Jook Women.

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  • Author(s): Pearson, Barry Lee
  • Source:
    Arkansas Review: A Journal of Delta Studies. Apr2003, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p18. 12p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      LITERATURE; CULTURE; ARTISTS; FOLKLORE; AFRICAN Americans; WOMEN
    • Abstract:
      The article explores the representation of women in jook culture in folklore, literature and local character anecdotes. A jook is defined as mostly an outlaw place. Black folklore celebrates jook woman in several narrative forms including legends. But, the most striking examples are in the African American ballad tradition. Women could act as enforcers or as chaperones grooming their younger children to be performers, but older women also worked as musicians and dancers in these underground venues. Despite being maligned as outlaws or flaggers, women ran these good time events and inspired and created blues music and blues and jazz dance, participating in the full spectrum of jook activities.