General information about Item:

• Verbal & Customary folklore; Children’s folklore (Game); Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of origin: United States
• Informant: Chris Jacobs
• Date collected: May 24, 2020

Informant data:

Chris Jacobs is a long-time resident of the Hampton Roads area in southeastern Virginia. He teaches American history and loves exploring the historical sites and natural areas of his state and the American South as a whole.

Contextual data:

• Cultural context: Family is a very important concept to Southerners and mothers are often the figureheads of families. If one were to not follow the game of not stepping on a crack, they risked dishonoring or disrespecting their mother. Stepping on a crack might even show you didn’t love your mother.
• Social context: This game-like superstition was often said amongst children walking in groups. Some groups of kids took the game more seriously than others.

Item:

“Step on a crack, break your momma’s back” is a phrase said mostly by children in groups which acts a game. Group members, while walking on sidewalks or roads, must avoid stepping on cracks in the ground. A mistaken step might result in insults from the group or personal feelings of dishonoring one’s mother.

Transcript:

“So, the most frequent one that I heard as a kid was ‘Step on a crack, break yo’ momma’s back. And, I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia in the 1970’s…pretty diverse neighborhood. And this was interesting because this was always something done by children when we were walking around the neighborhoods and of course there were a lot of sidewalks back then, um, that you could walk on. But it was sort of…the context of it was, the kids playing, and some kids would take it, like, more seriously. And, like, if you didn’t play, if you stepped on a crack, it was like you were showing disrespect to your mom. Like, you know, you were not honoring your mom. Um, you know, and like if some kids didn’t do it, they’d be like you don’t love your mom, you don’t love your momma. You know, it was just kinda interesting how some groups took it serious and others didn’t.”

Collector’s comments:

I heard this game as a kid as well and definitely remember being extra careful not to step on cracks. From what I remember, the breaking of your mom’s back was more literal; bodily harm was actually at risk in the times I played it. I also know there is a certain racial history to it but can’t exactly remember the details.

Collector’s name: Jack Jacobs

Tags/Keywords:

• Customary folklore
• Game