The Night James Brown Saved Boston

April 5, 1968 - the morning after one of the most catastrophic moments in American history: the assassination of Martin Luther King. The night before, America's inner cities began going up in flames. The night before, there was trouble in Roxbury, Boston's ghetto. Word on the street is that it's about to get worse. A lot worse.

Up until this moment, James Brown has been an unsung civil rights hero. Being black in the music business, especially in the mid-1950s when James first hit his stride, made him a pioneering artist in a still-segregated business. "Crossing-over" wasn't easy, and he knew all too well what it meant to be "colored.". But James Brown doesn't just "feel the pain" of being black in America. Despite all of his success, he's still living it. And in songs like 1967's "Don't Be A Dropout," he's begun to speak out, saying what he believes down to his bones is true. In 1968, he will sing about America as his home, and he's also on the verge of his seminal social statement, "Say It Loud-I'm black and I'm proud."

But on April 5, 1968, James Brown the patriot is also James Brown the businessman, so he definitely isn't in the mood to hear what Boston Mayor Kevin White is asking. Mayor White wants to know if JB will encourage his fans to stay home and watch the concert on television. the mayor is saying, "If you'll allow this concert to be on TV tonight, your fans in Boston (code for ghetto class African-Americans) will stay home and the night will be peaceful." Meaning that unlike what might is happening in so many other cities around the country, Boston won't erupt in flames. There won't be rioting. If James will give his blessing. And he does.

But on April 5, 1968, James Brown the patriot is also James Brown the businessman, so he definitely isn’t in the mood to hear what Boston Mayor Kevin White is asking. Mayor White wants to know if JB will encourage his fans to stay home and watch the concert on television. the mayor is saying, “If you’ll allow this concert to be on TV tonight, your fans in Boston (code for ghetto class African-Americans) will stay home and the night will be peaceful.” Meaning that unlike what might is happening in so many other cities around the country, Boston won’t erupt in flames.

This history repeated itself in reverse in 1972 - on that date Kevin White made sure that the Stones went on - as I remember White appeared on the stage at Boston Garden and said “My city is in flames” and pleaded for calm until the Stones showed up at 12:30AM as written below. I was there
but outside, never made it in the Garden.

They were supposed to appear in Boston, but bad weather forced their plane from Montreal to land at Warwick, R.I. There the Rolling Stones were passing through customs when a photographer began snapping pictures. First thing you know there was some pushing, then some shoving, then some cops. When things settled down, Mick Jogger, Lead Guitarist Keith Richard and three other belligerent members of the Stones’ entourage were on their way to the police station. Boston Mayor Kevin White calmed 15,000 sweltering fans who were waiting in the Boston Garden by telling them that he had telephoned a plea to the Warwick police to rush the boys through court. The busted Stones finally made the Garden at 12:30 a.m. and the show went on.

I enjoyed the show, even the comments of Cornell West, whom I don't usually agree with. Replacing Sharpton with more JB would have been better, though.

It's too bad James Brown wasn't reimbursed his lost ticket sales by the city. Boston saved a heck of a lot more than $60,000 that night. Next MLK birthday, Boston should donate that amount, adjusted for inflation and accrued interest, to the United Negro College Fund.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.