Jump Jim Crow

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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

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]