Difference between revisions of "Jump Jim Crow"
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== Controversy == | == Controversy == | ||
These words are from the song, "Jim Crow," as it appeared in sheet music written by Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice. Rice, a struggling "actor" (he did short solo skits between play scenes) at the Park Theater in New York, happened upon a black person singing the above song -- some accounts say it was an old black slave who walked with difficulty, others say it was a ragged black stable boy. Whether modeled on an old man or a young boy we will never know, but we know that in 1828 Rice appeared on stage as "Jim Crow" -- an exaggerated, highly stereotypical black character. | These words are from the song, "Jim Crow," as it appeared in sheet music written by Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice. Rice, a struggling "actor" (he did short solo skits between play scenes) at the Park Theater in New York, happened upon a black person singing the above song -- some accounts say it was an old black slave who walked with difficulty, others say it was a ragged black stable boy. Whether modeled on an old man or a young boy we will never know, but we know that in 1828 Rice appeared on stage as "Jim Crow" -- an exaggerated, highly stereotypical black character. | ||
| − | By 1838, the term "Jim Crow" was being used as a collective racial epithet for blacks, not as offensive as nigger, but similar to coon or darkie. The popularity of minstrel shows clearly aided the spread of Jim Crow as a racial slur. This use of the term only lasted half a century. By the end of the 19th century, the words Jim Crow were less likely to be used to derisively describe blacks; instead, the phrase Jim Crow was being used to describe laws and customs which oppressed blacks. <ref>https://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/who/index.htm</ref> | + | By 1838, the term "Jim Crow" was being used as a collective racial epithet for blacks, not as offensive as nigger, but similar to coon or darkie. The popularity of minstrel shows clearly aided the spread of Jim Crow as a racial slur. This use of the term only lasted half a century. By the end of the 19th century, the words Jim Crow were less likely to be used to derisively describe blacks; instead, the phrase Jim Crow was being used to describe laws and customs which oppressed blacks. <ref>[https://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/who/index.htm Who Was Jim Crow?]. Ferris State University. Retrieved January 18 2021.</ref> |
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Black Racism in Song Lyrics]] | [[Category:Black Racism in Song Lyrics]] | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 2 February 2021
Jump Jim Crow initiated a new form of popular music and theatrical performances in the United States that focused their attention on the mockery of African Americans.
Lyrics
The lyrics as most commonly quoted are:
Come, listen all you gals and boys, Ise just from Tuckyhoe;
I'm goin' to sing a little song, My name's Jim Crow.
CHORUS [after every verse]
Weel about and turn about and do jis so,
Eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow.
I went down to the river, I didn't mean to stay;
But dere I see so many gals, I couldn't get away.
And arter I been dere awhile, I tought I push my boat;
But I tumbled in de river, and I find myself afloat.
I git upon a flat boat, I cotch de Uncle Sam;
Den I went to see de place where dey kill'd de Pakenham.
And den I go to Orleans, an, feel so full of flight;
Dey put me in de calaboose, an, keep me dere all night.
When I got out I hit a man, his name I now forgot;
But dere was noting left of him 'cept a little grease spot.
And oder day I hit a man, de man was mighty fat
I hit so hard I nockt him in to an old cockt hat.
I whipt my weight in wildcats, I eat an alligator;
I drunk de Mississippy up! O! I'm de very creature.
I sit upon a hornet's nest, I dance upon my head;
I tie a wiper round my neck an, den I go to bed.
I kneel to de buzzard, an, I bow to the crow;
An eb'ry time I weel about I jump jis so.
Controversy
These words are from the song, "Jim Crow," as it appeared in sheet music written by Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice. Rice, a struggling "actor" (he did short solo skits between play scenes) at the Park Theater in New York, happened upon a black person singing the above song -- some accounts say it was an old black slave who walked with difficulty, others say it was a ragged black stable boy. Whether modeled on an old man or a young boy we will never know, but we know that in 1828 Rice appeared on stage as "Jim Crow" -- an exaggerated, highly stereotypical black character. By 1838, the term "Jim Crow" was being used as a collective racial epithet for blacks, not as offensive as nigger, but similar to coon or darkie. The popularity of minstrel shows clearly aided the spread of Jim Crow as a racial slur. This use of the term only lasted half a century. By the end of the 19th century, the words Jim Crow were less likely to be used to derisively describe blacks; instead, the phrase Jim Crow was being used to describe laws and customs which oppressed blacks. [1]
References
- ↑ Who Was Jim Crow?. Ferris State University. Retrieved January 18 2021.