Q wrote "as recently as 25 years ago, there was strong support among church leaders for singing the old spirituals in dialect. The black compilers and editors were mostly southern, it is true, but they spoke for a large membership."

The last 25-30 years were very significant for African Americans since the Black cultural nationalist movements began [again] during this time.[See "Marcus Garvey for prior Black cultural nationalist movements..]

You are correct that I speak from a Norteast orientation. But I continue to maintain that most African Americans wouldn't think of singing spirituals in dialect.

Furthermore, I continue to maintain that much of the dialects used by minstrels were exagerrated Black talk and was used to disparage African Americans.

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M.Ted -What sources can you point me to that verify that the song "All coons look alike to me" was composed by a Black perso?
That song has to rank in the top 10 of those that disparage a race of people.

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katlaughing:

To use an outdated African American colloguial expression,
"Right on!"

Thank you!


Azizi