What is Br'er Rabbit?
Another popular rabbit figure in contemporary American civilization is that of Br'er Rabbit. Made famous by the Uncle Remus tales Of African American slaves, as composed from Joel Chandler Harris, Br'er Rabbit is a sly trickster that has to use his wits to bypass the predations of Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear.
Even though these tales are considered politically incorrect, their influence remains observable in phrases like pitch baby, and do not throw me into the briar patch. These cliches refer to one narrative of Br'er Rabbit wherein Br'er Fox tries to outsmart his nemesis by making a figure from tar and clothes it.
When Br'er Rabbit crosses paths with the dummy, he greets it, but because the pitch baby is overly impolite to reply, Br'er Rabbit strikes it with his paw, and has stuck in the pitch. When Br'er Fox returns to eliminate his enemy, Br'er Rabbit pleads with him to do anything he likes, if he'll just not throw him to the briar patch.
This, naturally, is a trick of reverse psychology. Br'er Fox throws Br'er Rabbit to the thorny bushes, where he quickly leaves his escape. Such as the Easter Bunny, however, Br'er Rabbit has roots that predate the Christian societies where they became well known.
He's thought to be an African American version of a figure known through many African societies. Bantu that people call him Kalulu, the Hare, and he's considered as a consummate trickster. Lazy, but wily, he often deceives and gets the best of more strong animals, like the elephant. There can be a connection here to the practice of maintaining a lucky rabbit's foot.
The use of a rabbit's foot as a good luck charm is known through many world cultures, but entered American society throughout hoodoo customs of African Americans, themselves derived from traditional African practices. Too numerous different rationales for the use of this one they were put forth to be sure of any particular one.
One possible explanation lies in the traditional belief that witches can transform themselves into rabbits or hares. The theme of the bunny or hare as a trickster archetype is repeated in other cultures through the world.
In the mythology of several Algonquin Native American tribes, Nanabozho is a mythical civilization hero who takes the form of a bunny. Like comparable Figures portrayed as Coyote or Raven, Nanabozho is more than a simple ne'er-do well.
His daring exploits and creative suggestions are accountable for much of the creation of the world as we realize it, and the present of various kinds of knowledge to mankind. In a history of the Ojibwa people, he stole the present of speech from the animals to prevent them from conspiring against mankind.