Playing “racially insensitive” songs for young children

[welshfield]

My question, in summary, is how do you do you folks feel about playing “racially insensitive” songs on cylinder (or disc for that matter) for young children?

Specifically, I loaned a batch of Blue Amberols to my son to play on the Amberola I gave him in the hopes of encouraging his interest in the hobby and thus assuring a future for my collection eventually.

Among those cylinders was a “coon song” with extremely insensitive wording and dialect. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not a roaring liberal –far from it— but still I think this society has some real problems with the “race issue.” When my son, also not of the liberal, politically correct, persuasion, began playing this cylinder with his children and heard some of its content, he stopped it. He realized he neglected to read the title on the end containing the word “coon.”

I understand we had recently a related discussion on the historic nature of this sort of music and I fully agree that this must be preserved for historic purposes. But how should we –or how would you-- handle playing this sort of music for young children (ages of 10 and 12 in this case)?

[larryh]

If it were me I would tell them that this is an example of how far we have come from the days when racial identities were seen in a different light. I grew up in segregated schools and really cities.. I was working for a large department store in high school an they announced that one of the elevator operators was going to be made the first person of color to be a saleslady in any major store in town.. How far we have come from those days.. Sometimes now when I watch old movies, ( which I really enjoy), I am still a bit embarrassed to see the persons of different races being played as they probably were, maids and butlers waiting on all white cast. We have to remember too that not unlike today the culture keeps advancing and changing. I would think that in the time of those records people simply thought it was simply comedy, even if at the expense of others in a way we wouldn't or couldn't do today. I can recall when visiting my
great aunt who had a family of color down the road I became friends with a young boy who was about the same age. When my Aunt found out I was told "we don't associate with those people". I didn't understand it but in hind site that was they way those people were raised.. I am certainly not saying its right, but just how far things have come. Although I have to admit I also have a had some victor records that used racial insensitive words probably 30 times in one 12" side.. Its history and cleansing it as if it never happened is probably futile.

[FloridaClay]

I am with Larry. They can be used for a "teaching moment."

Clay

[fran604g]

If it were me (and I mean only me, I'm speaking from my own personal perspective and past experiences raising three great children) I would avoid providing my children with anything to be publically exhibited that may get them ostracized. I, too am far from PC liberal, but I'm also very sensitive to the possiblity of myriad results from the wrong person hearing the wrong selection.

Why bother subjecting your child to such a possibility? I would use this (unusability) as a lesson to him of our present history in a meaningful way.

Best,
Fran

[Victrolacollector]

Actually, it can be a history lesson, sort of a relic from the past. I would never expect my nieces and nephews to run around singing some of these lyrics by artists as Arthur Collins. I have resorted mostly to collecting non-racist songs. I just don't feel right about having those types of songs .

[Chuck]

As far as those Coon songs go, we must always take into
account the context. The time period in which they
were made is as much a part of them as the fact that they are acoustically recorded cylinders!

Think for a few seconds about that time period before
you condemn these humorous old skits.

They were made during the time period when:
1) All railroads still used steam power.
2) Clean, fast electric interurbans and streetcars were
in use.
3) The "minorities" were simply NOT allowed to riot
or to tear up and ruin our cities.
4) Law and order was looked upon as an absolute priority.
5) Automobiles were just coming on the scene, and
the very idea of equipping them with sub-woofer
speakers, then allowing certain kinds of people
immunity from law and order so they can use them as a public nuisance would have seemed impossible at that
time for many reasons. Who could have imagined then
what was to come to pass 100 years later?

In short, it was a completely different time.
What's left of it now?
Very little. So put Edison Blue Amberol
"Darkie School Days" on your machine and listen very
closely, because those days are gone forever and
these recordings are all we have as a reminder of them.

Play them for your children. Then explain to your children about the context. Then let them decide.

Chuck Richards

[Wolfe]

You're inviting a storm raining down on you if other parents find out. No matter your PC persuasion.

Young children may pick up on racial epithets and go around repeating them.

An older child may be considered responsible enough to understand the context - depending on the child.

[Chuck]

Well, the way this all seems to me is this:

Certain kinds of people said they wanted equal rights.
So, much has been done to try and attain that goal.

However, somewhere along the way, things have gone
way past that mark, and have overshot it by a long way.

Now, instead of having things be equal, many insist on
having things to be "more equal".

Now we have a double standard. It's acceptable for
certain races to use certain racial epithets among
themselves. But, whoa unto anyone of any other race
dare use same epithet.

So, the very definition of "racial epithet" is
apparently different, depending upon who utters it.

I find all of that to be utterly ridiculous, and I'll
go right on playing all of my best Coon cylinders
for everyone at public demonstrations. And...yes...
the above has caused many a monocle to drop!

Enough even, that a few times someone has asked:
"did I just hear...", to which I respond, "yes, I'll
play it again, listen closely"

Many today are actively trying to rewrite history.
Let's edit out certain non PC portions for convenience.

Yep, those old cylinders can be very inconvenient for
some...

[oldphonographsteve]

In my honest opinion I think that it depends on the recording. Certain "coon" songs are more offensive than others but all in all I would just steer clear of playing those kind of songs for children without giving them the proper context and history beforehand. Also, being a liberal is not synonymous with approving of political correctness.

-Steve

[Roaring20s]

You're inviting a storm raining down on you if other parents find out. No matter your PC persuasion.
Young children may pick up on racial epithets and go around repeating them.
An older child may be considered responsible enough to understand the context - depending on the child.

Agreed.

Content that is not age appropriate should not be shared until that level of maturity is exhibited by the individual.
Within an educational system all topics are reviewed.
Intelligent conversation with capable individuals of any age is PC.

Furthermore, the legacy of slavery shared in these songs and skits is corrupting. These songs are no longer entertainment. They are a reflection of past acceptances and facilitation of a system that should never have been.

James.