Political Correctness VS. A More Perfect Union

In the interest of a more perfect union where people of diverse races coexist I bring is a report of injustice at a Michigan School that aids the forces of oppression by dropped a song from their concert because a parent said it offended him in reminding them of slavery. It is obvious that not one of those teachers involved bothered doing research on the song or they would have realized that it was a teachable moment to instruct others on black history.

The song was "Pick a bale of Cotton" and is a black folksong that emerged out of the cotton culture of the south that was both before and after the abolition of slavery. Huddie William Ledbetter a black songwriter featured in the Songwriters Hall of Fame wrote one version that is very similar to the one that offended the Michigan parent. Sonny Terry, a well known black harmonica player, and two other singers sang this song on the recording Get on Board: Negro Folksongs by the Folkmasters, Folkways FP 2028, the copyright which is owned by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

So these so called teachers find it easier to give in to the censorship of black history than take the opportunity to instruct both parents and children of the glories of black history. It certainly sounds like the blessings of liberty for our posterity are being denied in one more way, for it is never a shame for a person no matter their race to work hard to provide for themselves and their family or to take a break and sing a song or dance a jig.