came to the United States during the trans-atlantic slave trade. In Africa, Simbi nature spirits protect and provide riches to their followers. In West-Central Africa, there are folk stories of people meeting mermaids. Among the Gullah Geechee people in the Carolina Lowcountry and Sea Islands, there is a children's story called Sukey and the Mermaid written by Robert D. San Souci. In the African Diaspora, there are Afro-American folk stories of a little girl meeting a mermaid. During the era of slavery, Simbi folk stories in enslaved black communities provided hope from enslavement. It was believed that Simbi spirits help guide freedom seekers (runaway slaves) to freedom or to maroon communities during their escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad, because Simbi spirits reside in nature. African-American folktale examples A Story, A Story – by Gale E. Hayley Afiong the Proud Princess Anansi the Spider – by Gerald McDermott Big Liz Boo Hag Br'er Bear's House Br'er Rabbit Finding the Green Stone – by Alice Walker Gullah storytelling Hold Him, Tabb I Know Moon Rise I'm Coming Down Now John Henry (folklore)|John Henry the Steel Driving Man Mirandy and Brother Wind Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters – by John Steptoe Never Mind Them Watermelons No King as God Signifying monkey Sukey and the Mermaid – by Robert D. San Souci The Baby Mouse and the Baby Snake The Black Cat's Message The Calabash Kids – from Tanzania The Cheetah and the Lazy Hunter – from the Zulu The Midnight Goat Thief The Shrouded Horseman The Talking Eggs – by Robert D. San Souci The Value of a Person Wait Until Emmet Comes Why Dogs Chase Cats Why Lizards Don't Sit Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears – Verna Aardema Why the Sky is Far Away – by Mary-Joan Gerson Woe and Happiness See also Anansi Br'er Bear Hausa people J. Mason Brewer Nigeria Sanankuya Tanzania The Dozens Zulu people Slavery in the United States Treatment of the enslaved in the United States References Further reading Coughlan, Margaret N., and Library of Congress. Children's Book Section. Folklore From Africa to the United States: an Annotated Bibliography. Washington: Library of Congress: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off, 1976. Marsh, Vivian Costroma Osborne. Types And Distribution of Negro Folk-lore In America. [Berkeley], 1922. Folktales Storytelling American folklore