Reading Contemporary Culture Theologically
- Describing the cultural text and explaining the broader cultural context in which the text is located
“You’re not good looking, you’re a big fat ugly coon
you’re not so stylish for your clothes am out of tune
you are de blackest wench dat ever crossed de pike
yet dere’s something about Yer I like.”
This song “Dere’s something about Yer I like,” which was one of the songs sung in one of the blackface shows. The song has racist symbolism and representation. As shown in the song, the lyrics visualize being capable of “correct” perceived faults of people. Being black was ‘ugly,’ and hence the blacker one person was, the uglier they were. As further reiterated in the song, the author also portrayed that being black was not something to like or love, yet he still liked the black girl. An aspect of style, seemingly portraying that black people did not have style. The song, and Blackface minstrelsy, in general, was set up in the 19th and 20th century America, in which racism was prevalent, and the whole culture was hostile and unreceptive towards black people.
- Identifying the claims, meaning, and/or purpose of the cultural text
This song was full of racist symbolism, and demeaning views towards black people. The song is one of the many examples portraying black people as having grotesque physical characteristics and presents the color of the skin as a painful problem. It’s even worrying that such portrayals and depictions of black people were perceived as a form of entertainment for white people.
The topic is very troublesome because it originated, and was popular in a racist society. As many scholars believe, its primary purpose was to demean and portray untruthful accounts of the Africans. Blackface minstrelsy was a specific type of a sundown show that was mainly built on racist representation. The purpose of the cultural text was to reiterate and reinforce the fact that black people were ugly, and that even the slightest form of affection shown towards them was undeserved. This was in line with the prevailing racist ideologies perceiving black people as lesser than their white counterparts.
- Analyzing the influence of the text for people in contemporary culture
Black minstrel entertainment was trendy in the 19th century, and it often entailed a group of white men who are backed up to be similar to representations of black people, having thick red or white lips. With new layers of clerks and shop owners in the 19th century, such portrayals as exemplified in the text of the song above. As indicated by one scholar, “it caught the fancy of an amusement-starved public and was almost the only alternative to the doubtful humor of the music hall of the period. Minstrelsy was a form of family entertainment where husband and wife could take their children without fear of being asked embarrassing questions afterward.” John Abbott (Page 13). Moreover, these shows became more popular because they were considered more respectable than music hall, which had a lot of rude jokes and sexual innuendo. As the shows became more sophisticated, with complex acts and presentations, they even drew a more massive crowd and received higher viewership numbers.
- Developing a Christian response to the text that expresses the biblical narrative of the kingdom of God and the unchanging message of the gospel (creation, fall, redemption, and restoration
As per the Christian faith, everyone created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, whether black of white, all human beings are equal and unique as the children of God. In light of this, the portrayal of black people as ugly or not as esteemed/special as white people is wrong; and not in line with the teachings of Christianity.
All human beings have fallen in sin, and no one is more special than the other. Therefore, considering a particular race more important than the other is wrong and sinful. We have all been saved by the redemptive power of God, through his son Jesus Christ, and therefore, we should be more inclusive and accept each other as equal stakeholders, and children in the kingdom of God. As we have all been brought into the kingdom of God as his children, we should embrace one another as equal stakeholders in the children of God.
References
Kovala, Urpo. (2002). Cultural Studies and Cultural Text Analysis. CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture. 4. 10.7771/1481-4374.1169
John ABBOTT, The Story of Francis, Day and Hunter, London: William Chappell, 1952
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