I just found out that my name was being taken in vain on this thread, so I decided to come and check it out.

But instead of being dissed, I find out that people are chipping in money to buy me a Chrishanukwanza present.

Wow! I've never got a Chrishanukwanza present before!

My mother raised me with manners so if I got a CD of banjo music from you guys I would say "thank you"

But-hint hint- I would muc prefer Olantunji's "More Drums Of Passion" or the Zaire children's choir singing the "Misa Luba" to a CD called "Ring Ring De Banjo".

And about that banjo music- I gotta set things straight.

It's not the banjo music I hate. I hate the IMAGES of widely grinning Stepin Fetchit type caricatures of banjo playing slaves that were used by proponents of slavery to demonstrate that my ancestors were happy and content in their servitude.

My only problem with banjo music is that it reminds me of those IMAGES. And if you remember from that thread Martin Gibson started called "Azizi check this out" or some such title, I'm trying to replace those images with the positive picture of the Black grandfather teaching his grandson how to play the banjo in Henry O. Tanner's painting "The Banjo Lesson".

Will this CD set me back on the path of dissing banjo music?

If so, maybe you need to forget about sending me that CD, and donate your money to charity.

But, they say it's the thought that counts. So again, I say thank you kindly.

And Happy Chrishanukwanza to all!

Azizi