Story about a man who prayed to the devil

Audio file
Date recorded: September 26, 1961
Contributor(s): Performer: Lomax, Alan; Performer: Jones, Bessie; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: story
Culture: African American, Southern U.S.
Setting: Alan Lomax's apartment, 3rd Street
Location: New York City, New York, United States
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T950
Track Number: 7
Archive ID: T950R07
Note: A black man prayed every morning to see his son who had died. The white people around him were worried by his close relationship with God, and followed him one morning to spy on him. The man was in fact praying to the devil because he thought God was too great. As a joke, the white people responded to his prayers in the voice of the devil, and the man ran off in terror.
Belongs to: New York City 9/61
About the session: The fourth of 21 recording sessions with Bessie Jones.
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