one friend 'f Sauanda: Yes. VickIe: Sauancla, you say y'ou gonna sing "Olel HaoDonald Had a FArm". Sauanela: Oh - I like to say "Old NaeDonald Had 8. f"arm". - 21 - VJ.ckie: Do you want me to say it wi th you? 82.UB.nda: Yes The two girls sang: Old MaoDonald had a farm E - I - E - I - a And on h1s farm he had a duol, E - I - E - 1-0 W1th a quaok, quaok here And a quaok, quack there Here a quack, there a quack, Everywhere a qUB.cl" qUB.ck, Old 1'l8.cDonald had B, farm E - I - E - I - O. And on hJ.s farm he had some ch1cks ~ - I - E - I - a With a chick, ch1ck here And a chick, chJ.ck there Here a ch1ck, there a chick, Everywhere a chick, chick, Old l1IacDonald had a farm E - I - E - I - O. And on his farm (1 interrupted because it ww getting; cl08e to 3 P!VJ, cl18mi8sal t:lme.) Doris: Do you play th is with fr1ends. Do you play it here FJt school, or do you play it when you get home from school'? ~3auanda: 130metimes we play 1t at sehoal, we go outdoors. And sometlmes we phW it at home. - 2'2 - October 27. 1969 - IntervIew In the cll3.ssroom. Play In the schoolY8.1'd. No 1;qpe recorder. ~'he classroom !'I.'\8 a1'r8.nged I'll th three sec tlons of desks, two small bloc]m rmd one 18.1'ger open center rectangle. I asked all the girls to 8.8semble around the rectangle. ~~hey seated themselves and I took a, pl8.ce at the opposite end of the rectangle facIng the gIrls. There was immediately a mass exchl3.nge of seats so that they eould all be close to me at the opposIte end of the rectangle. They !'Iere sIttIng two on a chair. stancUng behind me. I),nd try lng to get as olose as poss 1ble. 'l'hey surveyed me thoroughly from head to toe. 1nsIc1e and out. 11 terally. One child felt my legs to see if I had stockings on. others touched my arms. and several felt my hatr. I was somewhat of a novelty. a whtte adult among all Negro children. However. they loved the tndtvldual a,ttention 8.nd freedom ln movement and express ton. To establish ord er I asked the ohildrHn to thlnk of their favori te game 8nd tell me one at 13, tlme what 1t !'I98 and allow me time to write it down. i3everal of the children contributed more than one idea, they were so anxlous to participate and help. SeverD.l changed thelr minds FJbout thelr favorl te game. Next the girls drew hopskotch patterns for me. 'fhis served three purp08es: fir8t. they sa.t dOl'ffi at the c1eslw and restored some semblance of order. 8eeond. 1 t ga:lTe me 8. 1:ist of names from whleh to work, and th1rd. I had a eoll(~etlon of hopskotch patterns. l'ihU.e they were dr8wlng the patterns. the public address system came on and m0,c1e some a.nnouncements, but it did not lnterfere w1th what they were dolng. Whlle the chl1dren Nere worklng. I looked over the llst of r,DInes "nd chose the game Punchinello to play outslde r,,S flUgge[ lted by I1rs. Arnold. \~e spent about 10 minutes pla.ylng the ga.me tn the school yard and then stopped at the drinJ\ing fountaln before returning to th" claBsroom. I aBked p(ermisslon to return to the school the follOl'llng day and work with the girls :in small groups. October 28. 1969 - Record:ing sesslon. \~e used a elassroom tha,1; ls used only part of the day and I as]<ec1 for the girls In two sml3.11 groups. ~:'he girls gave the:ir ages snd :it ViaS plEWed ba.ck so that they could heeT their volces. 'I'hey c1:id not seem to be mlcrophone 8hy or overly concerned about the tape record er. He sat around a trJ,ble to record. '1'he room ls located near the eXlt and there Hre b8.okground notses of chl1dren lea.ving the school from tlme to time. /\ November 4, 1969 - Reoording session. The remainder of the ela.8s was interviewed In two groups. Amanda \1tlliams, ~lho had not been in olass the fl.rst day, was ineluded in the interview and made a hopskotoh pattern during the reoording session. 'l'here was a sick ch:1.ld resting in a bed behind a soreen in the room but she did not dIsturb our wor]{. ~I'he glrls seemed very comfortable with the tape reoorder. \'le sat s.round a table to reoord. November 5. 1969 - Reoording ses8lon. 'rhe "lrls were oh08en for this session beoause there were thlng8 on the tape that were not olear a.nd needed clarifios,tion. There were tl'lO stck gl.rls ln the room th:i.8 tl.me and one was walklng around the room and may have di.stre,cted the g1r1s. There 1'18.8 not the same enthusia8m on the part of the informants during this session. The girls were mueh more eager to contribute material tha.n to d isous8 it and analyze .1 t. It 9.ppeared that i3auanda r3D.d Viokie had talked about reoordlng beo8,use Vlokie prompted Sa.uanda to sing "Old MaoDonaJ.d Had a Farm" and ,joined ln slnging wlth her. Amella was le8s than enthuslastio and hummed during the intervl.ew and played wl.th a toy she found in a box. After the intervi.ew I returned with the last two girls and 8ald goodby to the olass. Sauanda and Vickie passed out penol.18 I brought for everyone ln the olass. boys 'md gl.rln a1l]{e. loll's. Arnold reco l.ved a loaf of ba.nana bread. HOPSKO'I'CH During the first interview session asked to draw their hopskotch patterns. they liked to play hopskotch. She drew others made hopskotch patterns. the g1.rls were All but one said a plcture whl1e the ~Chere are Ilf paper8 Nl th patterns (AmHnda lVilliams contrlbuted a pattern at the November 4 intervlew session) If main varlations 9 numbered squares from 1 to 8 5 added a 9th square 2 81mlla.r to the schoolyard pattern, but added a 9th sqU8.re 1 gHve orlglna.l end:lng - pointed squares 8 and 9 1 ]mew two patterns, called one a Japane,ge Hopskotch For markers In the game, the children most often used glass, also stones, or moneyo l>lost sald they played the game at home and some sald In the school yard. 'Chey lnformed me that there was a hopskotch pattern palnted on the schoolyard. I checked the pil.ttern after the November If sesslon and sketched the pottern. It ls different from all the patterns clriJvm by the chUdren. Most of the girls 8ald they learned how to play hopskotch from older slsters or frlends. 1'1erle said her father taught her how to draw the Japanese Hopskotch, but she 8nlckered 8.nd I think she was lcldding me. .- 25 - ( ) (Ii 1 " ( ( { \1 \ I :' I ( ') I ,( () )\ " ,\ (j II V) 1,\', !j i i/ \ .' I , [. i. (., - 26 - b 1\ \ b / - 27 - I 1 \ 1 1 I I I I /"---- I /" j'" // I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11 (' I : ,1 ~" I I l / l tI-- ) II / ( (oJ. !{llj.A >( J() d _ 2,8 - Ir'__----A b '/1 ) J ( cJ I (J r '/1 .__._--j [ I , ) 1- J---..---------------'~' ~- ~ 3 5 7 - 30 - 1 1 .1 \ 'I 'I i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 \ \ I ) '\ I \ m )!c) elIlPl)/IAL./j1v . Ql/[AJI~j ./In I ~--:f}~?:) 9/ ' /1 \1 1 s: 1 ""\,<) I (() I T I _,~~__,. I j/?,+S I I I I I I I I Al((Jl/2I~j r; ~-wvrYJ I (J II ,::tt) - 32 - . J 3 4 5 b - JJ - i \ , \ \ I I I I I I 1 I 1 1 I I I I I t ........... 1 CiR)11 r/ TIl J ' L---...................,.-_- I I I \ ., .. ,.. "('. t'l :<{ .1' (V ) I I I ,. .. c I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I \ ! I . ( - 35- ) I f I \ j I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 5 r I! ~y&v"H 'd11fr;rYV1J&(ir:iJ Y no - 36 - ( I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ( '-'-- r -.J 7 \ >J ')' " " t , , . I I II , / I , I \, J III .'h'''~ !,I fII,I, I .- 39 - ,, ".: I I 1 1, , , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I _ 1\.0 - 1 1, , , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I L)) ( (j c(/ I I ! ; i ; ! / 1 ,) I /tl /1 ~l" h hJ \or Punchinello Plny house Kick ball , GArmS 1'he four games inc'luded i,n the interview vlere ohosen because of the enthus iasm of the inforlna,nts as they 11sted their favori tea. The following games weY.'e g:i.ven as favo'ri teB in the interview of Ootober 27: (2) (J) School (2) Ca.tch and throw Punch the ball Volleyball Dress up Pachisi, Hopslwtch Hide and fJi3ek Blue Bird London Bridge Han from Irennessee Zud io Cheerleader Cinderella Snovi \1h i te Romeo ond Juliet Several of the I';lrls gave more than one ga.me, or changed their minds about the1r favorites. 'rhe 11st includes indoor and autdoor games t group games. team games. pn.rtner games t ind i v idufJ.l play. and pretend games. Ga.me III - Punchlnello. 'I'hls was the game we played outside the first day. It \'las Vickie's favorite and she organized the game read ily and the g'irls storted to play while I observed and made notes. One ohHd did not want to play nnd stood 8.1. the side with me. The person Nho is it, in this oc1.se Vickie, stands in the oenter of the oirole8ndthe girls skip around her Vlhi1e singing the first verse. During the second verse the cirole stops moving and the person in the center performs some aotion. On the thl.rd verse, the girls l.n the oirole imltate the a.otion of the leader while slnging. On the fourth verse, the person in the oenter closes her eyes and turns around and points to someone in the clrcle DB the song ends. 'rhe person in the center joins the ci-rcle Hnd the p0rson chosen goes into tho oenter and the game oontinues with a repf"titlon of the four verses. After about four turns, I .Jolned the c:i.role to brln[~ the p;mne to 8. oonclusion. On the last verse the ohLlcl in the center olosed her eyes (Questionable) and ohose me to be It for the next gmne. Vlclde 11kes this game because you play with a lot of frIends a.nd "you be danoing". She learned 1 t; from frlencls ln Alabama. Game /12 - Bluebird. Amelia offered 8, novel way of ehoosi.ng it for the game. The person who has the most blue on is it. This is also a circle game with a singing rhyme. Gmne //3 - Nan from 'rennessee. This game Ims a composite contri but ion of filerle, Alecia, 8nd Amelia. Alecla sald she learned 1t from cousins from Detrol t. It ls a partner e;ame and can be played by any number of chlldren. 'rhe fLt'Bt part had deflnlte movementB, but the Becond part was vague. Alecia said Bhe lllled the garne becauBe "I like how you play 1 t. " Amelia sa,ld, "You have some Flctlon, y'ou lvwe 80methlng like a part to do." Game /14 - Zuclio. Benita .said she learned thls gmoe from a fr1 end ln )~ast Athmta. It hHd the sorne bas lc movements and rhyme a8 the Man from Tennessee. However, there was no indioation that there was a seoond part to the gnrne, - I-]-J - Hhyme In - Ice orea,lli, ice oream, cre8m of tarter, '.ehls rhyme Na,s oontlbnted by J'Ullette, 13auanda, Benita, 'I'nl1ya, Jacquelyn, 'md AV0)ra in v!3.rlous forms. After the basle rhy'me the alphabet is (J,g,ld, then a determl.nntl.on of the player's love of the boy chosen. Jullette added the determl.natlon of the love of the boy for the e;l.rl. 'Phe group wi th Ja,oquelyn, Benita, Amanda, Cnrmen, 'I'anya, also e;ave versions to determine the number of material 8'oods of all kinds. Rhyme #2 - Skip-to-a-loo. indication if this is used 8,S a Contribu ted by Cheryl. No solo or group jump-rope rhyme. Bhyme #3 - 00-1-1 want a pJ,ece of pie. Contributed by Vickie with help from Juliette. 'I'he endine; \'laB not definl.tely determined, Bhyme !Lf - Bald-hea,ded Chinese. Contrl.bl1ted by Vickie with help from Cheryl and JulIette. All the gIrls :joined In the end. For some re8,son, Jul:\.ette' s contribution \1aS rejected and 0.tneryl' s \'I8.S accepted. ~rhe ending was not definitely stated. 11hyme 115 - Johnny o'er the ocenn. Contributed by Jacquelyn. This was similar to the Hhyme In, In tha,t the plaYer'jumps until he misses A,nd that det ermines the number of lick,s Johnny gets. COUN'rING HHYr'iES Counting Il - One potfJtO. Contrlbuted by Jull.ette Hnd W9nda. The counter says the rhyme rmd te-ps fists of the players untl1 just one flst remaina and th1s person 1s it. I helped Juliette wI th her exp1anD,tIon, but Wanda also fl;Me directions for this rhyme. Counting 1/2 - Apple. peaoh and pnmpldn ple. Contrlbuted by Cheryl. This is a method of oounting in Hide fwd Seek. 1'he person who ls it o'ontinues to oount this rhyme untl1 all p18yers 8,re ready. - CountIng 1/3 - All around the b9,thtub, ABC. Contrlbuted by 1jJ8nde- e-nd others in the group. 'rhe person who ls dolne; the ohoos1ng h8,s eyes olosed and \~hen the rhy'me ends points to 80meon e who f1:LLl be it. Countlng #4 - I went up the hill. '1'his ts 9,nother rhyme used In Hide and Contrlbuted by Sau9,nda. 8eek. Count:lng Il5 - I a1n' t gonna to count but one more tlme. Contributed by Avera. Another method of oounting for Hide and Seel{. i'Jauanda 8,clded "I went up the hill", but Avera saId that was a different one. Countlng Il6 - Two pounds of we-shIn,"; powder. Contributed by ~r9,nya. Another method of oount1ng for IUde ,<md Seek. Counting 17 - 20 Boog. Contrlbutocl by J9,oquelyn. Th1s 113 8.n aot1ve e;91ne-type of ohooslng someone to be 1t. P19yers oall out numbers and the one who oalls "20" has to chase the others Bnd tag someone to be l.t. - 45 - CONCLUSION One of the greatest problems :l.n the project Ims the problem of t:l.me. The teacher was most cooperat:l.ve :l.n allowing the chlldren to I~ork \'I:l.th me outside the olassroom, hovlever, the sesslons were l:l.mlted within the sohool day. If time had permitted, 1t would have been interesting to invest1gate every game 11sted by the ohllclren. The sohool sett1ng dld not s~)em to h1ndel' the 1nfol'mants. They seemed very muoh Ht e.swe. \'Ie VIere lnterrllptecl clallY' by' armounoement8 over the publ1c acldresB system, but they did not 1nterfere w1th our work. The last 8ess10n was by far the leE\st :l.ntereGt1nl': to the students a8 we \'rent over some of the tel.pe B.nd r 8.sked them questions to clarlfy rhymes or statements. Ame11a lncllcated 8he d lcln I t llke school. flhe even 8a:l.d she dld.n' t want to play sohool \'I:l.th her s18ter. She was dlsintere8ted 1n the questlons and 1t vias evldent she wantee). aot:l.on. Amella asked me to play the portJ.on of the tape where she sang "Blueblrd" at the last session. ltlorldng w1th 15 children \1 J.nform9.nts was SOllWVlhat diff1cult. After the f1rst se8s10n It was apporent some chLldren were better 1nformants than others. or 8.t least, they seemed to knOl~ meJl~e g8mes I).nd rhymes thf3.n others. I tr:l.ed very hard not to c1 lscrlm:l.nate and lncluel ed D.ll ehildren in the J.nterviews. 'rhere were two ehJ.ldren, Celia and Carmen, who did not contribute J.n the recorded intervJ.ew. I informed the glr18 that they would have to speak one at 8. time so that r eould hear them and understand what they were say1ng. Thls may hrwe kept them from eontrlbuting at times. HONeve~', there I~ere many t 1mes when several 1n the grou p Imew the flame game or rhyme or a ver810n of it. '1'here 8Te many repetJ.tJ.ons 1.n the lnterview on the part of the questioner. ThJ.s waf{ to be sure that I understood what the gJ.rls were sayJ.ng, or to put J.n words what they were 9.ctlng out and not saying on the t8.pe. I hope I dld not influence them too much in the1r answers or put words in their mouths as a result. r real1.ze J. t l'W.s very easy for them to answer "y'es" to my questions. Several of the children spoke very softly, or 'tilth their hands over their mouths, or very' rap:i.elly, which neces8:l.tated repet1tion. rltories Nere contributed by Jultette and Avera. J'uliette's VIas a story und Avera's was an experience while playing. 'rhey were not followed up w1th questions and they were not interpreted. r am especiB.lly gro.teful to 1'11'. I'larren and 1'11'8. Arnold for the1r cooperation 8.nd help. 'I'hey perml ttecl me oomplete freedom and independenee 1n my interv:l.ewB and work .- 1~6 - The collecting project of children's folklore was done at: 'I'he Henley Avenue "chool 187 Wesley Avenue, NE East Atlanta, Georgia Telephone: 378-4393 Principal: l~r. Hobert \~arren 'I'eacher: HI's. H. AI'nold, 'fhlrd Grade The colleotor was: Mrs. Dor18 Hoenig 1+303 .l!:xecutive Drive Stone Mountain, Georgia Telephone: 939-6065 A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. 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