How Brer Rabbit tricked Brer Fox

Cartoon Heroes Paper Cut-Outs (After Hours Addendum)

Coonskin 

Originally titled Harlem Nights and rereleased under the name 'Street Fight,' Coonskin is a 1975 mixed live-action/animated satire written and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The movie repurposes the Uncle Remus folk tales, and lampoons the blaxploitation film genre as well as the Disney's feature, The Song of the South. It was the first large studio animated film in which Black artists were employed as central animators.

The narrative concerns three anthropomorphic Uncle Remus characters: Br'er Rabbit (renamed Brother Rabbit), Br'er Fox (renamed Preacher Fox), and Br'er Bear (Brother Bear). The trio become gangsters and rise to the top of the organized crime racket in Harlem. Their adventures see them encountering corrupt law enforcement, con artists, the Mafia and a personification of The America Dream who is a buxom beautiful blond with a gun in place of her vigina (!). The film stars Philip Michael Thomas, Charles Gordone, Barry White, and Scatman Crothers, all of whom appear in live-action as well as voicing their animated counterparts. Bakshi additionally brought on board graffiti artists to create the backdrops for multiple scenes.

The Congress of Racial Equality was highly critical of the movie, calling it and Bakshi racist as well as staging a protest at its premiere screening.  Other critics, however, lauded the film for being an unblinking exposé on the pervasive racism of Hollywood. The NAACP supported Coonskin calling it an 'important yet difficult satire.'  Historian and author, Darius James wrote that Coonskin “pukes the iconographic bile of a racist culture back in its stupid, bloated face.”  

North American folklore is filled with bold boys, talking creatures, and wise (or wicked) lessons that echo across generations. Whether whispered around a fire or passed down by storytellers like Uncle Remus, these tales blend humor, danger, and a touch of the magical.

Pull up a seat. It’s storytime. 🔥📚

🐶 The Little Boy and His Dogs

(African-American Folklore, Uncle Remus Tale)

After a spooky tale, Uncle Remus shared this one to lighten the mood — and it doesn’t disappoint.

A clever boy and his two wild dogs — Minnyminny Morack and Follerlinsko — lived with their cautious mama, who once lost a daughter to the forest. One day, the boy spots two fancy ladies with fluffy dresses and suspicious behavior. They drank like animals. Had hairy arms. Long teeth. 🐾

His mama waved it off: “That’s just quality folk ways.”

Spoiler: they weren’t ladies. They were panthers in disguise.

When they lured the boy away, he was ready. He’d left a red-warning water bowl, planted a shaking willow as a signal to his dogs, and climbed a tree. As the panthers chopped at the trunk, he used magic eggs to seal the cuts — until his ferocious dogs arrived and ended the threat. ⚔️🐕🐕

Later? He finds his long-lost sister enslaved by a bear family. He scalds those bears right out of the story, rescues his sister, and proves once and for all: don’t trust a petticoat without checking for claws. 😤

🐍 The Rattlesnake’s Vengeance

(Cherokee Folklore)

Long ago, humans and animals spoke the same language.

One day, a woman killed a Yellow Rattlesnake to protect her children. But balance must be restored — and the snake clan demanded justice.

That night, her husband wandered through a mountain pass and found… a mourning circle of rattlesnakes. “Your wife killed our chief,” they hissed. “The Black Rattlesnake is coming.”

But they offered him a strange mercy:

“He will wait, coiled in shadow by your door. Ask your wife to fetch spring water. Step aside.”

The man obeyed. His wife stepped out with a bowl… and never returned. As the Black Rattlesnake vanished into the darkness, it hissed:

“Justice is served.”

Yet the snakes left him with a gift — a sacred song to protect against future harm. A lullaby of loss. A warning woven in rhythm. 🌑🐍

🦅 How Come Mr. Buzzard Got a Bald Head

(African-American Folklore)

When trickster Anansi the spider discovered Buzzard’s magical floating safe — packed with food — she couldn’t resist sneaking a bite. But when Buzzard caught her inside, the two entered a hilarious chant battle to control the safe. (“Come down, safe!” “No, stay up, safe!”)

Anansi flattered Buzzard to escape humiliation… but you know tricksters never forget. 😈

Later, she invited Buzzard over for dinner — and poured boiling water on his head. Ouch.

That’s why buzzards have bald heads. And why buzzards never mess with spiders again. 🕷️🔥

🛌✨ Bedtime with Bite

From clever kids and sacred snakes to vengeful spiders, North America’s folklore is anything but boring. These stories hold lessons, laughter, and just enough danger to keep curious minds wide awake.

Want more tales like these?

Download the Summerfox Storytime app — where bedtime turns into a magical journey through legends, fables, and adventures from all around the world. 🌍💫

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