Hokum 107-139

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            After another thoroughly enjoyable set of writings from Hokum, I have decided this is my favorite book we’ve used so far this semester. Being from the south, I love the dialect. I was surprised how easily I was able to read it, especially after hearing how difficult it was for some people to understand.

            These stories and jokes were some of my favorites; I laughed out loud at the punch line of the joke on page 114 by Bert Williams, which I will quote in full because it was so good:

Rasmus Bigby used to play with a little white boy about his age. One day the little pale one was crying bitterly and his mother says to Rasmus, ‘What’s the matter with Ronald, Erasmus?’

“He’s cryin’ ‘cause I’m eatin’ my cake an’ won’t gib him none.”

“Is his own cake finished?”

“Yassum. An’ he cried while I’se eatin’ dat too.”

This line fit perfectly with a Spongebob episode I remember. After Patrick and Spongebob “steal” a balloon, they realize they are criminals and leave town, planning on living on their few belongings. For food, Patrick and Spongebob only had one chocolate bar each. Of course, when Patrick eats his own chocolate bar unconsciously, he thinks Spongebob stole his bar: “You took my only food. Now I’m gonna starve!” Here is the link so you can get the full effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMHB-NZY0UQ

            I also have to point out Bert Williams’ first joke in the book because he mentions the first time he went to the big city…which is of course the best city: Chattanooga/Chattanoogy/Chatt-town/Chattavegas/Chattaboogie. Chattanooga is awesome, in case you didn’t know. You should stop by sometime.

            The short story by Rudolph Fisher on King Solomon Gillis and his trip to Harlem was entertaining as well. The foreshadowing given by the insider’s view into Uggam’s conversations was well done; I knew something was going to happen, but the way it happened was a surprise. The story overall was interesting because there was always a tension between corruption going by unnoticed and being caught. These stories are great, and I look forward to more of them. While they are not all humorous, many of them are simply good stories, even if they portray a pretty ugly subject at times—racism.