My contribution is to comment on the intermingling of stories across cultures. There is a tale I know that has Irish, German & Japanese versions.
In synopsis: grandfather is old, useless & a burden on the household. He does something that drives daughter-in-law beyond distraction & son meekly falls in with his wife's pont-of-view. Grandfather suffers as a consequence. It is only when the innocent grandson (always grandson, would anyone like to scream about sexism?) innocently says he will do the same when his parents are old that the unpleasantness to GF suddenly stops...
If you can tell me where exactly this tale comes from, you are far wiser than I! Europe & Japan are very different & very, very separate cultures. Even now, in the global age, the obvious differences are far greater than than the obvious similarities.
How much does it matter whether the Br'er tales are African or from The People? Can you prove where they started? And, if you wish to assert that they are "mine", are you not indulging in the racism that you abhor? Stories are stories, people are are people; and the world over, they are surprisingly similar.
The real difference between us all is not culture or skin colour, breeding or blood. It's who got the upper hand first. Historically, that means white Europeans, for better or worse. Had it been People, Africans, or Orientals instead the world would be different. I don't think it would be any more equal, though, because that is the nature of humankind. 21stC technology, Stone Age mentality still, despite occasional glosses to the contrary!
Ooops! I went from stories to dodgy philosophy... {winces} Still an excellent thread, though, & reminds me why I originally enjoyed Mudcat - intelligent & interesting debate without rancour. Lovely!