This is a hot button, alright. In Florida I knew a banjo player who insisted it was all right for him to sing S Foster songs, because HE wasn't racist.

Believe me, you wouldn't have sung them in Chicago, where singing them would be prima facie evidence that you ARE racist.

If traditional material which is offensive cannot be judiciously modified, it will die. Period. Being purist will ensure the death of any song which contains the word "Darkie."

My fingerpicking teacher at OTSFM taught me one Foster song, but just to play, because, he said, the words are "Silly." That about sums it up.

PS: some scholars think Foster ripped off the tunes from the slaves anyway. I don't have any cites, just something I heard once.

I'm with you, Kat

-- MA