[78-L] Racial Stereotyping.

[Spats]

Hi!

Are you sure that American art forms were ALWAYS INTENDING to depict 
Black Americans in a demeaning way? Was it any different from the 
stereotyping of Jews, Swedes, Germans...whatever, in songs of the day?

Yes, it WAS a racial society back then, but we must always be careful 
not to see things through OUR eyes. Some of these songs, though 
painting stereotypes, could be quite affectionate.

Again, that said, the songs written BY black performers were almost 
always superior, because they really understood who they were...

Blacks in return also stereotyped whites, of-course. Let's not forget that.
Is that not how the Cake Walk came to be invented?

Earl.

At 4:24 pm -0800 23/1/2009, 78-l-request at klickitat.78online.com wrote:
>So, again, here's the question:
>
>What is it, exactly, about American art forms that depict African-Americans
>in the most demeaning, pejorative, and degrading light possible that you
>guys find redeeming and worthwhile?
>
>TIA