Where It All Goes Down
The American South During Slavery
The Plantation
Though fantastical, "The People Could Fly" depicts a bleak reality. During the age of slavery, African people (and others) were kidnapped from their homeland and brought to America, many not surviving the journey. They were denied their basic humanity, their freedom, and their cultural identity, forced to work on plantations throughout the American South. This folk tale is a response to that historical calamity—a way for people to build a bridge from their old home to their new one.
The Old World
To be honest, it's probably easier to define the setting by what it's not. Remember—the people only "forgot about flyin when they could no longer breathe the sweet scent of Africa" (3). Their powers are linked to their homeland, so although they now look like ordinary (think: wing-less) people, they still carry the magic from their past somewhere deep inside them. Unfortunately, in order to unearth it, they're going to have to survive life in this new country first.
The New World
As you might imagine, the plantation is an awful place. We watch as "another and another fell from" the "dead hot" (21) weather. This harsh land is relentlessly patrolled by the Driver and the Overseer, two nasty men who derive sadistic pleasure from inflicting violence. The whole plantation is surrounded by "fences" and "streams" (22), creating an overbearing sense of confinement. Although we're overjoyed when the flying-people overcome these obstacles, we can't help but worry about the poor land-walkers they left behind.
A New Start
Luckily, the enslaved people eventually make their way to "the free land" (32)—presumably, somewhere in the North. Although this is not the home that they miss so much, it feels like heaven compared to where they've been. After all, they can now actually enjoy their lives, sitting "close to the fire" and "tellin" stories (32). Although there are still plenty of struggles to endure, not being enslaved sure beats being enslaved any day.