Pickin' cotton rascist....

[jhogan]

Disrespectful Memories

The Detroit News reports that a song about picking cotton has been removed from a middle school band's folk song show following complaints from a local parent that it glorifies slavery and is insensitive.

The song, "Pick a Bale of Cotton," was to be played at the Berkley School District concert later the week but was pulled after parent Greg Montgomery complained. Montgomery's daughter, a student at the school, said: "They were bringing back the memories of how African-Americans picked cotton, and it wasn't a good memory. It was disrespectful to African-Americans."

The offending lyrics go something like, "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh, Lordie, pick a bale a day."


http://www.tonguetied.us/

 

[Jalu]

Just a thought...

If to be a slave meant not to have freedom;
To be a master meant not to have a conscience.

So...Where therein lies more shame?

 

[Mama San]

Pick a Bale of Cotton!!!
Yep! Remember it very well.
However, when I was singing it, the last
thought on my mind was ever being disrespectful to
African-American people!
My people and my husband's people have picked
cotton going back over 150 years. And I happen
to be about as white as one can be. I've seen those
fields dotted with not only black people but just as
many white people.
It's just that some people go looking for whatever
problems they can create.
Personally, I think the whole thing is just a way
of one person trying to assert their authority over
others! Forcing their opinion on who ever they
can, so to speak.
There are things going on in this world that are far
more important than this petty silliness.
God bless,
Mama san

 

[Hallarian]

I had never seen a cotton plant until I reached India.

A few years ago I was working with health workers in India who were studying people some of whom worked picking cotton. I had always like the song and remember first hearing it sung by a popular black singer. I think it's still a nice non-racial song.

Mama San I can't think of a harder crop to pick. I remember my surprise that the plants have stickers and are hard on the picker's hands at least when I tried it. The heat was awful too. But, I'm Alaskan and we are not happy when it's over 65 degrees. I still like the song and I bristle easily at anything I believe is racist.
H

 

[Storm]

Oh man. There was a hit here called Black man Ray. It was a great song,and no-one got hysterical over what skin the song was about..