The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62865   Message #2949663
Posted By: Liz the Squeak
22-Jul-10 - 07:19 AM
Thread Name: Discussion - Frank Crumit (1889-1943)
Subject: RE: Discussion - Frank Crumit
Can I just point out - be careful where you play/perform the music of Frank... partcularly 'The Year of Jubilo' aka 'Kingdom Coming and the Year of Jubilo' and 'Mountain Greenery'....They are what they are - songs from a different age entirely and both could be construed as terribly racist and sexist in the right (or wrong) company. They use archaic terms and actions that would no way pass muster with anyone of any sensitivity nowadays. I cringe inwardly and fast forward whenever one of them pops up on my MP3 player in the car, particularly in the culturally mixed area I live in because even though they contain words I would never use in those contexts, they could still earn me the displeasure of certain militant groups. I suppose I could take them off my MP3 and delete them from the computer but I happen to think that they are an important part of the musical and cultural history of the US. 'The Year of Jubilo' celebrates the abolition of slavery in the language of the slaves at that time (1863ish) and any revision to a politically acceptable alternative, to me, just sounds wrong. 'Mountain Greenery is plain, downright sexist. Together, they're a great example of how racism and sexism was not only acceptable but apparently normal behaviour less than 100 years ago. Plus they're great tunes.

LTS