I well remember 1968 and cherish that Blackbird was McCartneys response to the American civil rights movement. “He has said he wanted to write a song dedicated to those who had been affected by discrimination, especially women. In British slang, “bird” means “girl.” There is once again an escalation in the terrible war on women in this Jane Crow country which is disproportionately hurting women of color. All women and men who love them need to unite and fight for the equal rights of women, maybe this time we can get it right. Women should not have to feel worse than unwelcome but hated by their country,
Thanks again Dan. I love Sunday morning with you. FYI, when a Black soldier in the United States Colored Troops in the Uncivil War re-enlisted after the war to become a "Buffalo Soldier", he went West to engage in the "Indian Wars". When he retired after 10-15 years fighting for the US Army out West, the government not only gave him a pension but a large tract of land, hence, he became a rancher. In other words, he became a "cowboy." It is estimated that about 30% of the cowboys out West were Black. How unfortunate and unfair that they were omitted from American history books, not given their just credit and not included in those cowboy heroes movies in the 1940s-80s. White supremacy found its diabolical claws in all manner of American life.
What is not usually mentioned as the Buffalo soldiers pioneered in the use of bicycles rather than horses. From the Wiki: "Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Montana rode bicycles across roadless landscapes for hundreds of miles at high speed. The "wheelmen" traveled the 1,900 Miles to St. Louis Missouri in 40 days with an average speed of over 6 mph. "
Exactly. "Stolen from Africa, brought to AmeriKKKa, fightin' on arrival, fightin' for survival, he was a Buffalo Soldier, troddin' through AmeriKKKA, a dreadlock Rasta."
At the end of the year, I give all my students a goodbye gift - black T-shirt saying:
It‘s getting even worse now in the history books many printed in Texas. The history is being completely changed to reflect an entire different picture of the Civil War as an example.
Good people like you whether in Texas or Montana or Mississippi must voice their opinions demanding that we all tell "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" about history. Thank you!
Yes because there is actually what seems to be a “cult” of truly evil people in this country whose aim is to destroy it. What exactly is their purpose why are they doing this? In the end the truth always comes out ,maybe not right away but it does get out. Look at Nazi Germany, things are still coming out and even from the Russian Revolution. How the Russians tried to blame the Germans for killing thousands of Polish Army officers during WWII in the Katyn Forest! Trump is not now nor has he ever been a good person and it’s all coming out now. It’s way past time that good people stop giving Trump the benefit of the doubt! He’s not a good person now and never has been, what do they see in him?
I am almost 60 years, a student of history as an undergrad, and I have learned more about ALL of US History since the advent of BLM than in all other decades combined. I knew of the Buffalo Soldiers because of Bob Marley, but feel like I am choking on the sheer volume of massacres, murders, and other cruelties that were never mentioned in school, unless I assume you sought out classes that exclusively covered black history. I hate that what is referred to as black history is really just the parts of American history that have been surgically removed so that white people can continue to avoid grappling with so much of the overwhelming cruelty in our history.
Indeed, Lisa. One of the reasons the truth about the vicious, vile and violent history against Black people by White AmeriKKKA lasting for 349 years (246 years of brutal slavery + 103 years of Black Codes, convict lease system, Jim Crow, lynchings, restrictive housing covenants, redlining and violent suppression of civil rights) is that this history is way too much for White people to face, comprehend and digest. White supremacy lasted from 1619-1968. Of course, along the way there were good White people who tried to do the right thing and organize against White terrorism (IE., Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi in the Freedom Summer of '64), but overwhelming White people were the terrorists or stood silent becoming accessories. It's hard for White people to accept the truth, but the truth is the only way to set us free from our ugly past. And, not to condemn White people today, but to face the facts and learn each others histories in dialogue and actions to reckon with the past in order to move forward together.
Bernie, hose years were so sad, so awful, especially when MLK, Jr. was murdered. I was a young Jewish girl, raised in a small town in NC whose parents were victims of the Holocaust. My folks owned a clothing store, catering to all factory workers, black and white. I could tell my parents were worried about uprisings that could occur like they were all over the US. But, one thing the Beatles and Afro-Cuban artists did was change fashion. Beatle shoes, necklaces, and Beatle shirts were popular as well as daishikis. That was another “revolution”.
Thanks for the reply Marlene. Bless your family and survivors of the Holocaust. Way too much trauma to even try to comprehend. I always say, 6 million Jews were not murdered, but a Jew was murdered 6 million times. It is a conservative estimate that over 15 million Africans were stolen, kidnapped, tortured, maimed, raped, beaten, sold and sold again during the Atlantic slave trade. Too much pain to comprehend. That is why it is very important that Blacks and Jews find common ground in their equally horrific history, find ways to work together and not let media hype tear us apart. The media loves chaos and negativity. It sells.
My grown up daughter has played this album every day since it came out. It’s wonderful! The banjo you hear is by Rhiannon Giddens, one of our favorite artists.
Beyonce's rendition of one of my favorite Beatles songs brought tears to my eyes this morning. To think that a beautiful piece of music written by a young guy from England so long ago still inspires new interpretations inspires me. If such beauty continues to thrive in our world, we can overcome the ugliness and hate.
I was unfamiliar with the term jingoism so I looked it up. Wikipedia great description. I don’t think they use it much here but I’m sure it permeates my area, OH08.
LOL.. I'm usually not a fan of 'country', however, 'Texas Holdum' dance routine on TikTok has given me brain worm! Throw your keys up.... going down.. down.. down.. gahhhhh.... LOL!!
I well remember 1968 and cherish that Blackbird was McCartneys response to the American civil rights movement. “He has said he wanted to write a song dedicated to those who had been affected by discrimination, especially women. In British slang, “bird” means “girl.” There is once again an escalation in the terrible war on women in this Jane Crow country which is disproportionately hurting women of color. All women and men who love them need to unite and fight for the equal rights of women, maybe this time we can get it right. Women should not have to feel worse than unwelcome but hated by their country,
Thanks again Dan. I love Sunday morning with you. FYI, when a Black soldier in the United States Colored Troops in the Uncivil War re-enlisted after the war to become a "Buffalo Soldier", he went West to engage in the "Indian Wars". When he retired after 10-15 years fighting for the US Army out West, the government not only gave him a pension but a large tract of land, hence, he became a rancher. In other words, he became a "cowboy." It is estimated that about 30% of the cowboys out West were Black. How unfortunate and unfair that they were omitted from American history books, not given their just credit and not included in those cowboy heroes movies in the 1940s-80s. White supremacy found its diabolical claws in all manner of American life.
What is not usually mentioned as the Buffalo soldiers pioneered in the use of bicycles rather than horses. From the Wiki: "Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Montana rode bicycles across roadless landscapes for hundreds of miles at high speed. The "wheelmen" traveled the 1,900 Miles to St. Louis Missouri in 40 days with an average speed of over 6 mph. "
Thanks Barry. New and interesting information on the ingenuity of Buffalo Soldiers.
Thank you for this information!
May I suggest listening to Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Exactly. "Stolen from Africa, brought to AmeriKKKa, fightin' on arrival, fightin' for survival, he was a Buffalo Soldier, troddin' through AmeriKKKA, a dreadlock Rasta."
At the end of the year, I give all my students a goodbye gift - black T-shirt saying:
"Listen to Bob Marley".
Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!
It‘s getting even worse now in the history books many printed in Texas. The history is being completely changed to reflect an entire different picture of the Civil War as an example.
Good people like you whether in Texas or Montana or Mississippi must voice their opinions demanding that we all tell "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" about history. Thank you!
Yes because there is actually what seems to be a “cult” of truly evil people in this country whose aim is to destroy it. What exactly is their purpose why are they doing this? In the end the truth always comes out ,maybe not right away but it does get out. Look at Nazi Germany, things are still coming out and even from the Russian Revolution. How the Russians tried to blame the Germans for killing thousands of Polish Army officers during WWII in the Katyn Forest! Trump is not now nor has he ever been a good person and it’s all coming out now. It’s way past time that good people stop giving Trump the benefit of the doubt! He’s not a good person now and never has been, what do they see in him?
Well said Suzy. Thank you. -Bernie
Amen. The truth can set us free.
Good Day.
Sounds like what Russia has always done.
Q? What's the difference between Russia & Texas??
"Jack Daniels"...
I am almost 60 years, a student of history as an undergrad, and I have learned more about ALL of US History since the advent of BLM than in all other decades combined. I knew of the Buffalo Soldiers because of Bob Marley, but feel like I am choking on the sheer volume of massacres, murders, and other cruelties that were never mentioned in school, unless I assume you sought out classes that exclusively covered black history. I hate that what is referred to as black history is really just the parts of American history that have been surgically removed so that white people can continue to avoid grappling with so much of the overwhelming cruelty in our history.
Indeed, Lisa. One of the reasons the truth about the vicious, vile and violent history against Black people by White AmeriKKKA lasting for 349 years (246 years of brutal slavery + 103 years of Black Codes, convict lease system, Jim Crow, lynchings, restrictive housing covenants, redlining and violent suppression of civil rights) is that this history is way too much for White people to face, comprehend and digest. White supremacy lasted from 1619-1968. Of course, along the way there were good White people who tried to do the right thing and organize against White terrorism (IE., Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi in the Freedom Summer of '64), but overwhelming White people were the terrorists or stood silent becoming accessories. It's hard for White people to accept the truth, but the truth is the only way to set us free from our ugly past. And, not to condemn White people today, but to face the facts and learn each others histories in dialogue and actions to reckon with the past in order to move forward together.
Bernie, hose years were so sad, so awful, especially when MLK, Jr. was murdered. I was a young Jewish girl, raised in a small town in NC whose parents were victims of the Holocaust. My folks owned a clothing store, catering to all factory workers, black and white. I could tell my parents were worried about uprisings that could occur like they were all over the US. But, one thing the Beatles and Afro-Cuban artists did was change fashion. Beatle shoes, necklaces, and Beatle shirts were popular as well as daishikis. That was another “revolution”.
Thanks for the reply Marlene. Bless your family and survivors of the Holocaust. Way too much trauma to even try to comprehend. I always say, 6 million Jews were not murdered, but a Jew was murdered 6 million times. It is a conservative estimate that over 15 million Africans were stolen, kidnapped, tortured, maimed, raped, beaten, sold and sold again during the Atlantic slave trade. Too much pain to comprehend. That is why it is very important that Blacks and Jews find common ground in their equally horrific history, find ways to work together and not let media hype tear us apart. The media loves chaos and negativity. It sells.
It's just beautiful. Thanks for the review. I will use "sing the paint off a house" forever.
Yes, I too was struck by the image of singing paint off a house! 😉💫💫
My grown up daughter has played this album every day since it came out. It’s wonderful! The banjo you hear is by Rhiannon Giddens, one of our favorite artists.
Rhiannon! A powerhouse and wonderful person!
Beyoncé and Rhiannon Giddens are so accomplished!! What an unbeatable combination! Thanks for sharing this, Dan!
Beyonce's rendition of one of my favorite Beatles songs brought tears to my eyes this morning. To think that a beautiful piece of music written by a young guy from England so long ago still inspires new interpretations inspires me. If such beauty continues to thrive in our world, we can overcome the ugliness and hate.
Wow. What a great point. Thank you for making it. 💜🙏🏻
I "struggle" with an intense bias against "new" Country!
Have no tolerance for the jingoistic rhetoric and faux flag-waving!
As a music-lover (particularly Jazz and the African-American experience), I appreciate your "research"
concerning Beyonce's foray into the genre and, particularly, with the song BLACK BIRD.
Many jazz artists have their own version and it has always been a favorite of mine.
MAYBE this will help me confront my bias against POP music as well?!? (LOL)
"The shaking keeps me STEADY..."
I was unfamiliar with the term jingoism so I looked it up. Wikipedia great description. I don’t think they use it much here but I’m sure it permeates my area, OH08.
Yay, that word always stuck with me (lol)!
It PERMEATES my area also GOPWNY (NOT LOLing)...
The harmonies on this Blackbird track are sublime.
Definitely, the goosebumps arrived listening to this track, how glorious.
She's an exceptional artist. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting background to the song "Blackbird"!
The background makes it even more special to me.
Such sublime beauty comes from that throat, from that diaphragm. Beyonce could indeed sing the paint off a house.
Indeed, a reason to smile! Thank you Dan Rather for bring this to mind.
Props to Beyonce, but if you want to hear the definitive performance of Blackbird, check this out. https://youtu.be/OSgTAK-mH84?si=REkfWiwqCG9IOKQp
Thanks, Paul. And I hope you’ve enjoyed this too https://youtu.be/H46yXW4qR_M?si=jYqrLCXNdsPXoXqg
Nice one. Thank you Bob.
Wow. 😢
Paul. thank you, a true goosebump moment
I agree A goosebumps moment. It struck me as almost Shakespearean in intensity.
Thank you Paul, that was indeed magnificent
Mr Rather is a quintessential curator for our times. I look forward to “Reason to Smile” each week!
Wow! Her voice. Her song. Foot tapping soul filling- particularly because of the background you shared.
LOL.. I'm usually not a fan of 'country', however, 'Texas Holdum' dance routine on TikTok has given me brain worm! Throw your keys up.... going down.. down.. down.. gahhhhh.... LOL!!
Thanks Dan - I am smiling!