A Sociologist’s Dream

Published 11/14/03

Or maybe nightmare. Thanks to kuro5hin, I found this link to a 1997 story in the Miami New Times by Lynda Edwards called “Myths Over Miami.”

It talks about how homeless children in Miami have developed their own mythos — their own gods and demons and mythology.

The must-quote excerpt:

One demon is feared even by Satan. In Miami shelters, children know her by two names: Bloody Mary and La Llorona (the Crying Woman). She weeps blood or black tears from ghoulish empty sockets and feeds on children’s terror. When a child is killed accidentally in gang crossfire or is murdered, she croons with joy. “If you wake at night and see her,” a ten-year-old says softly, “her clothes be blowing back, even in a room where there is no wind. And you know she’s marked you for killing.”

Absolutely incredible reading. You wonder if anyone has or will collect the stories in one place.

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