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The authoritarians are all about controlling speech, thoughts, and controlling the narrative on history through their revisionist agenda. You have to stand up against these control freaks. If not you get an Orwellian world. We are currently on that track if people don't start taking a stand.
It was written in 1918 by a Russian Jew. They weren't well-regarded at the time.
But we don't live in that age, so what's the motivation today for wanting to tear down an icon over one song?
And where is the outrage over current songs and videos that denigrate women? Where have these posters been in expressing concern over lyrics of current music, since they're clearly so disturbed about one song from 90 years ago??
Let's see if Comcast, which owns the Flyers and the arena they play in, hold other parties who entertain at their arena to the same moral standards. Will performers who demean women as ******* and hoes in their lyrics be prevented from playing there or does the company's morality clause only pertain to dead women who sang a song 90 years ago?
But we don't live in that age, so what's the motivation today for wanting to tear down an icon over one song?
And where is the outrage over current songs and videos that denigrate women? Where have these posters been in expressing concern over lyrics of current music, since they're clearly so disturbed about one song from 90 years ago??
I'll bet that there are some here who have never heard the song and know nothing about it.
My dad served in Europe during WWII. I'm sure that he liked Betty Grable more than Kate Smith, but Kate was apple pie, baseball, hot dogs, and home.
If the Flyers are done with her, I'm done with them.
Let's see if Comcast, which owns the Flyers and the arena they play in, hold other parties who entertain at their arena to the same moral standards. Will performers who demean women as ******* and hoes in their lyrics be prevented from playing there or does the company's morality clause only pertain to dead women who sang a song 90 years ago?
Good point. By using their "logic" - the Yankees (who didn't have a black player until 1955) should have their 26 World Series voided and MLB should start dissolving the franchise tomorrow.
Same w/ the Flyers - they oppressed their fans with having that statue so they need to be dissolved , too.
1930's is rather late for this kind of song. Some of the best cotton picking darkie songs were written by black song writers for their traveling vaudeville shows but the era peaked in around 1908. "Coon Songs" were a national rage for over 50 years.(rap has been popular for 40 years) Bert Williams the African American blackface performer of this music was unapologetic about his shows. He was making over $60,000 a year at a time when a good job paid $600.00.
You would have to ask someone who as actually there in 1931 to know if this song was recorded for nostalgia or for other purposes. One of the business ventures of the Klan at this time was the recording industry.
It isn't a coon song.
The first part of the song, in the versions sung by both Robeson and Smith, makes it clear that it is from the point of view of a black person who is critical of the way blacks are treated, but has chosen to "accept destiny" and take pride in the hard work he is unfairly made to do.
It's interesting that that first verse, which puts the song in context, is omitted from the lyrics on almost all the lyric sites that come up when you do a Google search. It seems as if that must have been done purposefully to make this song appear more racist than it actually is.
Brothers sisters when this world began
There was work to be done
And it seems that someone
Left it to the colored man
Brothers sisters what must be must be
Though the balance is wrong
Still your faith must be strong
Accept your destiny
Brothers listen to me
Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to pick the corn,
Someone had to slave and be able to sing,
That's why darkies were born;
Someone had to laugh at trouble,
Though he was tired and worn,
Had to be contented with any old thing,
That's why darkies were born;
Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and
Sing when you're blue,
Sing, sing, that's what you taught
All the white folks to do;
Someone had to fight the Devil,
Shout about Gabriel's Horn,
Someone had to stoke the train
That would bring God's children to green pastures,
That's why darkies were born.
And to make it even more ironic, the Flyers play in the Wells Fargo Arena. Yes, the same Wells Fargo bank that paid a penalty for overcharging minority customers for loans. When will they be changing the name of the arena? https://mobile.reuters.com/article/a...86B0V220120712
It doesn't matter. All that matters is that (1) songs in movies are a reflection and often affirmation of preexisting cultural ideas, (2) the idea affirmed in the song is one that said certain people are of low worth and/or need to be kept in their place simply because of the color of their skin - or social and personal problems that often come about due to discrimination (lower quality education, job opportunities, general avenues to express their unique individual talents, etc).
About as repugnant as white blue collar entertainers using "redneck" in their comedy routines (Jeff Foxworthy or Larry The Cable Guy, anyone?). Same for "white trash". People part of groups targeted by the slur simply have prerogatives to use that slur that other's do not. This is because when the slur comes from the target's mouths, they have control over the meaning of the word, for it's obvious the target's not using a slur in ways that degrade themselves. Whereas a mainstream person using that slur usually is using the term to perpetuate disrespect toward "those" people.
Example, I, a white person, can say "A cracker like me" and not have it coming out meaning "white people deserve castigating". A non-white person saying "A cracker like him/her" is usually using it to mean something very different (and not very flattering toward whites). See the difference?
And that is why blacks can get away from using the N word while I cannot. And it is a proper standard to have.
NO. IT. ISN’T.
The use of a negative pejorative by members of the demographic it is aimed at only reinforces the belief of others that they too have a right to use the word. And, you know what, that is a legitimate assumption. I swear the God, I would have smacked the mouth off the face of one of my children had I heard them use the “N” word.
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This was way past the pre-Civil War era. Those lyrics are atrocious.
Of course they are.
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