One common theme could be revenge. If the black man in the stories was wronged during his life, his ghost might be seeking revenge on those who wronged him or on the descendants of those people.
I'm not very familiar with specific 'The Black Man Texas Ghost Stories'. But generally, in Texas ghost stories, the 'black man' might refer to a spectral figure. It could be a spirit with a tragic past, like a former slave or an unjustly killed man. Maybe he haunts an old plantation or a place where a great injustice occurred.
Well, black ghost stories might be more rooted in certain cultural fears. Take the Black Shuck. It's related to the UK's rural and superstitious past. Other ghost stories could be more about lost love or unfinished business. But black ghost stories seem to focus more on the sinister side. They often have a stronger connection to death and the afterlife in a more menacing way. For instance, the way La Llorona is associated with the death of her children and her eternal punishment is a lot darker compared to some other more 'gentle' ghost stories.
The scariest part could be the element of the unknown. You don't know why he is chasing you. Is he a malevolent spirit in human form? The large size of the 'big black man' also adds to the intimidation factor, making it seem like there's no escape as he looms over you in the context of a ghost story.
No. While black cats are often depicted as bad in many ghost stories, there are also some where they are helpful or neutral. For instance, in some stories, a black cat might lead a lost soul to safety.
In many ghost stories, the black cat is often seen as a symbol of bad luck or an omen. It might be associated with the supernatural, like being a familiar of a witch in some tales.
One famous black ghost story is the legend of the Bell Witch. It's about a spirit that haunted the Bell family in Tennessee. It would torment the family members, make strange noises, and even physically attack them at times.
There's also the story of La Llorona in Hispanic cultures. While not strictly a 'black' ghost in terms of color, she is often depicted as a dark figure. She is the weeping woman who wanders near water, mourning the children she drowned.
Some Black Forest ghost stories might also be based on real - life tragedies that occurred in the area. For example, if there were accidents or disappearances in the forest, over time, these events could have been embellished and turned into ghost stories. The cultural and religious beliefs of the local people also played a role. In some cases, the stories were used to teach moral lessons or to keep people from straying too far into the dangerous forest.