sighsnootles
the benediction at obamas inaguration ceremony...
Posted on: 01/21/2009 10:37
for me, the benediction at the ceremony yesterday was friggin' brilliant, but man i've seen a lot of people who were very offended by it.
it all seems to revolve around the last part, where he said something to the effect of ...
we pray for the day when
'black will not have to get in back,
when brown can stick aroun',
yellow can just be a fellow,
when the red man can get ahead, man,
and when white will do right...'
again, considering that obamas own father endured brutal discrimination, i thought it was BRILLIANT.
what do you guys think??
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Panentheism
Posted on: 01/21/2009 11:07
Jon stewart and Cobert both loved it - and there was a cut to Obama who smiled when those words were said... I loved it too. It was mellow - it was classic black preaching.
I don't why people would be offended? Too lacking in poetic language? Fact Fundamentalists?
sighsnootles
Posted on: 01/21/2009 11:43
i've seen a few reasons...
- this was an almost sacred ceremony, and his attempt to 'jazz it up a bit' was insulting to the solemnity of the event
- white people fought just as hard for blacks to be 'free', and his comments about white people was insulting to those who struggled to get there too.
sighsnootles
Posted on: 01/21/2009 13:52
here is a video of it, if anyone wants to see it...
cate
Posted on: 01/21/2009 15:47
I thought it brought just the right amount of humour to the occassion. I also loved the "AMEN"s from the crowd of millions at the end. I can see how some might be offended but just about everything will offend someone. As for the 'white do right' part, I would suspect any white people working to end segragation and discrimination (then and now) recognize that it is historically and contemporarily the white folks who need to be convinced to "do right" by virtue of the fact that it's the white folks who seem to end up with all the power. The whites who marched alongside MLK knew they weren't there to convince black people, they were there to convince other white people. As a white person, I accept that this is the way it is. I don't consider it to be discriminatory againts whites.
Jadespring
Posted on: 01/21/2009 18:08
Would it help to know that last part was a direct reference to common poem in the Civil Rights movement. It was an explanation of the hierarchy the movement was up against. :D
Full Lowery quote:
The poem...
Big Bill Broonzy, Black, Brown And White
This little song that I’m singin’ about,
People, you all know that it’s true,
If you’re black and gotta work for livin’,
Now, this is what they will say to you,
They says: If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
Stick around,
But if you’s black, oh, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.
I was in a place one night,
They was all havin’ fun,
They was all buyin’ beer and wine,
But they would not sell me none.
They said: If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm, hmm, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.
I went to an employment office,
I got a number, I got in line,
They called everybody’s number,
But they never did call mine.
They said: If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm, hmm, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.
Me and a man was workin’ side by side,
Now, this is what it meant:
They was payin’ him a dollar an hour,
And they was payin’ me fifty cent.
They said: If you was white,
You’d be alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, oh, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.
I helped win sweet victories,
With my plow and hoe,
Now, I want you to tell me, brother,
What you gonna do ’bout the old Jim Crow?
Now, if you is white,
You’s alright,
If you’s brown,
Stick around,
But if you’s black,
Hmm, hmm, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.
It was a modern day update connecting that history to the present day. Lowery was With this added context imo it's makes it even better. Lowery and anyone else who was involved in this movement would recognize what he was refering too. As much as it was funky to those who don't know the reference to those that do it was even more powerful...look how far we have come, but look we still have have more to go but at least now we can continue with some real joy in our hearts.
crazyheart
Posted on: 01/21/2009 21:19
Thanks Jadespring
MonAsksIt
Posted on: 01/24/2009 22:52
Wow, it's great to know the context for that. I really enjoyed it even without the preamble. It seemed like such a down to earth understandable and catchy prayer with sincerity, humor and humility. We all have a part to play regardless of skin pigmentation genes, but the history behind it really packs an extra oomph. Thanks!
itdontmatter
Posted on: 01/25/2009 17:39
I knew the origin of the passage but I hadn't followed the motivations for some people being offended. I had just thought that it was racists and bitter Republicans who were offended by it, I didn't know that there was more to it
sighsnootles
Posted on: 01/25/2009 18:05
from what i've seen, i'd say that you are right, idm... the people who i've encountered who were offended by it were probably just looking for SOMETHING to be offended by.
Birthstone
Posted on: 01/25/2009 21:49
agreed. they are grumpy, whiny so & so's with a glass half empty attitude.
I loved it, and am grateful for the reprints & origins you've all shared.