The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton

I was unfortunate and fortunate enough to order the wrong book online. Instead of the full book of folk tales I ordered the illustrated version of the folk tale titled The People Could Fly. I was unfortunate in the fact that the one that I did receive was so powerful I know that I missed some amazing stories. However, I was fortunate in the fact that the one I did get was not only beautifully written, the illustrations were stunning.
I want to start with the pictures because they are so well done that they could tell the story without any of the words. The Dillon’s allow the reader, or viewer in this sense to feel exactly what is happening in the story. I know that it is cliché to say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but the way that these pictures were drawn it is hard to say anything less. Whether it is the picture with the slaves crammed into a boat crying for freedom to the old man whispering in the wind the pictures draw the reader in and want to continue reading if for nothing other than to see the next illustration.
Now, while the pictures are powerful and awe-inspiring I do not want to take anything away from the story itself. I know that many of the folklores for African Americans are rooted in slavery and the subsequent escape of the slaves. Growing up a Christian and in the public schools I have not had what some would call an extensive education on African American folklore, but I do have a good introduction. I know that many of the “Negro” spirituals were actually instructions for slaves to escape to their freedom, or to find the Underground Railroad. They were also rooted in the beliefs of the slaves, both Christian and African beliefs. One thing that I did not know, which I have since learned from Hamilton, is that the accounts of the flying Africans was not uncommon for the African folklore. In the author’s note Virginia Hamilton state, “A plausible explanation might be the slaves running away from slavery, slipping away while in the fields or under cover of darkness. In code language murmured from one slave to another, ‘Come fly away!’ might have been the words used”(Hamilton, Author’s Note).
It is not just the fact that this is an African Folktale that makes this a powerful story, it is the story in and of itself. It is a story that includes many things that would draw students into the reading. One is the idea of magic. It is true that there might have not been real “magic” involved in the story, but there is magic in the way that the story is told; there is magic in the sense that it could bring slaves to their freedom. The idea that Africans could fly is not realistic, but it bring up a great discussion with the students by asking them what does it mean that they could fly? Is there more to flying then the physical aspect? Why are more and more slaves “flying” away?
Another part of the story that fascinated me was the character of Toby. Toby was always there for the slaves when they needed him, whether it was because they were being whipped, or because they collapsed from heat. He is their rock, and their savior. I say savior, because Toby was in my mind a Christ figure for the slaves. I know that it is a scary thing to imply in public schools, but knowing that many of the folktales are rooted in Christianity I feel this is who the slaves wanted to listening to believe was going to be there to help them “fly” away. He was both the instigator as well as the peacemaker. Toby saved the lives of many of the slaves by giving them a way to their freedom.
It is a story that would make a great companion to a slavery unit that is being taught in a Social Studies course. The story brings the students on a trip from Africa to America. It puts them through the emotions and pain that the slaves went through while in America. It gives them hope when Toby says the magic words to make them fly.
Overall, it is a great story with both the illustrations as well as the story itself. This one of the most powerful folk tales I have read. Even though slavery in America happened over a hundred years ago, the way that Hamilton tells the story makes it seem very real. It shows the horror, as well as the hope. But it does it in a way that all ages can comprehend. The illustrated copy while is directed towards children is far from just a children’s book. It is a story that can inspire all ages. I think this is what folk tales are supposed to do. They are there to instruct and inspire. Toby and the flying people are able to do that for the reader.