Tacenda Posted June 24 Posted June 24 3 minutes ago, Calm said: There is a problem with using Old Folks at Home as an African American heritage song. It was written by Steven Foster who had never been to Florida it seems and was just looking for a two syllable name to fit the melody according to Goggle. Worse, it was written to be performed by a blackface minstrel group. At least his intention was positive, but delivery was not respectful since it looks like he just made stuff up about the dialect used. https://pages.stolaf.edu/americanmusic/2021/12/08/stephen-fosters-intent-and-impact-with-old-folks-at-home/ Layers of wrong here by not checking actual history before making the joke (the song is presented as being sung by a slave). Also wonder if Brother McKay knows the lyrics given the first verse includes the lovely longing for de old plantation line: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Folks_at_Home I hope he's going to do some homework.
Tacenda Posted June 24 Posted June 24 Just now, Calm said: Same problem here. We can blame it on lack of sleep, lol. 1
ZealouslyStriving Posted June 29 Posted June 29 On 6/15/2026 at 6:24 PM, Tacenda said: I've not done my due diligence on reading all the posts thoroughly, my take was different. My take is he made fun of whites not blacks because blacks or African Americans have the ability to show a lot of emotion and rhythm. Please correct me if I'm really not getting it. This morning I played pickleball with friends that are in his ward in Kaysville and they brought it up and were disappointed too. Yep, it was more about the counselor doing "extra" in singing the song. A white guy acting like he is in black church while singing a negro spiritual would be far more insulting than Bro. McKay's awkwardly delivered joke. My Two Cents.
Calm Posted June 29 Posted June 29 (edited) 1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said: white guy acting like he is in black church while singing a negro spiritual would be far more insulting than Bro. McKay's awkwardly delivered joke Nothing Bro. McKay described actually requires the counselor to be “acting like he is in black church while singing a negro spiritual”. He sang the song like a lot of whites sing it in my experience, extending the “I’m” into “I’mma” (not sure how to write that). That’s the only detail provided. Personally I prefer the second ad it feels to me like it fits the rhythm better and it’s how I sing it typically. Everything labeling the counselor’s behaviour as “Black” came from Bro. McKay’s imagination since as reported his friend said nothing to him and was just singing the song, the conversation was imagined. It sounds like Bro. McKay hasn’t had much experience seeing performances or performing the song himself with a group (or in music class as a kid like I did iirc), so he’s not familiar with the different ways of pronouncing the lyrics that probably have more to do with where you first heard it than your own race. Edited June 29 by Calm 1
ZealouslyStriving Posted June 29 Posted June 29 5 minutes ago, Calm said: Nothing Bro. McKay described actually requires the counselor to be “acting like he is in black church while singing a negro spiritual”. He sang the song like a lot of whites sing it in my experience, extending the “I’m” into “I’mma” (not sure how to write that). That’s the only detail provided. Personally I prefer the second ad it feels to me like it fits the rhythm better and it’s how I sing it typically. Everything labeling the counselor’s behaviour as “Black” came from Bro. McKay’s imagination since as reported his friend said nothing to him and was just singing the song, the conversation was imagined. It sounds like Bro. McKay hasn’t had much experience seeing performances or performing the song himself with a group (or in music class as a kid like I did iirc), so he’s not familiar with the different ways of pronouncing the lyrics that probably have more to do with where you first heard it than your own race. Obviously, we have interpreted his story differently from each other. ✌🏻
Calm Posted June 29 Posted June 29 (edited) 2 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said: Obviously, we have interpreted his story differently from each other. ✌🏻 Did you watch the clip? As described, they were sitting on the stand next to each other, no mention of swaying or clapping of hands, nothing but “I’mma gonna” with a slight inflection assuming Bro. McKay was mimicking the counselor. If that makes the counselor imitating a black gospel singer (and not an African slave as suggested by Bro. McKay), that’s one of the less enthusiastic choirs I have ever seen. Edited June 29 by Calm
ZealouslyStriving Posted June 29 Posted June 29 1 hour ago, Calm said: Did you watch the clip? As described, they were sitting on the stand next to each other, no mention of swaying or clapping of hands, nothing but “I’mma gonna” with a slight inflection assuming Bro. McKay was mimicking the counselor. If that makes the counselor imitating a black gospel singer (and not an African slave as suggested by Bro. McKay), that’s one of the less enthusiastic choirs I have ever seen. Yes, I have seen the clip.
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