Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'

Subject: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:24 PM

The blues was created by 'blacks'

None of us are racist (I hope)

Yet almost all of the people here, are 'white'

Why?

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: flattop
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:31 PM

I was born that way and haven't gotten around to doing anything about it in fifty years. Do I have to start another apology thread on this?

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:33 PM

How do you know that anyway?

I'm a sort of pinky grey colour meself, but it'll do for now, and the bits that show are mostly covered in hair.

And as for "why" - well, I'm that colour because I was born that way.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:35 PM

of course not.

i was simply wondering why there are so few black people in folk clubs, and here

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Áine
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:38 PM

I don't know, Ed. Shoulda asked Mom and Dad while I had the chance...

Now the not-so-cheeky answer -- I've heard discussions about this on a few public radio talk shows, and it seems the majority opinion is that the expense of the technology is still out of reach for many minorities. However, with the release of the new 'Internet only' devices, and the spreading of cable and DSL lines, the situation will be changing in the next few years. That's what I've heard, anyway.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:41 PM

McGrath,

I was afraid that this thread would be taken the wrong way - and you already have!

"How do I know?" - a look at the pictures in 'mudcat resources' and your experiences of folk clubs / festivals, should be enough to answer that...

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: SeanM
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:42 PM

Probably due to a large amount of the posters performing or seeking in the European/"Anglo" (I know, they ain't all anglo, but if ya gotta lump it, go for something most people will know) traditions, or in the American Folk Revival tradition.

I wouldn't remotely say that other 'races' are discouraged from posting, but honestly there just isn't as much discussion of other musical traditions.

M

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:55 PM

I'm tired, and I probably didn't express myself too clearly in my initial post.

To quote Martin Carthy: "It's a real drag that, beyond the occasional exception, Black music doesn't exist in English Folk Clubs"

I'm just trying to understand why...

Ed

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:56 PM

Very reasonable question Ed. I'm glad someone thought to ask it. The hilarious theories of Flattop, Aine etc aside, I'm wondering whether it is simply that the blues enthusiasts in the forum are massively outnumbered by the folkies?

My own serious musical interests, European art music apart, are English & contemporary folk and Irish traditional. These are fantastically well catered for here. But I've always intended to get better informed about blues, and I thought Mudcat might be the way. So far, I've seen very few blues-related threads. And my own knowledge of the subject is so poor, I don't even know the right questions to ask to start threads myself.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: paddymac
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:03 PM

What do you mean by "white", Ed? Seems we had some discussion on this general topic some time ago, which revealed that there are a number of folks here with various kinds of mixtures of backgrounds. The door here is wide open for any one to walk through, and I believe we do a good job of making people feel welcome, and that without having any idea about their racial background(s). One of the things that I cherish most about Mudcat is the ability to chat with folks and respond on the merits of whatever they have to say, without "interference" either way by visual clues.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:07 PM

You're likely right - but I've never hunted through the pictures to check, and the people with pictures are only a small sample of the people on the Cat anyway.

But I'd suspect that there are people on the Cat that you might assume are "white" who aren't. That's the nature of the Internet.

Insofar as there might be fewer people of other colours and ethnic origins into folk music in various places than you'd expect, I'd suspect there are different reasons. And I'd think that it's not true in all places. Well obviously it's not true. Africa and Asia and KLatin America are full of people enjoying and performing folk music.

But as for the folk clubs and folk festivals and folk venues of Northern Europe and North America and a few other places - I'd like to hear if there's any sense that in some way they are felt as unwelcoming by black people and brown people.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:08 PM

Paddymac,

Of course, everyone here is of a unique background. My question, is I guess more general...(I won't repeat myself)

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: sophocleese
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:12 PM

Umm Ed, can I ask another question? Does English Folk Music, beyond a few exceptions, exist in Black Music clubs? As far as I know Mudcat does not attempt to actively discriminate on the basis of skin colour, but it also doesn't actively attempt to recruit on the basis of skin colour either. Like Fionn I know very little of blues music and would like to learn more. The only way I can see for more threads on blues to get really going is for mudcatters to encourage blues musicians and fans to come here.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:19 PM

sophocleese,

that's a very valid point, and of course skin colour is an absurd way of judging anything.

But why is that 'black' blues music has become a 'white' interest?

I'm more curious than anything...

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 06:25 PM

That's cause you're a sociology maven Ed.

The question though is valid regarding folk in general, and if you combine Soph's answer and Aine's you have good start.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 07:27 PM

ED,
I have wondered the same thing. No one here seems to specialize in music from the Islands or slave songs. Minimal Gospel coverage. No African music that I know of.
Every once in a while I am tempted to ask a poster if they are black but then assume it's an inappropriate question. Tippy toeing across the eggshells here.
I live in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood and have recommended the Cafe to many musicians whose initial reaction is "Wow, do you really think they want to hear my flute or guitar or whatever" But none have ever shown up.I'll keep trying but I think maybe some outreach is in order. Anybody agree?

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Gary T
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 07:30 PM

If you look at the performers and audiences of folk, bluegrass, Irish, and country music in the U.S., they are overwhelmingly white. I would venture that most American Blacks (as well as other minorities, to various degrees), are minimally exposed to much of this music. Their parents didn't listen to it and their friends don't, so they hardly ever hear it, and of course that means their kids probably won't hear it, and the cycle continues. Blacks, and to a perhaps lesser degree Hispanics and Asians, often are immersed in their own subculture. Some of it leaks out, witness jazz, salsa, etc., but to the extent that familiarity with something results in developing a taste for it, very little folk etc. is going to leak in. Furthermore, of the four genres I mentioned above, only country gets any significant radio/TV airplay, so the other three tend to be confined to their own subcultures.

To sum up, I believe musical taste is largely (though certainly not exclusively) developed through repeated exposure, and most American non-whites have very little exposure to the kind of music discussed here, which is predominantly folk.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 07:36 PM

How do you know I'm white? I've never posted a picture of myself.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 08:01 PM

I suppose part of the answer to Ed's question is that the "folk music" only exists for people outside of the culture that created it--if you are a part of the culture, it is just music, and you don't need to go to somewhere else to hear it and talk about it--

It has always seemed to me that part of the cost of becoming a part of mainstream Western society (don't know what else to call it) is that you lose your roots. A lot of the people involved in folk clubs, tradtional music of one sort or another, and folk revival stuff are trying to recapture some of what was is missing in the mainstream--

Stuff like playing music, and singing, and and having a common shared experience that isn't connected to TV or movies or radio or TGI Fridays--

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 08:07 PM

By definition anybody who posts on the Mudcat is going to be interested in folk music.

Most are "white", I imagine, probably disproportionately so (I mean most people in England/Australia/the USA are "white" , and those are the kind of places where most Mudcatters are, it appears, so you'd expect a sizeable majority of "white" people in any case.) So they aren't going to have much direct knowledge of the reasons why their "black" contemporaries might not be into the same kinds of folk music.

And "black" Mudcatters aren't necessarily going to have much more to contribute on this, since they are into the music themselves or they wouldn't be here.

Though of course there might be black Mudcatters people who don't feel comfortable in folk venues, but who are comfortable on the Mudcat. If so, it would be interesting to hear from them. They might be able to say if there are any things about the folk venues which have made them feel out of place, over and above the fact maybe that there might not be many black faces around in those places.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST,Alistair
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 08:34 PM

Actually I find this thread offensive. Is there really a need to bring this non-question up? I always thought that the internet was a forum where race didn´t actually exist, looks as though I was wrong. Ed, what difference does it make?

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: tar_heel
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 08:57 PM

yea,what difference does it make??do i have to be another color just to exist here? if so,cancel my membership!!!

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Gypsy
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:06 PM

You ever notice that when you read a book, the characters are always the same colour as you? Well, it is the same at The Mudcat. So I see everyone as being teal with pink spots. Oh yeah, and glitter, and fringe.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:08 PM

I was black once but I'm not anymore & I'm sure that's why I used to love the blues. And there are many here that do the blues justice. There are even some here that specialize in the sea music of the West Indies & surrounding islands, of the Manhaden fisheries & Georgia Sea Islands & there are some who've come out of prison singing the worksongs of the southern prison farms. This is so unfair but really why on earth would someone of their culture be drawn to anglo folk music that's the music & culture of those that hung a yoke around their necks for centuries besides they have a music of their own born out of that yoke that speaks of their heritage in a way that no other music could. I also don't wonder for a moment why someone who's been on a prison work farm (besides Leadbelly) would sing about afterwards like an advertisement and then have some white guy like myself capitalize on it not pass on any credit & then help bury it's roots even deeper. Not to long ago it was thought that the kingdom of shanties were somewhat, somehow effected by the black sailors of the period when it may be that they provided far more to it's development than any other culture only to have their traces white washed away. Barry

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: InOBU
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:15 PM

Cause we had a big scare? Dunno... Pale, maybe... white? I guess it is keeping late hours in dark pubs, more grey I think...
Larry

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST, back at ya guy!
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:37 PM

Yeah, McGrath. Let's ask our token black mudcatters to speak for the rest of the black race. As if we have to ask black folkies if they feel out of place in the white folk venues. Duh! Cheez, McGrath that's a racist attitude if I ever heard one!

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Dorrie
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:49 PM

Oh Ed you've dug a hole here. I think most folkies are white cos it is english/american music because that's were it orginates. I'm not being horrible i'm just saying cos that's what i thought when i read the thread subject.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: bbelle
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 09:51 PM

I think this is one of the oddest threads I've ever seen started and I don't much care for it and I should probably have just passed it by. But, since I didn't ... I have never for one minute thought about the colour of other mudcatters. Perhaps that is because I don't care what colour you are? Do you sit around and discuss "why are almost all rappers white?" Not me. As far as folk clubs being primarily caucasian ... you must be referring to nowadays. I haven't been in a folk club in 25 years. When I was performing in folk clubs, there was a healthy mix of all races. I never thought about why there was a mix, I just figured they were there for the same reason as I ... for the music, politics, and socializing.

Ed, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I still don't understand why you started this thread.

moonchild

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:02 PM

First: Are they? Really?

If and only if so...

Second: That's one of the really good questions. I think it shouldn't be considered to be offensive but rather to be one of those things we seem to be unable to see until somebody shows them to us. And we should think about things like these, not 'simply turn our heads and look the other way'.

Anyway...

There are too many thoughts that come to my mind now. But you may call me a coward if I don't post another message at least within two days (this is to force myself into not keeping my mouth shut as I maybe do much too often).

Joerg

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: JamesJim
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:13 PM

Ed, my man, let's talk about why we like/love the blues. What do you say? I dig the sounds, the muscianship and the creativeness of those who sing and play it. It has sincere feeling that really turns me on. I loved and admired guys like Louie Armstrong, who knew what he liked and did his thing. Many black blues musicians were down on Louie, because they thought he should be more creative, that he should "progress" musically. He found that the black funeral music turned him on and he was surprised to find that he wasn't the only one. The white community fell in love with him and his music. He was a great entertainer who was one of the main reasons us "whities" fell for the blues.

Hey gang, how about naming at least one great white blues muscian in this thread (from this point on)? I know you can. Let's do it!

One last thought:"Talk about it more and they shall come!"

Jim

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Mbo
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:20 PM

G Love!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:44 PM

James Montgomery

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:47 PM

Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter...

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 10:48 PM

Why name white blues musicians? Race is a false concept.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Mbo
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 11:09 PM

I know, Lepus! I wanted to put DARIUS RUCKER, my IDOL!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 11:50 PM

Ed, I think I understand why you asked and I do not think you meant it as a racist question. You may find some answers or at least interesting reading in this old thread, How ethnically diverse are we?

All the best,

kat

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:19 AM

I love you all, my dear Mudcat friends, but would you read the questions/comments and think about them before jumping in? I saw Ed explain at least three times that he wasn't asking the question from any sort of racist angle. He is just wondering/pondering how a distinctly African American form of music became dominated by white performers. And secondarily, or actually primarily, he was wondering why the folk traditions that we explore have so few black adherents. Now, I don't think I necessarily agree with him on either point and others have expressed opinions that I agree with. So I won't rehash those. But Ed Pellow has been around these parts a long time and to my knowledge has always been a positive influence.

Ed, on a number of occasions I have had black people attend my concerts and have a ball. They expressed great enjoyment of the music and asked me for recommendations of CD's to get to explore it further. One fella, upon watching me play the bodhran went out to his car and brought in a rim drum that he used. We had a ball, and even asked him to sit in. It was wonderful.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Marymac90
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:35 AM

So far, I think Gary T and Barry have given good, thoughtful answers to Ed's question.

While most people want to have the best-paying job they can get (so the workforce is fairly well-integrated), most people also want to spend their leisure time in settings that are comfortable and supportive to them. People of color tend to gather with other people of color, and listen to music listened to by other people of color. Folk clubs and folk fests that are ~99% white do not feel comfortable and welcoming to people of color.

Musical genres popular with many African-Americans tend to be rap, house, jazz, and gospel. Although there are black blues musicians of all ages, black blues fans are usually middle aged or older. White fans of the blues cross age ranges, but I think some blues appeals to younger fans "testing the waters" of folk, who like things that are loud, fast, electric, and closer to the rock they have grown up on.

There is more to integrating folk clubs and festivals than just inviting your black chum from work to come sometime. Many festivals are some distance from urban areas, and most aren't accessible by public transportation. Many expect people to come and camp out for the weekend. Most black people I know consider camping as something unpleasant they had to do while in the military, if they consider it at all. The idea of voluntarily using porta-johns, forgoing showers, and sleeping on the ground for a weekend is not appealing to most black friends of mine.

Add to that a feeling that most forms of music that African Americans enjoy would be looked down on as "Not Folk", and you have some substantial barriers. Is there some way we can be more open, to break down these barriers?

I was discussing some of these ideas with volunteer staffers from the Cherry Tree, a folk club on an urban university campus that's located in a mixed neighborhood. Could they offer a bill combining a youth gospel choir from a local church, with a blues musician, for instance? Could you give each young singer two free passes for family or friends? People of color do not want to be the "only ones" of their group present.

Another group I belong to, the People's Music Network, has made a lot of strides in this area, by looking at it, and being willing to try different things. While they hold a summer camping weekend, they also hold a winter weekend in an urban area each Jan. Many African Americans have friends and families in different cities who they could ask for housing for a weekend.

PMN also is not limited to strictly "folk" or "acoustic" music. If there was a rapper today who picked up where Woodie left off, would we even know it?

Another reason PMN has had some success is that they have elected people of color to their board. To gain people's trust, you have to be willing to follow their leadership, and not just expect them to follow yours. Do any of our folk societies have any people of color on their boards?

I hope these thoughts are useful to Ed and others, who would like to see our folk events more inclusive to different segments of our larger communities.

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: dwditty
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:50 AM

IMO, you dig what you dig, whether it's based on how the music moves you or whether it's just because the people you are with dig it. My 8 year old has discovered Brittany Spears. Does she like that music because she is white? 'cause the music moves her? 'cause she's been well marketed to? 'cause the other kids like it? In this case I have my suspicions. But I think that people gravitate to certain music for all kinds of reasons. Why don't more white people play African music - Olatunji Doe? Let's face it, we all wind up in whatever circles we wind up in . Let's face it, lots of people of every color think folk music is pretty square.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 02:46 AM

I'm reading an unpublished book by an interesting fellow named Dave Lippman. The book is called Bleaching Our Roots: Race and Culture in American Popular Music. Lippman's thesis is that most of the varieties of music popular in the United States (including "folk" music) are pasteurized versions of what was originally the music of black Americans. I think Lippman is a bit strident in his presentation and that he does not give enough credit to European and other influences on our music, but he does have a point. If black culture has music that is less influenced by commercial interests, why go to the commercial stuff? Black culture has such a rich musical tradition - why should they bother with the music white people learn from songbooks and recordings?
I hope there will be a day when all races join together in making music, but that day hasn't come yet - and I don't think that sort of unity is something you can force to happen.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 03:31 AM

At least, the day has already come for all races joining together to LISTEN to music of every source, and that´s good. And even some adventurers like Escamillo who being descendant of Frenches and Spanish dare to stand in front of a piano (with somebody else playing) and shamelessly sing gospel and blues.(And soon traditionals)
As to Ed's question, I think that the Mudcat does nothing except reflecting the reality of people's tastes and cultural roots, and that´s good too, as far as doors are open for everybody, which I can testify, as the only Latin American here, and as far as everybody respects the general orientation and don´t try to deviate it. In Argentina, the tango is a typical urban expression, played and composed by Italians and Spanish and even Arabs descendants, while country music is pretty different and mostly originated in provinces, both genres affected by African rhytms too.
Hope to have contributed to a good and friendly confusion. Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Escamillo
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 03:36 AM

Hey, who ate my cookie ? The above message is mine.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 08:09 AM

"Folk clubs being primarily caucasian" - out in the Caucasus that may be truie, if there are folk clubs in places like Georgia and Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"Caucasian" in any other context is a term left over from the racist theories about there being a Caucasian Race and a Mongoloid Race and a Hamitic Race and a Semitic Race and so forth. "White" and "Black" are terms that have the merit of being self-evidently a bit daft, when you look at a crowd of people with all their range of shades of colour - redfaced ranging to darkish olive being described as "white", slightly paler olive ranging to almost jet black all being described as "black."

Terms like "Caucasian" were invented to give a pseudo-scientific gloss to it all. (And no, that's not intended as a knock to moonchild form using the term - I know it's a lot more curtrent in America than it is in other places)

This thread seems to be making people uncomfortable. The point is, if we have a folk scene which is disproportionately "white" in some countries, what kind of reasons might explain this. How can that be a racist question, anymore than it might be a racist question to ask why it is there are disproportionately few black people in the police force in England, or the army?

I'm just a bit doubtful if "white folk music enthusuasts" speculating about it are going to be in a good position to throw that much light on the subject.

But I remember a few years ago when an Irish Club was set up at last in our town. Suddenly, going in there you felt a sense of relaxation that was missing in the other pubs around - which have never been short of a few Irish, with Irish music mostly well liked. But it was different, there was a sense there wasn't going to some oaf cracking Irish jokes, a feeling that people weren't being seen as generic Irish, but as Dubliners and Culchies and London Irish and so forth. And you never had to gve the bar staff lessons in how to pour a Guinness properly.

But whether that kind of thing carries over into a global virtual community like the Mudcat, I just don't know. That's why my initial response to Ed's question was "How do you know that anyway?"

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 08:54 AM

I see what you meant way back with your first post Ed. I don't think it is a problem with under representation. Consider us run of the mill folkies. How many of us are there as compared to the main stream?

The Side Door Coffeehouse in Brunswick, Maine, brings in as many as 60 to 75 people when there is a popular featured performer. The same space is packed to the rafters for a concert by a mediocre local rock band. We do not represent the main stream, we are in a very small minority.

Now translate that to the black population. How many of them go to folk clubs? I would guess a smaller percentage the whites who go to folk clubs. If 5% of whites enjoy folk music perhaps 2% of blacks do too. (Just guessing at the percentages) And there are fewer blacks in these Untied States (intentional misspelling) than whites. (Definition of minority) Consider the number of black artists you know of. I have not been able to attend a large number of festivals but I have seen black performers and I have seen blacks in the audiences so I know there is some representation.

You also have to consider that one of the reasons we like this music is that in some way or another it speaks to something inside us. I like sea music. I have had a strong connection with the sea all my life. Much of that music is derived from black culture across centuries yet there are few black performers of this kind of music. Why? I don't know. Or consider the subject of many of the so-called Anglo folk music. How many black performers do you think would get that special feeling singing about a red haired girl or cheeks as pale as lillies? Sure the singer may be attracted to a person from another race but the song suddenly acquires other meanings in the ears of the listeners and some of those interpretations are ugly. And the song does not necessarily relate to his/her cultural background anyway.

Folk music connects us to our past. Much of what we are calling black music was either work songs or songs of hope to help an overworked, terribly mistreated people cope with their difficult circumstances. You need to remember that it wasn't very long ago that, in some southern states, a black man would get lynched for certain behaviors. None of this is conducive to a desire for black people to connect to their past. Thus the representation of black culture is bound to be small.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 09:32 AM

I found this of interest and relevant to what has been said by Naemanson and others. I saw a show about one of its women masters the other night on television. This is taken from a website here:

What is Capoeira?
an expression of freedom.
a cross-cultural social exchange.
an ancestral art, and an art of the future.
a way to build physical, mental and spiritual strength and balance.
a reflection, celebration and preservation of Afro-Brazilian culture.
music, self-defense, acrobatics, dance and social interaction.
a form of self-expression in a time of oppression.
a path toward self-empowerment.

Capoeira is an internationally respected art form that has survived for over 300 years--created in Brazil by African slaves as an act of resistance.

As slaves from a mixture of African cultures came together, they integrated cultural practices--their songs, music, rituals, dance, and they exchanged fighting techniques, self-defense and acrobatics. Capoeira evolved as an expression of freedom by a repressed, but creatively unified people. It became the quintessential expression of Brazilian culture--characterized by spirited cultural diversity.

Capoeira was a means of preserving cultural practices, as well as an act of resistance against enslavement. Through music and song, slaves were able to conceal its combative purpose--while simultaneously illustrating the strength and beauty of cultural sharing and integration. The cultures of African slaves, Brazilian indigenous peoples and Portuguese immigrants all contributed to the art of Capoeira.

The Capoeira "Roda" A "roda" (pronounced "ho-da") refers to the circle that Capoeira players form, and inside of which the game is played. Those forming the roda are as important to the game as the two players inside--adding to the energy and rhythm of the game by clapping hands, singing chorus, playing instruments and leading songs. The players inside receive energy and support from the roda. As a metaphor for the circle of life, the Capoeira roda illustrates that all individuals are important in the creation of the whole, and that cooperation is essential to the process.

The Annual Batizado A Batizado (Baptism) is a traditional ceremony in which the new student is initiated into the group and the world of Capoeira. The student receives a Capoeira nickname and plays with Masters and teachers of Capoeira. New and continuing students receive a corda (colored cord) which reflects his or her growth and level in Capoeira. The Batizado is not a competition or a show, it is an event of confraternity between schools, and an opportunity for the public to experience the beauty of Capoeira. ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco holds a series of annual Batizado workshops led by visiting ABADÁ instructors--including ABADÁ-Capoeira's founder, Mestre Camisa--which culminates with the Batizado graduation ceremony. This ten day event offers a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, inspiration and community-building.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: GUEST,peter tee
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 09:47 AM

Because Ed, Most cool black folks are out gettin it on boogying to hip-hop, rock, rap, and jazz and other forms of up-beat melodies, while you white dudes are sittin around sippin cappucino, listening to hundred year old banjo's (and not gettin anything).

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Mbo
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 09:54 AM

Yeah! Ha ha ha!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: dwditty
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 10:04 AM

Black folk music is the blues.

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: Frankham
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 10:12 AM

Black kids are listening to hip hop. This might be the folk music that they can relate to. The stuff that is written about in Mudcat doesn't seem to reach beyond a certain demographic.

I think that you have to be able to relate personally to music for it to be interesting to you. Most of the discussions about music on Mudcat are oriented to a certain frame of reference by consensus. This doesn't seem to fit with the interest of black people that I know.

Also, there is a movement today to separate black culture from others. The American black culture is not a racial thing, necessarilly but it is a cultural entity. It doesn't exist in Africa or in other countries such as the Australian Outback. It's to be expected that our heroes look very much like us or how we would idealize ourselves. If there were more discussions on black musicians there would be probably more interest on the part of black people.

Mudcat talks about pop music occasionally and it's effect on folk music. Most of the references are about white pop "folk" music, not black. An interesting thread would be about Tricia Rose's book "Black Noise". A discussion about the folk influences there would prompt some interest in black participation I would think.

Frank

Subject: RE: Why are almost all 'mudcatters 'white?'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 10:26 AM

I've noticed a tendency by American Mudcatters to sort of assume that America is the whole world - that last post didn't, which is what reminded me of it. Most black people don't live in America. Generalisations about ths kind of thing really should indicate which part of the world they are meant to apply in.

That's not a gripe, it's an observation. It's a natural reflection of the fact that Internet users have been overhwelmingly Americans, but that's a stage that's drawing to an end.