473. White Folks Go to College
Race-consciousness fnids expression in a number of sonj^s com-
paring the living conditions of the two races. 'ihe theme is
picjuantly ilhistratcd in several variants of "white gal" vs. "yellow
gal." For other examples and for a sensible and informed discus-
sion of the significance of such songs, see White ANFS 376-386.
From Miss Clara Hearne, Pittsboro, Chatham county, c. 1923. This is
close to the B variant in Perrow JAFL xxviii 140, and 'I Went to
Atlanta,' Lawrence Gellert, Xryro Songs of Protest (New York, 1936).
p. 9-
White folks go to college,
Niggers go to field ;
White folks learii to read and write,
Niggers learn to steal.
Oh. Lord, it's hard to he a nigger,
Oh, Lord, it's hard to he a nigger,
'Cause a nigger don't have no show.