Joel Chandler Harris (1848–1908) was an American journalist, Fiction writer, and folklorist best known for his Uncle Remus stories, which popularized African American folktales and oral traditions. His works, including "Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings," contributed significantly to American Literature and provided a platform for African American folklore in the post-Reconstruction era. Harris's use of dialect and his portrayal of plantation Life have sparked both praise for preserving folklore and Criticism for perpetuating stereotypes. His stories continue to be a subject of literary and cultural analysis.
Anecdotes
- Worked as a typesetter on a plantation where he absorbed African-American folklore that inspired his later stories. Preferred the solitude of his home to the Fame of his writings, rarely appearing in public. Created a character so beloved that it became more famous than the storyteller himself.
- Wrote under a pen name inspired by a humorous, fictitious character from a popular column in the newspaper.
- Grew up on a plantation in Georgia, where he befriended enslaved People who shared their stories with him, greatly influencing his Future writings.
Magnitudes
- Cultivate stories in unexpected, overlooked places.
- Seek Wisdom from the stories of others.
- Seek wisdom in the stories of others.
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