I was raised with stories about Br'er Rabbit. Those who attack the them as demeaning African Americans need to think again. This was one of many areas in which black and white came together in common language and cultural heritage; two other areas that come to mind are in the true Southern cuisine (heavily influenced by Africa) and in Delta Blues (invented solely by Blacks, but loved by many of the rest of us as the best expression of what life really is about).
Br'er Rabbit has changed character in my imagination through the years. At first I just saw him as a literal representation of my furry friends who always seem to survive, no matter what threats they face. Then came awareness of the allegory of the struggle of Black men and women to survive, and maybe even live with some dignity, when faced with the vanity and cruelty of their persecutors.
The dialect is very true for me. My decidedly non-African grandma spoke quite a bit like Br'er Rabbit, which is one factor that will always cause me to view the little guy as a much beloved family member.