Mixed Meaning??
First let me give a shout-out to a friend of mine from Facebook giving me this topic. Very interesting and wanted to know my opinion so I shall deliver (Finally!)
So the song Accidental Racist was brought to my attention. I had never heard of this song so I decided to take a listen. It was very interesting to say the least. The song is about two different races: Black and White. and its two men talking about their perspective of life. A white man(represented by Brad Paisley, a well known country artist ) in the song talks about the south, his pride of his hometown, and the southern flag.
The black man in the song(represented by LL Cool J) talks about not being judged for his appearance, racism in the past, wanting to be understood, and he also talks about the southern flag.
Since this song was talking about the southern flag, that is what my focus will be. As an African American Woman... I will admit, seeing the red southern flag makes me suspicious of the person who chooses to display it. For me it symbolizes slavery and past wounds that African Americans went through to get to where we are today as far as equality. But for white Americans, this flag may have absolutely nothing to do with oppression and racism... I can't speak for them (obviously).
This flag will be controversial as long as it still exists..... Will it ever cease to exist? Probably not.. It's symbolic meaning is based on perspective. We will have to agree to disagree with this one... That's what I think.
Again I shout- out my FB friend Felix on bringing this topic to my attention. Thanks! And sorry it took so long lol
P.s. Here's a lyric video for the song Accidental Racist by Brad Paisley Feat. LL Cool J. via YouTube (If you would like to take a listen)
Leave Your Thoughts on the flag or the song in general!
So the song Accidental Racist was brought to my attention. I had never heard of this song so I decided to take a listen. It was very interesting to say the least. The song is about two different races: Black and White. and its two men talking about their perspective of life. A white man(represented by Brad Paisley, a well known country artist ) in the song talks about the south, his pride of his hometown, and the southern flag.
The black man in the song(represented by LL Cool J) talks about not being judged for his appearance, racism in the past, wanting to be understood, and he also talks about the southern flag.
Since this song was talking about the southern flag, that is what my focus will be. As an African American Woman... I will admit, seeing the red southern flag makes me suspicious of the person who chooses to display it. For me it symbolizes slavery and past wounds that African Americans went through to get to where we are today as far as equality. But for white Americans, this flag may have absolutely nothing to do with oppression and racism... I can't speak for them (obviously).
This flag will be controversial as long as it still exists..... Will it ever cease to exist? Probably not.. It's symbolic meaning is based on perspective. We will have to agree to disagree with this one... That's what I think.
Again I shout- out my FB friend Felix on bringing this topic to my attention. Thanks! And sorry it took so long lol
Leave Your Thoughts on the flag or the song in general!
Thanks so much for picking up my idea and writing on the song... Here I go now with my ideas on it. Got kinda lengthy but I am looking forward to your replies. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the song is a nice try of Brad Paisley and LL Cool J to bring up some ideas on an important topic. Unfortunately, "well-intended" doesn't always mean "well-done"...
While I think the general intention of the song deserves applause, I am very irritated by some of the lyrics. To me a line like "If you forget my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains" downplays the horror of slavery. It is a weird comparison and I can understand people finding it offensive. Paisley is right when he states that "our generation didn't start the nation" but that doesn't mean people should forget about the horrible institutions of slavery and segregation and their effect on today's America.
Concerning the Confederate Flag: I can see young people today wear it as some kind of a pop-culture symbol for a Southern/"Redneck"/Country lifestyle. Still one cannot deny the racist origin of the Red Flag. In addition the Confederate Flag is an anti-American flag: It glorifies the secession of 11 states that were fighting a bloody war against the United States - because they wanted to keep the institution of slavery. The Red Flag and the Star Spangled Banner hardly go together - so I think if you call yourself a true patriot with some knowledge on American history, you shouldn't wear the Confederate Flag.
I enjoy listening to country music, I admire the Southern friendliness and I like many parts of the Southern clothing style - there are lots of things a Southerner can be proud of and many ways to show it...Ways that acknowledge that the abolition of slavery is a true blessing. Ways that show pride in the Civil Rights Movement of Dr. King and other great men and women. Ways that embody the wish that the South shall be a great place for people of all colors.
Though Lengthy, I think that it was well worth the read! You made some awesome points. And I would have to say that I completely agree with you.... the song did try to create some discussion about some very touchy issues. But I think the way that they tried to start the discussion did step on toes, as you have already mentioned. I did not even think about the fact of the seceding of the south. Nice factoid :)
Delete