Indeed!
The syncopation and melodies that Foster employed showed admiration and affection for emerging Black musical forms. During the 1960’s, there were those who decried Stephen Foster’s songs as racist, but they were not. Even though some of the language seemed pejorative by late Twentieth Century standards, they were NOT racist terms in the early 19th century. Foster’s lyrics never mocked or demeaned Black people. The lyrics were mostly about home, family, poverty, nostalgia, elderly people, love, and humor.
I especially like the funny oxymorons in “Oh! Susanna”. My students do too. They get the humor, where perhaps their parents do not.
“Political Correctness” can take a lot of joy out of life!
We will encounter quite a bit of the challenge of political correctness in the next few segments.