Move over Optimus—there are some new transformers in town. In the African-American folktale "The People Could Fly," we watch seemingly ordinary people transform into flying superheroes in the blink of an eye. Folk tales are the original super-hero comics, after all. Although the people who could fly undergo all sorts of hardships after being forced into slavery, their so-called Master will never be able to change what's on the inside. And when the thing that's on the inside is a superpower, then that so-called Master's days are numbered.
Questions About Transformation
- Why do the people lose their wings?
- Besides the obvious, what do you think is different between the people who can fly and the people who can't?
- In your opinion, what is the source of the people's flying powers?
- How does the idea of transformation reflect the reality of slavery?
Chew on This
The people's initial transformation is only skin-deep—their inner strength remains unchanged.
In the story, transformation is used as a metaphor for how dehumanizing slavery is, as well as the beauty of freedom.