New book by San Antonio author, illustrator explores truth and myth behind Donkey Lady ghost story - KSAT

SAN ANTONIO – For generations on San Antonio’s South Side, the tale of the Donkey Lady has been a significant part of local folklore, often serving as an unofficial rite of passage for those daring enough to visit the old Elm Creek bridge late at night. This urban legend warns of a disfigured, vengeful figure haunting the woods around the bridge off Old Applewhite Road.

In an effort to delve deeper into this urban legend, two San Antonio natives, former Texas Poet Laureate Carmen Tafolla and local artist Thelma Ortiz Muraida, have collaborated on a new book that seeks to peel back the layers of myth surrounding the Donkey Lady. Their work aims to unearth a tragic human story that has been obscured by the legend over the years.

Tafolla emphasizes the importance of reclaiming these stories, stating, "It was really important for us to claim those stories, reclaim them, and restore the Donkey Lady’s humanity. Often human beings who have experienced some kind of injustice don’t get to tell their side of the story."

The book reconstructs the narrative of a woman historically known as “La Callada,” or the quiet one. Instead of portraying her as a terrifying monster, Tafolla and Muraida depict her as an independent woman who lived self-sufficiently in nature. The narrative reveals that she was targeted, ostracized, and violently attacked by fearful neighbors, a reflection of societal prejudices.

To capture the mood and historical weight of the setting, Muraida chose to illustrate the book using raw charcoal. She explains her choice of medium, saying, "I wanted to pick a medium that would sort of reflect that sort of mystery feeling. And I chose charcoal. It kind of conveyed the dark side and the light side. You see this array of values of black and white inside of, like telling the depth of the story."

Both Tafolla and Muraida grew up hearing the ghost story passed down by family elders. They now view the enduring myth as a reflection of prejudice, greed, and mob mentality that often targets outsiders. Tafolla asserts, "And the monsters, I need to repeat, are not the Donkey Lady. They’re not the people who are different. The monsters are the intolerance, the hatred, the suspicion of those who are different from us."

Through their collaboration, Tafolla and Muraida hope to transform the South Side ghost story into a testament to resilience. Tafolla describes the Donkey Lady as "a voice of resistance," stating, "She’s a voice that says, ‘this is mine, and I’m here I’ll stay.’"

This reinterpretation of the Donkey Lady legend not only seeks to restore the humanity of a figure often viewed as a monster but also serves as a commentary on broader societal issues. The book invites readers to reconsider the narratives they have inherited and the stories that deserve to be told. Paranormal Country has not confirmed the details of this publication.