In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

In this short series, the Peale's storyteller-in-residence Mama Linda Goss recites her own versions of classic fables that offer key lessons about our collective survival in the COVID era.

Mama Linda Goss (00:08): (Singing) Well, oh, well, oh well. It's storytelling time. (Bells shaking) Gather around my people. Well, well. Gather around my people. Well, well, well, well, well. It's storytelling time. Well, well. It's storytelling time. Well, well. It's storytelling time. Well, well, well, well, well, and indeed it's storytelling time. So, friends gather 'round, and listen to the stories. And, indeed, it's storytelling time, so friends gather round and listen to the stories.

Mama Linda Goss (01:00): (Singing). Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. There helping all over this land. Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. Gifted hands and gifted minds are helping humankind. There helping all over this land.

Mama Linda Goss (01:30): Hello, everyone. My name is Mama Linda. I am a storyteller. I am known for ringing my bells, but today I'm ringing my school bells. Come with me and we're going to visit the sixth grade class of teacher Paul Best. Today is Friday the last day in the school week. It is Mr. Best's last period for the day. The students enter the classroom, very anxious and very excited, not because it is almost time to go home. You see, Teacher Best makes learning so interesting. He calls the class together by saying, "I go." The class responds by saying, "I may." I go," He calls out and again, the class says, "I may." "Thank you," Teacher Best says.

Mama Linda Goss (02:28): "Good afternoon class. Since we have some new students in the class visiting us today, we would like for someone to explain to them what I go, I may means." A student raises her hand. "Yes, Sharon, you may share." "I go, I may is a call and response greeting from the Akan language spoken in Ghana. Ghana is a country in West Africa. When someone calls out, 'I go,' that means, they're saying they need your attention. And your response is, 'I may,' which means yes, you have my attention. "Thank you very much, Sharon. Very good," said Teacher Best. "Now who remembers what the assignment is that I gave out last Friday for you to bring in today?" Jamal raises his hand, "Today, it is time to play, do you know who this is? Can I make you say gee whiz? Our homework was to share information about Black pioneers in the medical field that we may not know about." "Thank you, Jamal. That is correct. Excellent. Well, who wants to go first?" said Teacher Best. Tyrone raises his hand and says, "I do, Mr. Best. I go." The class responds, "I may." Tyrone begins.

Asset ID: 2022.05.17.f

Find a complete transcription on the Peale website.