What do Black People think of Elvis?
In April 1957, SEIPA MAGAZINE, a white sensationalist monthly magazine referring to black readers, started a discussion "What do Negroes think of Elvis" ... this article was very controversial. The article covered the case of a white boy, Elvis Presley, who by adopting color music, became the most successful artist of his time.
The article entitled "What Negroes Think of Elvis" went on like this: "… as one of the most debated issues on earth, Elvis Presley, raises controversy over white heat everywhere. But among the Negroes, the controversy over Elvis it is even more explosive than among whites. The opinion of blacks on the hill of Mississippi's hydrated cloak ranges from caustic condemnation to ardent admiration." "Some blacks cannot forget that Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, the hometown of a bigger defiler Dixie, former Congressman Jon Rankin. Other blacks believe that Elvis would have said these words when he was in Boston or during an appearance on the TV show "Person to Person". Elvis would have said: "The only thing that niggers can do it for me, it's to buy my records and polish my shoes. "Elvis, he was neither in Boston nor did he appear on that TV show. These statements by Elvis were false. When the institutions accused Elvis of being a vulgar king, of having sexual attitudes, it didn't mean that. This was the cover of what The Institutions they were afraid that ELVIS WILL DRIVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND RACIAL INTEGRATION.
Often criticisms of Elvis were racist in nature, as Elvis sang what was considered "black music". After his performance at the "Milton Berle", Elvis was severely attacked by critics whothey described his chilling performance. Elvis' wandering of legs as "harmful" and his way of singing as "inappropriate and extravagant." At the time, a critic summed up his performance as "THE TYPE OF ANIMALISM THAT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO UNDERGROUND AND BRUNCHES ". A Catholic weekly criticized him by writing on a banner "ATTENTION TO ELVIS PRESLEY". Often to annoy the spirits, told the radio that "Elvis Presley had stolen black music" true the root of the "Elvis was a Racist" line of thought is a clear refusal of integration. There was the belief, between whites and blacks, that black music was for blacks and every white man who sings it is guilty of a terrible misappropriation and that this misappropriation is a consequence of the horrible sins committed against blacks by whites throughout the history of the American nation. This concept is clearly foolish and absolutely racist on both sides. It is absolutely clear to everyone that Elvis aroused fear, because blacks and whites converged in him … they were afraid that Elvis would lead them to equal civil rights … and out of fear, the institutions tried to stop him in any way, encouraging doubts and jealousies, putting false things in the mouth. Jealousy had increased towards Elvis, not wanted by Elvis himself, because Elvis had benefited from the popularity of the songs that came from the common black tea. His music was nothing more than the fusion of different musical styles and unconsciously obscured many African American artists who might have taken flight.
All this was just a great machination because it was absolutely not like that, because thanks to Elvis, as many black musicians have said, black music and musicians have been cleared through customs, abandoning the segregation for which they were intended. Elvis suffered many attacks, disguised as criticism of obscenity, precisely because he had embraced music considered prohibited. Indeed, Elvis and other artists such as Carl Perkins have often been persecuted for singing so-called "racing" music and have been urged by city officials not to perform these songs, considered "BLACK MUSIC". Elvis' history teaches us that from an early age, raised in a poor community in the south, Elvis spent most of his early years absorbing the music of local poor black communities such as SHAKE RAG in Tupelo and later in the Beale Street area in Memphis. This was not normal behavior, but Elvis did not behave like a normal American boy. Unlike most white teenagers, Elvis would have been happy to attend EAST TRIGG's Black Baptist Church, where he would have listened to local black Gospel music. Elvis was not driven by color but by what he liked and made him feel good. Many black artists, such as the bluesman BB KING, and rapper CHUCK D, have helped change the perception that some black people had of Elvis. Only Elvis wouldn't have made it.
Returning to the SEPIA MAGAZINE, Elvis broke the silence of the media, for an exclusive interview on JET, another magazine aimed at black readers. Knowing SEPIA's dubious reputation, LOUISE ROBINSON, black associate editor of the black property JET MAGAZINE, decided to investigate the authenticity of RACISM's alleged claim against Elvis to report to its readers. The 1957 JET article further confirmed what friends and colleagues had always known about Elvis: "LOVE AND RESPECT FOR BLACK MUSICIANS". Indeed, this rumor should have ceased since, on the set of "JAILHOUSE ROCK", Elvis was challenged directly by the statement by journalist LOUISE ROBINSON of the famous newspaper "JET". Elvis replied honestly, "I NEVER SAID ANYTHING. THOSE WHO KNOW ME. I NEVER SAID THESE THINGS." "MANY OF YOU THINK I STARTED THIS MUSIC," JET told the newspaper, "BUT ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE BEFORE I SING IT." "Robinson then spoke to some" blacks "who knew Elvis and included their comments in his article on "JET." "ELVIS TREATS ALL LIKE A MAN," said DUDLEY BROOKS, a Los Angeles pianist who worked on Elvis Presley's recording sessions." I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS ELVIS OBSERVATION, BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT ELVIS PRESLEY SAYS THESE THINGS. GETTING TO KNOW ELVIS AS I KNOW" … In June 1956, a Memphis newspaper reported that ELVIS TAKES PART IN MEMPHIS FAIR FUN PARK IN A NIGHT DESIGNED "FOR COLOR PEOPLE" breaking the ban on participation as "white". In Memphis, many journalists reported seeing Elvis participate regularly and being seen only in "black" events, thereby disobeying Memphis's racial segregation laws. The people of Tupelo, Dr. Wa Zuber, said to Robinson: "ELVIS I KNEW IT LIKE A CHILD. ELVIS PLAYS THE GUITAR AND WALKS WITH THE QUARTETS AND THE MEETINGS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE NEGRI. ELVIS lived near the Negro community. PEOPLE AROUND HERE SAYS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT BOYS I HAVE EVER KNOWN. ELVIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT SAYS THESE THINGS".
In July 1956, Elvis attended the charity event of the black radio station WDIA, with completely black talent, including RAY CHARLES, BB KING, MOONGLOWS and DJ RUFUS THOMAS...
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