American Folk Heroes & Heroines

American Folk Heroes

  & Heroines Are Everywhere

American Folk heroes and heroines are everywhere. They are real, fictional or mythological people of the past and of the present. They are people we recognize by name, by personality and by deeds and are often the subject of films, literature, songs, tales and other elements of folklore.

These people run the gamut, from politicians and healers to scoundrels and loners. They are also known by their strengths which can take a variety of forms.

Some are historical public figures. An example of a folk heroine whose live was well documented was Dolley Madison, the 4^th First Lady of the United States (President James Madison) who also occasionally acted as First Lady during the administration of the widowed President Thomas Jefferson. She was best known for furnishing the White House and for making it into a gathering place for both Democrats and Republicans. 

One other good example is Amelia Earhart. This aviation pioneer challenged prejudices and financial difficulties to become one of this country’s greatest women pilots. A tomboy, she went against conventional feminine she symbolized what women were capable of accomplishing.

Other folk heroes and heroines were private individuals whose lives were not documented for posterity. However, the work of these people did as much as those more public people to change the course of life for many. A good example of that would be Jonas Salk, the medical researcher and virologist who discovered the first successful polio vaccine in 1962. 

Fictional Folk Heroes/Heroines

And still there are fictional folk heroes and heroines whose deeds and personalities were or are larger than life. These characters reached mythic proportions. Think of Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker or Rosy the Riveter who represents the strength and power of American women during World War II. It’s important to note here that these particular characters, while not real people, embody a composite of character traits that we American admire. These traits represent cultural values such as courage, honor, sacrifice and hard work.
Here are a few more examples of real American folk heroes and heroines:

Billy the Kid: He represents both the good and the bad of the Old West. Outside the law he was also brave and stood for individual freedom. He actually lived at a time when men made their own laws and solved their own problems, often with a gun. He took care of himself and was considered by many to be smart; he could read and write and learned to speak Spanish.  Billy the Kid was, above all else, admired because he wasn’t afraid of people who were more powerful than him.

Sitting Bull: He was a Native American leader who did not welcome European intrusions into his way of life. He was an inspirational leader and fearless warrior as well as loving father and a gifted singer. His spirituality gave him faith and insights that have guided many people since. Sitting Bull was credited with never signing a treaty to sell any portion of his people’s inheritance. He was perhaps best known as the man who victoriously led the fight against Colonel Custer’s forces in Custer’s Last Stand.

Most of these folk are not born as superstars. In fact they often begin life as everyday people who are transformed into extraordinary people by significant life events, often in response to social injustice, and sometimes in response to natural disasters. In all cases they are individuals who have found a way to apply their particular character, beliefs and values in order to overcome adversity.
All folk heroes and heroines represent what is possible for the common man or woman; they offer a road map, so to speak, of how to keep moving in the face of oppression or corruption and are often the people we admire most and often aspire to be like.

Related Information:

Amelia Earhart  

Black Sports Folk Heroine 

May Folk Heroes

Bonnie & Clyde

What kind of folk heroes would kill 13 people and rob numerous banks? That would be the famous gangster couple Bonnie and Clyde. This folk hero duo chose to live outside the law, resulting in tragedy or triumph depending on how you look at it.Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow first met in January 1930. Bonnie was just 19 years old, while Clyde was 20 years old. From 1932-1934, during the height of the Great Depression, their gang evolved from petty thieves to nationally known bank robbers and murderers. On May 23, 1934, their spree ended when they were betrayed by a friend and shot dead at a police roadblock in Louisiana. While the duo is mainly known for their murderous ways, there are many not so known facts about Bonnie and Clyde. Here are just a few: 

Bonnie wore a wedding ring…but it wasn’t Clyde’s.Bonnie and Clyde may have claimed to be married, but Bonnie was actually legally married to her first husband, Roy Thornton. She was still wearing his wedding ring the day that she died and had their names tattooed on her knee.

Bonnie was an honor student.Bonnie was a very bright student during her school days.She excelled at creative writing and poetry, and continued to write during her bank robbing days.  

Clyde was rejected by the Navy.As a teenager, Clyde tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy. However, lingering effects from a serious illness resulted in him being rejected for medical reasons. Clyde had already tattooed "USN" on his left arm. 

Bonnie and Clyde were buried separately.While the couple wished to be buried side by side, Bonnie's mother would not allow it. She disapproved of her relationship with Clyde and had her daughter buried in a separate Dallas Cemetary. Clyde, on the other hand, was buried next to his brother, Marvin.

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FDR Remembered

American Presidential Folk Hero

Whatever you think of politicians - today as well as yesterday- they are folk heroes. Folk heroes are those whose deeds we remember and even use as examples of what to do as well as what not to do.

This week is the birthday week of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President. Born January 30, 1882, this New York native was elected to four terms (1933-1945). In total, he  served for 12 years and four terms, and was the only president ever to serve more than eight years.

To his credit: 

• During the  Great Depression, he took charge to restore public confidence. He spoke directly to the nation in a series of radio  "fireside chats."
• His ambitious New Deal programs and reforms redefined the role of the federal government in the lives of Americans. 
• He led the United States from isolationism to victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II.
• Spearheading  the  wartime alliance between Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States, he helped to shape the building blocks of what would later become the United Nations.  

Want to know more about FDR? Click here to learn more about folk heroes and heroines.