The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

Re: "Dixie"
In Response To: "Dixie" ()

One has to review history in the context of the era... not through the modern lens or political correctness filter. Minstrel Shows were a musical/comedy theatrical stage variety show that were very popular during the 1850-60 era both North and South... Emmitt (a northerner) wrote the song in 1859... for a minstrel show. Many of the songs used in these productions were well known and very popular with the soldiers and civilians... again both north and south... Southern soldiers liked Dixie and a host of other period popular songs adopted similarly. Later there were many different versions of the song... as each put their own spin on it....

Comedic stereotyping certainly was nothing new... and it continued on for many decades after the war as well... It in itself is not just a "southern thing".. nor only entwined in Southern Heritage... Look at the old "Amos & Andy" show... it was just a spinoff of the old minstrel shows, first aired as a radio show in the 1920's in Chicago... Not Richmond, Charleston or Atlanta.... it was Chicago.... later moved to California... became hugely popular across the country both North and South... later adopted for TV and continued well into the 1950's... It all may be out of vogue and social acceptance in the modern hypersensitive hyperoffended PC era... But this and others in its respective time were viewed much differently...

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"Dixie"
Re: "Dixie"
Re: "Dixie"