Interesting conversation regarding the Stephen Foster song “Old Black Joe”. Ken Emerson, author of the book “Do-Dah”, the fictional Joe was inspired by a servant (not a slave) who worked for Foster’s father-in-law in Pittsburg, Dr. McDowell.

The song is melancholy without being bitter. It is dignified. The song has nothing to do with slaves or slavery, except maybe for words, “cotton fields away”.

It is a beautiful, dignified song. There is no reason why this song should be controversial. Replace the words, “Old Black Joe” with “poor old Joe” as sung by Paul Robeson, and the song could be about anyone.