Posted on 11/14/2005 7:09:19 AM PST by Watershed
BERKLEY, Mich. (AP) — A black parent and the NAACP are criticizing a middle school's choice to perform a song that they say glorifies slavery.
The song, "Pick a Bale of Cotton," is on the folk music choir program Wednesday at predominantly white Anderson Middle School in the Berkley School District.
The song's lyrics include, "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh Lordie, pick a bale a day."
Greg Montgomery said he complained to school officials, and when he was dissatisfied with their response, decided to pull his 11-year-old daughter China from singing.
"It's mind-boggling that people don't understand sensitive issues," he told The Detroit News.
China 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."
Berkley schools spokeswoman Gwen Ahern said district officials would consider the song's origin and decide whether to leave it in the concert program. She also defended the choice.
"We used to sing that song when I was in school during the '50s," she said. "It's like a Southern type of folk song. I remember it being perky. It was more of a song that people just sang for fun."
The way it is, no "traditional" Southern song will pass...
It seems to me that people are just looking for ways to be insulted.
Somebody sees a sign at Wal Mart that says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" and organizes a boycott.
Pink locker room in a college and up in arms. (on FR this AM)
NBA players have to dress in business attire, and it is an insult to their roots.
This country has gotten soft. I'd bet it is because they don't let 2nd graders play dodge ball.
So, dear little China.. tell us more of your "memories" of this cotton-picking.
"They were bringing back the memories of how African-Americans picked cotton,
How old IS this guy???? Brought back memories? Don't think so. Reminded one of? Sure.
Why not instead be proud of what his people came through????
We sang it and it was fun but then it was an all-white school and no one thought anything about it back then.
I find most rap and hip-hop offensive but I don't notice anyone rushing to soothe MY sensibilities....
In show of widespread support, a white parent pulled his 11-year old daughter, BootyHo, out of the class also, stating that the underlying racial implications were dismaying to ........
I'd be willing to bet this parent has no problem with lyrics like: "Slap the b*tch and shoot the ho".
Of course from a standpoint of fiscal conservatism and limited government, one could ask if we are going to have government funded schools shouldn't they be about the business of educating the youth instead of choirs and other nonsense?
Black people are not the only ones ever to pick cotten! I have no idea where they get this crap! I was raised in the cotten fields of Mississippi. We picked cotten (before the advent of the mechanical pickers) from sun-up to sun down. Schools let out for a week in the fall for "Cotten Pickin'". I have fond memories of the times and will never forget them. Yes, there were blacks picking cotten with us. They were paid same as us. They worked same as us. They sweated same as us. This is BULLS#17!...........
My 75 year old mother, who is white, toed a cotton sack during harvest every year until she went to college. So did every one of her 8 brothers and sisters. That's the way it was during the depression in West Texas.
Here's a guy whose closest relationship to cotton is the underwear he puts on everyday. He's got no reason to be offended and even less reason to be complaining.
It's mind-boggling how hysterically sensitive some people are to every issue!
Same here, except we were baling hay.
No fond memories, though.. I hated it! ;-)
Not up to the school's high standards? LOL
There's a lot about our public schools that hacks me off and this is one of them. Our kids are now in high school and college and never once sang all our beautiful, patriotic songs and hymns in elementary school. Like you, I remember singing America, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, The Marine's Hymn, Anchors Aweigh, Shenandoah, Suwanee River, Dixie (in an upper NY State school, too) and on and on. All gone now. We are letting the NEA rob our children of an important part of their heritage and a deeply shared understanding of our history and culture.
A lot of white people picked cotton. School districts had split sessions where children got out during cotton picking season. That was back in the days where blacks were not allowed in white schools. I picked a little bit of cotton but only to help out. My lack of experience kept me from being much help.
With us it was "snap-beans", "purple-hull peas" and butter beans. Jeez I hated that.
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