I have a question here. What should we, as musicians, do with the minstrel repitoire? Moreover, how do we do it?

Do we interpret this music like historians, of simply play it like musicians? How do we break the race barrier?

Mr. Bob Kilham played "old Zip Coon" (now known as Turkey in the Straw" and "My Darling Nelly Gray" in New York at a famous museum. His audience was mixed race. His performance was well recieved be all. Does this mean that there is a real problem of sensabilities... or is it a fear on our part of the vocal PC police?

I ask these questions because I feel that the quicker we can come to terms with our mutual musical cultures in America, the sooner racism may begin to go down to defeat. Am I a nut? Please give me your comments.

Butch