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August 16, 2002

Batman is an Urban Legend

Found on Me-Phi-Me (where some of the comments cause me to grind my teeth, and be thankful I don't have an account):

Guardian Unlimited | Arts | He wasn't my king
For black people, Elvis, more than any other performer, epitomises the theft of their music and dance
Helen Kolawole
Thursday August 15, 2002
The Guardian

As another celebration of a dead white hero winds up, in this hallowed Week of Elvis, shouldn't the entertainment industry hold its own truth and reconciliation commission?

[. . .] This won't happen of course. Media arrogance and dishonesty means we are eternally bound to live in a skewed world where Elvis is king of rock'n'roll, Clapton is the guitar god, Sinatra is the voice and Astaire is the greatest dancer. Accustomed as we are to this parade of white heroes, the case of Elvis is particularly infuriating because for many black people he represents the most successful white appropriation of a black genre to date.

From what I hear, Adele had the talent, but I think she means her bro.

Elvis also signifies the foul way so many black writers and performers, such as Little Richard, were treated by the music industry. The enduring image of Elvis is a constant reflection of society's then refusal to accept anything other than the non-threatening and subservient negro: Sammy Davies Jnr and Nat King Cole. The Elvis myth to this day clouds the true picture of rock'n'roll and leaves its many originators without due recognition. So what is left for black people to celebrate? How he admirably borrowed our songs, attitude and dance moves?

Public Enemy's prolific commentator, Chuck D, was clear on why he felt compelled to attack the pretender's iconic status. In their 1989 song Fight the Power, he rapped: "Elvis was a hero to most/ But he never meant shit to me you see/ Straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain/ Motherfuck him and John Wayne."

To contend that Elvis was a racist is hardly shocking. ("The only thing black people can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my music", he once opined.) And, as a dirt poor Southerner raised in close but separate proximity to black people, his racism would hardly have distinguished him from millions of others. Chuck D's attack was not aimed at Elvis the person, but Elvis the institution.

Which is good, since the quote appears to be a fabrication, but the sentiment is in the right place. Or the wrong place, if you're one of those people.

I'm going to go blast Living Colour's "Elvis is Dead" until the neighbors call the cops now.

Update: Woah. I'd been using lynx before, and didn't see the images.

Adele Astaire was hot. I mean, she's no Rita Hayworth, but. . . I should quit while I'm ahead, shouldn't I?

Posted by Aaron at August 16, 2002 08:29 AM

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