i just did it in another post. then it occurred to me that, like camptown races, perhaps this is something i didn't know was racist when i was a kid (with that song at least, because it involves old timey references that i just didn't know) but now should know better and erase from my lexicon.
crap. i hope i'm not going around being an accidental racist again. (TM brad paisley)
"Camptown Races" (purchase/download) was written by preeminent American songwriter Stephen Foster, who first published the song in 1850. The first recording was made by the Christy Minstrels. Where is Camptown?
Camptown is in Pennsylvania, near Foster's hometown. Although the phrase "camp town" also refers loosely to the "towns" transients would set up around train tracks to make it easier to hop trains to get from job to job and town to town. These camp towns were also called jungle camps, and were often populated by African-Americans and other migrant workers. "Camptown Races" and the Minstrel Tradition
The original title, "Gwine to Run All Night," referenced the African-American stereotype dialect in which the song was written. The lyrics talk about a group of transients in a camp town, who bet on horses to try to make some money. The song was intended to be humorous and was written in the minstrel tradition, which had performers painting their faces black to mock African-Americans. While the minstrel tradition is now considered incredibly racist, this and other songs written during that period have managed to stick around in our national repertory. Read the lyrics for "Camptown Races."
What's racist about Camptown Races? Isn't it about horses?
Someone please educate me.
I don't say 'no way jose', but that's because it isn't 1993.
yes. but not really. it's a minstrel song and was performed in blackface. a "camptown" was also sometimes called a "jungle town" and was, generally speaking, populated by african-american workers on the racing circuit. i was informed about all of this by a friend when we were talking about disney music CDs.
At the risk of being flamed, I do have an honest and sincere question. At what point does something move past any racist/un-PC connotations and just become part of the collective? If no one had posted about Camptown Races being racist, I'd never know. I think if you asked 100 people what it's about, the majority wouldn't know what it's about either. Does pointing it out make a difference? Will it really change anything? Is anyone honestly offended by it? (No snark here, really)
At the risk of being flamed, I do have an honest and sincere question. At what point does something move past any racist/un-PC connotations and just become part of the collective? If no one had posted about Camptown Races being racist, I'd never know. I think if you asked 100 people what it's about, the majority wouldn't know what it's about either. Does pointing it out make a difference? Will it really change anything? Is anyone honestly offended by it? (No snark here, really)
i see what you're saying, but there's a wealth of children's music available that wasn't derived from minstrel entertainment, so i err on the side of caution with that one.
i think there's a difference between whitewashing history and pretending such songs don't exist, and crooning them to toddlers born in the 21st century, you know?
At the risk of being flamed, I do have an honest and sincere question. At what point does something move past any racist/un-PC connotations and just become part of the collective? If no one had posted about Camptown Races being racist, I'd never know. I think if you asked 100 people what it's about, the majority wouldn't know what it's about either. Does pointing it out make a difference? Will it really change anything? Is anyone honestly offended by it? (No snark here, really)
Well, to give some perspective. Oh! Susanna, also sung by Stephen Foster was a minstrel song and performed in blackface...with an "accent".
Oh! Susanna is widely accepted and a song sung by many many people. The one article I read said that since the performing in blackface and with accents was no longer used and a racist verse was taken out, it is no longer considered a racist song.
Hmmm, I never knew any of that about Camptown Races. DD has a sit on truck that plays the song. I sing it to her, but the only words I know are "Camptown Races, sing this song, doo da, doo da. Camptown races sing this song, all the doo da day." Or something like that.
Edit: I just googled the lyrics and see that even the few I sing are incorrect! But I didn't see any lyrics that stood out as racist. Maybe I am too sheltered.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
and ray tells me that he doesn't move his ass off the couch until I've said my 5th "ready, freddie?" b/c he says i'm still not all the way ready until I ask the 5th time. derrrp
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
This reminds me of the Southwest FA who was labeled racist because she said a cutesy poem over the loudspeaker to two AA women who were still not seated (Eeeny Meeny Miney Mo, Pick your seat we've got to go). Apparently the original poem went catch a N-word by their toe, not a tiger. The FA, and most people, didn't know that.