Re: Kinky Jewish Music

[Owen Davidson <owend...>]

Amen, Simon.

Just as a note, though, I think Dick Gregory got there first in bringing the
N-word to a mixed audience.  I remember the story of Richard Pyor's change of
heart, and I think it came about because of a vogue for the word among young
whites.  If I recall correctly, he said that maybe all the white folk who were
using the word "nigger" just hadn't been punched out enough.  Harsh, but there 
it
is.  Any Torah scholar will tell you about the power of words.

Owen

Klezcorner (at) aol(dot)com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/30/99 9:30:10 AM, you wrote:
>
> <<
> I have to join those who disagree with Simon on this issue. Just as
> there are contexts in which African-Americans will refer to one another
> as "niggers,">>
>
> Richard Pryor was the first major comic to use the word Niger in his act for
> mixed audiences. When he first started using it, most people were shocked or
> offended. Many years later, Eddie Murphy called him because Bill Cosby had
> asked Eddie to stop using that word because it was still a very sore point
> with many people.  Richard told Eddie to keep doing it and "The Hell with
> him".
>
> Years later, after Richard had his accident, he changed his feelings about
> that word and regrets that he ever used it and made it acceptable.
> It's amazing how people who haven't suffered firsthand are the ones who tell
> you
> how others should accept words that were used segregate, and denigrate others.
> The theory is that if you use it often enough it take the sting out of the
> word. To those who suffered and had their families murdered it only makes it
> worse.
>
> The titles to songs that uses "Jewboy" or any other negative word is all that
> matters. Those are used to create controversy (as is happening on this list
> now)., then they will tell you "but you didn't listen to the words, they're
> very positive"".
> the titles are meant to creater (commercial) controversy
> Ari, you know your  music, do you really think that Bullmoose Jackson's record
> title of "My Baby Loves My Big 10 Inch" . Unless you heard the record, you
> wouldn't know that he's talking about his 10 inch record, but the title is
> what gets people to snicker.
> I'm not surprised how many people have posted opinions, on the list, that
> disagree with me, however, there are many more who agree with me that have E-
> mailed me privately. I guess they didn't want to be "corrected" on the list.
>
> I will venture to say that I would bet that most of the people who disagree
> with me were probably were born in the US. If that is so, then believe me,
> except for books and films, most of you have never experienced what REAL anti-
> Semitism is or how "harmless" words are used for propaganda. I  have heard
> American Jews tell me about how they experienced anti-Semitism when they were
> not allowed to stay in certain hotels or join country clubs. Foolish me, I
> though Auschwitz was bad.
> Not long ago, on a TV documentary about WWII, an older gentleman was talking
> about how bad things were in the US during the war; they actually rationed
> sugar and had meatless Thursday. If my family, that was in the Warsaw Ghetto
> (can you guess what happened to them?) had known how bad things were in the
> US, they might have started a telethon.
>
> This will be my last posting on this subject since I do believe that nothing
> here will change anybody's mind either way on this  issue.
>
> Simon
>
> Simon
>

--
Owen Davidson
Amherst  Mass
The Wholesale Klezmer Band

The Angel that presided o'er my birth
Said Little creature formd of Joy and Mirth
Go Love without the help of any King on Earth

Wm. Blake


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