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Juan Williams: Songs of the Summer of 1963 . . . and 2013
WSJ online ^ | 8-26-13 | Juan Williams

Posted on 08/27/2013 8:04:25 AM PDT by bigbob

Fifty years after the March on Washington, mystical memories of that seminal moment in the civil-rights era are less likely to focus on movement politics than on the great poetry and great music.

The emotional uplift of the monumental march is a universe of time away from today's degrading rap music—filled with the n-word, bitches and "hoes"—that confuses and depresses race relations in America now.

The poetry of Aug. 28, 1963, is best on view when Martin Luther King Jr. went off his speech script and started using a musical, chanting reprise—"I have a dream." The transforming insight born of the power of the interracial gathering at that time of turmoil, combined with the power of the spoken word, created an emotional message that still grips the American mind.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: juanwilliams; mlk; race; summerof1963
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To: beelzepug

If you really want to talk about politically incorrect check out Johnny Rebel his songs are disgusting, like - Ni**er Hatin me or I Hate Ni**ers that still to this day is sadly attributed to Johnny Horton.


41 posted on 08/27/2013 11:00:15 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Mastador1

Just what town was station KKK broadcasting from, anyway? :o)


42 posted on 08/27/2013 11:16:39 AM PDT by beelzepug (if any alphabets are watchin', I'll be coming home right after the meetin')
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To: HomeAtLast
"Nat King Cole"

That's the song I remember about the summer of '63. Plus I had my last and best year in city rec. baseball.

43 posted on 08/27/2013 11:38:24 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Iron Munro

Yes, he Tuskegee airmen in WWII would be appalled at what has become of the freedom they fought so valiantly for.


44 posted on 08/27/2013 11:40:58 AM PDT by SC_Pete
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To: ansel12

In those days many country songs like “Detroit City” and “Ring of Fire” were also on the top 40 pop charts. One note about “Detroit City.” The summer of ‘63 my family traveled to Detroit to visit my Dad’s side of the family. That song seemed to be playing every time we turned on the radio. And certainly, by the end of our stay, I wanted to go home.


45 posted on 08/27/2013 11:43:46 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: beelzepug
"Ahab"

That song was a huge hit in '63 and virtually everybody was singing it. You're right....too politically incorrect. You'll never hear that song ever again on pop radio. Fortunately, I have Ray Stevens Greatest Hits on my MP3 player.

46 posted on 08/27/2013 11:47:43 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Red Badger
Dang, I'm old!

Recognized pretty much each one!

47 posted on 08/27/2013 12:39:13 PM PDT by gogeo (I didn't leave the Republican Party, it left me.)
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To: driftless2

I’ve heard both of them on Sirius satellite radio.


48 posted on 08/27/2013 1:26:56 PM PDT by beelzepug (if any alphabets are watchin', I'll be coming home right after the meetin')
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To: beelzepug

Did you hear them on the Cousin Brucie show? Cousin Brucie plays a lot of old records and plays more novelty songs than other djs. Maybe Sirius doesn’t have to worry about sponsors like regular stations.


49 posted on 08/27/2013 3:17:21 PM PDT by driftless2
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To: Red Badger

Song #35 (”If you wanna be happy...”) explains why Barack married Michelle.


50 posted on 08/27/2013 3:39:03 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: driftless2

Yep, I have a three-month freebie with my new Soul. I’ve always maintained that radio ought to be free but it sure is nice not having to listen to endless commercials. I think I’m going to subscribe.


51 posted on 08/27/2013 10:38:02 PM PDT by beelzepug (if any alphabets are watchin', I'll be coming home right after the meetin')
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To: beelzepug

I still have beefs about the limited repertoire Sirius puts on. There are tons of songs that were on the charts in the 60s that never seem to get played. Every time my wife and I go out cruising, it seems the same songs get played over and over.


52 posted on 08/28/2013 5:09:27 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Iron Munro

As long as racism is a business those who profit by it will continue to claim it exists.


53 posted on 08/28/2013 6:08:51 AM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: Verginius Rufus

I can’t believe it’s from 1963!.......


54 posted on 08/28/2013 6:14:39 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: SampleMan

It’s time for people to realize Martin Luther King is dead and has been for forty-four years. In his day, what he did as far as advancing civil rights was notable because no one had quite yet gone as far as he had, i.e the Birmingham Bus Boycott and his ‘’I Have A Dream Speech’’. But he is gone. America is not the nation it was in 1963. In some ways, it’s better but in reality it’s worse. Our role as the worlds major super power and defender of liberty is a shadow of what it once was. Rancor and political correctness have replaced open and honest debate, unfettered illegal immigration has rendered national sovereignty and the rule of law to be a joke and rather than strive thorough honest hard work and moral character to be a better people as King preached, the African-American community by and large has perfected the role of perpetual victim and entitlement program recipient to an art form. Can any reasonable person see this maudlin rehashing and veneration of Martin Luther King, a mere mortal as any of God’s creations , going on for years and decades to come? What, if anything is going to be achieved by it?


55 posted on 08/28/2013 6:27:49 AM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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