Memories Of James Brown's 1968 Record "Say It Loud- I'm Black and Proud"

Harley Ambrose, April 19, 2019

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision August 5, 2023

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on James Brown's 1968 mega-hit "Say It Loud: I'm Black And I'm Proud."

This post showcases a YouTube video of James Brown singing and dancing to his record "Say It Loud-I'm Black And I'm Proud."

This post also presents selected comments from various YouTube discussion threads of people sharing their memories of that record.

I'm particularly interested in documenting comments from Black American's memories of James Brown's "Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud" in the late 1960s and the 1970s.

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to James Brown for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these sound files on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-meaning-of-your-bad-self-out-of.html for a pancocojams that presents some explanations about the lyrics to James Brown's  anthem "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud".

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT JAMES BROWN'S "SAY IT LOUD: I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD
These discussion  threads are given in no particular order.

Numbers are added to these discussion threads and to these comments for referencing purposes only.
 
DISCUSSION THREAD #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb_1NNdf_30 [This is the sound file that was originally  embedded in a previous pancocojams post on that subject. That video is no longer available as of August 5, 2023.]

1. Phil Silverman, 2021
"I watched him do this live at the garden . All the whites in the crowd sang along ."
-snip-
"The garden" refers to the James Brown concert at Madison Square Garden, New York. New York on July 4, 1969

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2. David Anderson, 2021
"I was in grade school when this became popular. What a moment. Black instead of colored"

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DISCUSSION THREAD #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hj1iWqoYEc Say it Loud- I'm Black and Proud James Brown, published by Harley Ambrose, April 19, 2019 

2020

1. elci p
"I was born in the fifties. When this song came out I was in elementary school, umm maybe 4th grade. This song was written and performed for my generation. We were ashamed to be called black. That was a fightin' word. The N word was a term of endearment among Blacks. So that was not a problem, except when white folks used it. Then it was an offense. We came in an array of brown shades, and black too. However we did not want to be called black. THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN THIS SONG CAME OUT. THIS SONG CHANGED OUR ENTIRE CULTURE. WE ALL AT ONCE BECAME BLACK AND PROUD. WHAT A JOY IT IS TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF!!!! WE WALKED HOME FROM SCHOOL. IT ONLY TOOK ONE PERSON TO START THE SONG OFF. EVERYONE WOULD JOIN IN WITH THE CHORUS "I'M BLACK AND I AM PROUD" say it loud "I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD." HISTORIC SONG INDEED. I AM HERE BECAUSE OF CHADWICK BOSEMAN,,R.I.P."
-snip-
As noted in this comment, I believe that references to children singing "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Brown" in this pancocojams compilation and elsewhere refer to the chorus and not the verses of that song.

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Reply
2. name, "I was around your age and I remember going home from a rival High School Football Game.  And back then we walked home very few had cars.  It only took a tape player and James belting out this song.  Everyone sang in UNISON....”I am Black and Proud”. "

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Reply
3. Atif Hameen
"The song was like medicine for a people infected with the virus of racism!"

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4. Rick Jones
"I remember buying this record and playing it on my front porch...My first thought was "White Folks gonna kill James"...The song was straight up fire...So you already know it did not get much air time on radio but the brotha's loved it and James Brown became known as "Soul Brotha Number One".That's fact..I was there."

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Reply
5. Glen H
"You are very right about the air time. Even The availability in Europe was poor. Only 3 years ago I was able to get it ordered through Japan. Man I like the song."

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6. Sheila Davis
"Rick where I was living at the time when Say It Loud I'm Black & I'm Proud got a lot air time 👏 August 23,2020"

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7. Agnes Stallworth
" @Sheila Davis  Born and raised in Mississippi, it didn't. We could get a station out of Memphis, TN on a good day. I heard it then."

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8. POND ERSOA
"i remember  our lady of victory  west philly ...sunday  morning mass  "james brown is the most dangerous man in america !!!!  who does he think he is ..telling colored  people ..there black and proud !!!!!!"

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2021

9. Gary Pautard
"I would like to remind certain modern day young people that us baby boomers spent many nights  on dance floors getting down to this . And Stax and Tamala Motown and of course reggae. ALL BLACK MUSIC."

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10. Dallas Cash
"In 1968 I was a freshman in college at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio from Cincinnati, Ohio. That year my roommate Gary B., some friends, and I drove up to Columbus. Ohio to see James Brown and the band perform. We got to the stage and saw that only about 25% of the crowd was black. At that point we started taking bets among ourselves, now feeling disappointed, that James Brown was probably not going to sing " Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud " to a mostly white crowd. None of us thought that the "Godfather of Soul" would come thru for us. We didn't have to wait long. The band started up, James Brown stepped out on the stage and the FIRST words out of his mouth were, Umph, with your bad self, "Say it loud I'm Black and I'm Proud." This song for most was the energy and bottom line of the 60's Civil Rights  Movement. RIP Godfather."

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11. Ed Vanderslice
"We didn't have any  one growing up so I stole James Browns greatest hit from a record store. They seen me and chased me all over the place. I gave somebody at the door a classic head fake.., his legs buckled up and I was ghost.. I listened to that album a million times...."

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2022

12. Tiberius 1701
"I used to play this song loud in my bedroom on my record player when i was 9 years old in 1968, happy memories. 🗣 ✊"

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13. @DudesaLibra
"Just a classic song..and so funky everybody was singing it"

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14.  @Tiberius291
"I used to play this song loud in my bedroom on my record player when i was 9 years old in 1968, happy memories. 🗣 ✊"

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15. @angasanders172
"This song lifted an entire nation of Black people in 1968. Prior to that, calling someone Black might get you swung on. This was the most transformative song I have ever heard. And God knows, we need it now as much as then. Thank you, Mr. Brown, for recreating Black America."

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@bluejazz517
"The first JB record I ever bought.  I still have the 45rpm and the album of the same name."
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DISCUSSION THREAD #3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0A_N-wmiMo Say It Loud, I'm Black & I'm Proud-James Brown, published by GStrongRAW, Sep 2, 2009

Anthem of a  People...Say It LOUD...WHOever U R,Stand Proud!!

2012

1. Isetayo Criss
"I was running through the projects in New Orleans when the music truck came in the hood playing this.  So many kids and adults ran to the truck that he could not move we bought the 45 but kept him there until he played it twice while we danced.  Innocent days of hope and pride."

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2013

2. Phil Silverman
"I saw JB July 4th, 1969 at Madison Square Garden, along with 25,000 others. I watched the white fans sing these lyrics along with the Black fans."

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2014

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2015

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2016

3. William Parker
"The horn lines are funky!! I had the honor of seeing, feeling, and hearing him do this song live hot off the press in New Haven Ct. August 1968 at the Arena! When the crowd responded with the Black And Proud reply , it was so loud you couldn't hear the band!! I was so touched by this as a 12 year old manchild  that I cried from happiness that we finally stood with power!! SAY IT LOUD I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!!! THANK-YOU GOD FOR SENDING THE LITTLE BOY FROM AGUSTA GA. THAT STOOD ON THE FRONT LINE, PROUD!!!"

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4. Bert Davis
"in a time when blacks were tear gassed, fire hose sprayed, spat on, and had hot coffee thrown in their faces  for simply wanted to be served in restaurants and treated like the equivalent human being God made them to whites, this song was a ray of sunshine and was a tremendous source of much needed pride for african amercans back in the 60's. I was a small child then but  remember my local theater still  having a particular section for blacks to sit in even after the law had been passed for legal" equality.

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2017

5. Lee Harris
"I was about 12 when it came out,and the one thing i remember liking besides that boost of black pride and ego,was that the older blacks and the young blacks like me had our music in common,something very rare,having old and young people digging the same song,and so it lifted us up a little bit higher! it needed to be said, and sounded well to be the ring of truth, i was and am proud of what God made me to be, and always will love my people regardless of their faults, they have many more strengths to admire, and one of them is this song and Mr. James Brown a real man a leader and a visionary of soul power."

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6. Benefits Consulting Services Of New York 
"This song was a Giant shot in the arm for our people at that particular time. Martin Luther King was killed a few months earlier. And we were angry and hurt. I remember this all too well. We needed this! This was when there was a message in the music. Something I don't hear now."

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2018

7. Adrienne Robinson
"YES I AM BLACK AND I AM PROUD THIS WAS A HUGE HIT IN 1968 AND I WAS A CHILD THEN AND WE LOVED THIS SONG"

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2019

8. Winnie Ford
"I was 6 years old when this song came out they were teaching young kids then about their heritage and being black and proud of who we were there the revolution was real real some of my friends and I went around the school yard singing this song we were so proud when that song came out say it loud say it proud"

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9. Rita Stokley
"My fondest memory of this song was around the age of 7 walking down the street with my dad and brother around our neighborhood, my dad was playing it on his walkman and had me and my brother shouting it out loud. Makes me smile everytime I think about that night. I grew up a black girl proud of her blackness from the start."

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2020

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2021
10. Taren M
"I remember hearing this back in the late 60’s at a Birthday Party. We were kids and danced like there was no tomorrow off of this song. Those were the days"

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11. M. Pam
"I'll never forget seeing James Brown in concert in 1968 Omaha, Nebraska-- a treat from my mom for my 13th birthday. I was a giddy young girl and totally in love with James Brown. I'll never forget that concert for the rest of my life. I even bought a "say it loud..." button before leaving the auditorium that evening. I wore it proudly on the cardigan of my catholic school uniform the following Monday. The school nuns (all white) didn't like it a bit. Of course, my mom was informed that I couldn't wear it to school anymore. It was just my 13 year old way of speaking truth to power; it was my little protest against having to endure the humiliation of being bused into an all white, west Omaha neighborhood to attend an all white catholic school every day. It was James Brown that fortified my sense of racial and self pride!!"

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2022

12. @tigertolliver5199
"I met James Brown at Henry's grill on Auburn Avenue Atlanta Georgia he asked me what did I want for breakfast I said grits and eggs, and James said give him some grits,😎😄"

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2023

13. @marshacrutchfield2432
"This song came out several months after the assination of Martin Luther King. Politicians civil rights leaders and entertainers encourage James Brown to come up with music to help soothe the political climate, which was in turmoil riots looting etc. Black America was angry. This song say it loud I'm Black and I'm proud, actually brought some of the anger and madness under control. Which it was designed to do. Thank you James Brown. You the man"

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14. @marilynjackson5983
"When we were in school, we had to do devotion before class stared. It gave us a sense of pride and power. However, those songs we sand was about America the beautiful. During that time, I was only 7 years old and definitely not aware how bad America hated Black people. Just imagine, if we could go back to the devotional days but replace the America the beautiful song with James Brown's Say it loud, I am Black and proud will give young Black girls and boys a sense of pride in their race! Something as this could stop the hatred within our Black children."

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15. @roycobb8268
"I was seven and a half years old when I first heard this song! I think it was released at the time, or around that time! And unfortunately, it came out around the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination! It may have been good that it came out at that time! Cause Dr King fought for the rights of black people! And became a very good role model for not just black people! But all people! He showed us to be proud of being black! And to stand up for yourself and your rights! He also to some understanding! Fought for the rights of people of all races, regardless of race! To let the United States government know when they were doing something wrong! Or not doing something, about something when they should have! Instead of just sitting back doing nothing! Well back to the song! I think it was the first time I started listening to the radio! I don't think we had a radio before that! If we did, I don't remember my mother playing it! Three older brothers, who all had the same mother as I! But a different father, and they had the same father! Had moved back to Wisconsin from Tennessee! After living with their father for 5 years! They were teenagers, I again was just 7 years old! I think they started playing the radio after they moved back! Whatever the case, I'm glad I heard this song! I may didn't have the full understanding of it back then! But I think I understood something about being proud of being black! After learning and getting all the words to the song! I must of been over 50 then! And I sure was glad that James Brown recorded this song with these words! I thank God for the words! If I can, I would like to thank the late James Brown! RIP James Brown, Godfather of Soul, and Soul Brother#1! That's what the nickname that he was first given to my understanding, Soul Brother#1!"

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DISCUSSION THREAD #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bJA6W9CqvE "Say It Loud It Loud ~ I'm Black & I'm Proud"

published by BlackConsumers, Mar 20, 2011

James Brown wrote and recorded  this funk song in 1968. "Say It Loud ~ I'm Black & I'm Proud"  is one of Mr. Brown's signature songs, and one of the most popular Black Power anthems of the 1960s.

2016

1. doc2skate
"Remember many of us kids singing this at every opportunity in elementary school.  It gave us dignity and a feeling of empowerment.  And a lot of kids were encouraged to embrace their heritage."

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2017

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2018

2. bluewildcat1968 simmons 
"My Mom wrote this on my tee -shirt back I 1968. (Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud..."

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3. Michael McGowan
"I was twelve years old when this came out. I recall us going from colored to negro, to black, to afro American, back to black, back to African american. We are now between Black and or African American!"

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4. Aretha Morgan
"l remember when this song was banned in the south. When it first came out. Thank goodness for change."

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5. Denise Mitchell, 2018
"gday luv

needed this so much growing up in Lily white

long island

thank goodness for the

Godfather and Queen

stood in the rain 3 hrs for the live album Mum made me

saw him 3 times..best show up

this generation

lacks PRIDE

I am Black and PROUD"

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2019

6. Michael Means
"That was me in the 5th grade with my darshike first ball saying it very loud, power to the people i,m very proud.!!!!
-snip-
"Darshike first ball" may refer to the first dance event (of the school year) when people dressed in African like clothing (including "dashikis"). 

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7. Cathy Johnson
"I remember as a child screaming this song up and down the street!!! James Brown is and was simply the best.  Social justice and sang for the cause rip Mr. Brown!!! 😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇"

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8. Sandra Dee Lawson
"I was one of those kids myself but they won't allow for me to say it for some reasons I do not know
back then. But I'm grown now. Lol!"

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9. Queen Ayana
"This song ran a long time. All the kids sang black and proud in school and every where. What a great feeling it was to say it."

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10. Queen Ayana
"We drove the whole school crazy with this song. Still love it to this day."

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2020

11. C. Callie Coleman
"James Brown was a God-sent, that's why he's called the godfather of soul. When this song came out, when I was a teenager during turbulent times, it's like it sent electricity through me, as my black pride came alive. I've always loved my black race, and loved it even more after this song. EVERYONE WAS BEAUTIFUL. We wore big afros, darskie shirts and dresses. It was a really groovy period. ✌"

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12. Laben Brittenum
"i seen JAMES BROWN live when i was maybe 6 or 7 and the only part of the show i can remember is hearing this song"

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2021

13. Stacy McGuire
"Born in 1960, this song made me more proud than anything America was dishing out at the time, and still now. Mr. Brown, you will always have my deepest respect.."

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14. firetopman
"I was 11 years old with my 79 cents in hand and this was my first song purchase."

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15. Aristo Three
"I WAS 16 WHEN THIS SONG CAME LIVING IN LOS ANGLES GOING TO FREMONT H.S. AND GOING TO THE RECORD HOP ME MY CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART DOING THE BUMP ARISTO THREE FROM PITTSBURGH LIVE LOS ANGELES BUT WAS RISE IN WATTS. REMBER SAY IT LOUD IM BLACK AND IM PROUD YOU FILL ME"
-snip-
"You Fill Me" may be a typo for the African American Vernacular English saying "You feel me" which means "Do you agree with what I'm saying?"

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16. LaShondra Miller
"I remember when i was a little girl my mother use to sing that song at the top of her lungs...then she would say sing it girl!!!....i would get so embarassed.. Not of being black but because we would be in the grocery store..🙄"

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2022

17. William Parker
"I was 12 years old when this came out in 1968 and I cried like a baby because somebody finally said it! JAMES BROWN!  I BEEN BLACK AND PROUD EVER SINCE!"

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18. jan copeland
"Prior to this song, African Americans were referred to as Negroes.After song, overnight we became Black"

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19. Johnny McNeal
"I remember this song too I was 10 years old when this song came out it gave us the power to be proud of our our race and not ashamed of it"

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2023

20. Frederic Boxx
"As a dark skin child this song gave me positive affirmation of self .. Thx James this song sparked pride in myself, it lift'd me up! The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. If you don't know you better ask somebody "

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21. tiray killings
"I was 6,and my mom had a record player andi played it all day."

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DISCUSSION THREAD #5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrB4uQyU0DU "James Brown "Say It Loud Im Black And Im Proud" 1968", published by Musique à ausone, Dec 21, 2014

2019

1. @SailFreex
"I once, in the 1960s, went into a black bar in Louisiana, and a guy put a nickel in the juke box and played this song, and I sang along, putting my fist in the air.  I was passing for black.  I didn't believe in segregation."

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DISCUSSION THREAD #6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBVVztMA4CQ "James Brown - Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud / If I Ruled The World (1968)", ukvibe.org, Feb. 22, 2013


2013

1. @ensconse
"not funny to me....just beautiful.....I watched JB do this song in front of 25,000 people at Madison Square Garden, and Blacks and Whites sang along."
-snip-
This comment was written in response to some people writing that it was funny to see White people singing "Say It Loud. I'm Black and I'm Proud".

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2014

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2015

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2016

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2017

2. @cooper482011
"To these hippie-era whites it’s just a song but to us Black Americans (from 1960s to the present day) it’s a self-loving statement. Thank you James Brown (Ancestor)❤️🖤💚"

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Reply
3. @tremekawilson9238, 2019
"Oh yes"

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2019

4. @bigpeaches1744
"I remember when this song came out. They didn't want this song to exist. A lot of dance shows were afraid to James Brown to sing on their shows. They were afraid what the white people was going to react to the lyrics. But as we can see, the white people love it too. James Brown and others broke down the barriers so that we can perform our music everywhere. Rest easy Mr. Brown and have the all angels sing, I'm Black and I'm Proud. ❤💖🎼🎶🎷🎸🎹🎺🎻🥁"

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5. @valendanewell5901
"The original FUNK TEACHER..JAMES let the world know the most important movement in this country...SAY IT LOUD I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD...and then going on tour spreading the word (1968)...I remember as I was up in the bleachers  singing along with him..SOUL BROTHER NO.1 (RIP)"

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6. @theironhorse8227
"I Have So Much Love for James Brown. I'm so Glad I grew up hearing him through my household speakers."

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7. @manjushahshah6401
"It reminds us the time of 1960 while the civil right movement was its peak. The afro american were suffering from identity crises , sir Martin Luther king emerge as a leader who fought for their rights, though it was not only the question of their rights but also their self esteem. This movement started from the phrase " black is beautiful." "

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Sesame Street: Song -- I Really Love My Hair (2010) And I Love My Hair Remix feat. H.E.R. (2020)

Sesame Street - Oct. 12, 2010

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VIDEO #2

Sesame Street, July 16, 2020

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a 2010 animated video of Sesame Street puppets singing "I Love My Hair". The lyrics for that song are also included in this post.

This post also showcases a 2020 video of African American singer H. E. R. performing a remix of "I Love My Hair" on the Not-Too-Late-Show with Elmo.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Joey Mazzarino, the composer of this song and thanks to all those who are associated with these videos.

-snip-

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/gracies-corner-i-love-my-hair-animated.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Gracie's Corner - "I Love My Hair" (an animated video of Black children singing about their hair; with lyrics)."

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/sesame-streets-love-my-hair-willow.html for a closely related 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Sesame Street's Love My Hair & Willow Smith's Whip My Hair Videos".

Update: May 7, 2021
One trend in Black girls hairstyles that has occurred since Sesame Street's 2010 "I Really Love My Hair" song is braided hair extensions that include neon colored weaves.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/trends-in-black-girls-hairstyles-sho.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Trends In Black Girls' Hairstyles: Sho Madjozi Hairstyles (South African Singer/Rapper Sho Madjozi's Influence On Black Girls' Hairstyles)".

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LYRICS: I REALLY LOVE MY HAIR

(Joey Mazzarino)

Don’t need a trip to the beauty shop,
’cause I love what I got on top.
It’s curly and it’s brown and it’s right up there!
You know what I love? That’s right, my hair!
I really love my hair.
I love my hair. I love my hair.
There’s nothing else that can compare with my hair.
I love my hair, so I must declare:
I really, really, really love my hair.
Wear a clippy or in a bow
Or let it sit in an afro
My hair looks good in a cornrow
It does so many things you know, that’s why I let it grow
I love my hair, I love my hair
I love it and I have to share
I love my hair, I love my hair!
I want to make the world aware I love my hair.
I wear it up. I wear down. I wear it twisted all around.
I wear braids and pigtails too.
I love all the things my hair can do.
In barrettes or flying free, ever perfect tresses you’ll see
My hair is part of me, an awesome part of me
I really love my hair!


[The online source I used for these lyrics in 2012 is no longer available.]  
-snip-
I've read that a number of people think that the vocalist for this song is Willow Smith. However, the actual vocalist is Chantylla "Chauncey" Johnson, a young African American actress who has worked with The Lion King production. https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Chantylla_Johnson

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Gracie's Corner - "I Love My Hair" (an animated video of Black children singing about their hair; with lyrics)

Gracie's Corner, August 28, 2020

Join Gracie as she visits friends and family in Middle Georgia to sing "I Love My Hair". No matter what anyone says, always be proud of your natural hair and beauty.

**** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases a 2020 animated video of African American children singing "I Love My Hair". This post also includes the lyrics to that song. The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of this song and all those who are associated with this video. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/sesame-street-song-i-really-love-my.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Sesame Street: Song -- I Really Love My Hair (2010) And I Love My Hair Remix feat. H.E.R. (2020)"

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/sesame-streets-love-my-hair-willow.html for a closely related 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Sesame Street's Love My Hair & Willow Smith's Whip My Hair Videos".

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LYRICS: I LOVE MY HAIR

(as sung by Gracie's Corner characters)

[Gracie speaking] There's so many features that make each of us special and unique. One of my favorite things is my hair. [Song begins] Ooh ooh ooh. Hey, hey, hey, yeah!

Look in the mirror and who do I see (Ee ah oh) The words in parenthesis are sung by one or more other children. Someone who's beautiful staring at me. (Ee ah oh} With smile so bright and sun kissed skin (Ee ah oh) The soul I have it starts from within. (Hey!Hey!) Living my life so freeee, (Hey hey!) Natural hair loves meee. (Hey hey!)

It doesn't matter if it's up or down (Hey hey!)

Proud of my hair cause it is my crown (Hey hey!)

My hair I love, I love, I love my hair! I love my hair (Hey!) Come along and sing with me Kinky, curly, cute (Hey!) I love my hair down to my roots (Hey!) Sweet like lemondade/ (Hey!) I love my hair in braids (Hey!) Oh yes down to my socks (Hey!) I love my hairs in locks (Hey!) Can't ever get enough (Hey!)

I love my afro puffs (Hey!)

(Hey!) Come along and sing with me I love, I love, I love my hair! I love my hair

My hair I love, I love, I love my hair! I love my hair (Hey!) Come along and sing with me Kinky, curly, cute (Hey!) I love my hair down to my roots (Hey!) Sweet like lemondade/ (Hey!) I love my hair in braids (Hey!) Oh yes down to my socks (Hey!) I love my hairs in locks (Hey!) Can't ever get enough (Hey!)

I love my afro puffs (Hey!)

(Hey!) Come along and sing with me I love, I love, I love my hair! I love my hair

-snip- This is my unofficial transcription of this song. Additions and corrections are very welcome.

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitors comments are welcome.

Racial Referents For Black People That Are Found In Contemporary English Language Children's Recreational Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision- July 13, 2025

This pancocojams post presents a compilation of children's recreational rhymes* that includes the words "Colored" (or folk processed forms of the word "Colored"), "Black", or "Brown" as referents for Black people.

Some of these examples also include racial and/or ethnic referents for White people or for other people who aren't Black.
 
In addition, this post includes my Editorial notes about the use of racial referents in recreational rhymes. Read my comments about the words "the spades go" in this post's comment section below.  

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, socio-cultural and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 
-snip-
By "contemporary" I mean examples that were chanted in the 1950s on.
 
Recreational rhymes are also known as "playground rhymes" and as "street rhymes" to differentiate them from children's "nursery rhymes" ("Mother Goose rhymes"). 

The racial referent "Black" may also refer to people of some Black African descent other than Black Americans.

The racial referent "Colored" had/has a different meaning in the United States than it does in the nation of South Africa.

****
Click these following links for closely related pancocojams posts:

Racialized Versions Of "I Like Coffee I Like Tea"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html

Selected Examples Of Referents For Black People In Children's Rhymes:
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/selected-examples-of-referents-for.html 

**
Examples Of & Comments About The Children's Rhyme "I Like Coffee, I Like Tea, I Like Sitting On A Black Man's Knee"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/examples-of-comments-about-childrens.html

**
Racialized Versions Of "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" Rhymes That Include The Words "I Like A White Boy & He Likes Me / So Step Back Black Boy..."
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html

**
The REAL Meanings Of "The Spades Go" & "The Space Go" In Playground Rhymes
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-meaning-of-spades-go-space-go.html

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES
This post doesn't purport to include every examples of recreational rhymes that includes one of these racial referents. This post also doesn't include an example from specific "families" ('titles") of  children's rhymes that include one of these racial referents.

This post doesn't include any examples of rhymes that include what is now commonly known as "the n word".  

This compilation also doesn't include children's singing games such as "Brown Girl In The Ring". Furthermore, this compilation doesn't include examples of recreational rhymes in which "black" is used as an adjective (for example: "black power" or "black hands".)  

Brief editorial comments may be included after some examples. However, for more expanded comments, please visit the pancocojams posts whose links are given above. 

Most of the rhymes that include the referents that are the focus of this post also include the racial referent "White".

These examples are given in alphabetical order based on the rhyme's title. (Note that the examples that include "I like coffee I like tea"verses are given under the name of the rhyme that they are combined with.  

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only. The racial referent that is the focus of this post is given in italics when it is first used in that particular example..

Although my preference is to capitalize the racial referents "Black" and "White", I've used the lower case "b" for "black man" as that is how that referent is found in the examples I am quoting.

****
EXAMPLES OF SOME CHILDREN'S RECREATIONAL RHYMES THAT INCLUDE CERTAIN RACIAL REFERENTS FOR BLACK PEOPLE

[I added italics for the first use of the racial term in each example.)

I. AH BEEP BEEP
 Ah Beep Beep
Walkin down the street
Ugawa. Ugawa
That means Black power.
White boy.
Destroy.
I said it. I meant it
And I'm here to represent it.
Soul sister number 9
Sock it to me one more time.
Uh hun! Uh Hun!
-Tracy S.,(African American female); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; childhood remembrance, 1968 ; collected by Azizi Powell, 2000 {in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania} 
-snip-
"Soul sister" is a referent for a Black female. "Soul brother" is the comparable referent for Black males. "Number 9" is a referent for something that is superlative.

****
II, DO YOU LIKE COFFEE DO YOU LIKE TEA 
1. "Can you say tea-pot backwards?’ (The person says “pot tea” and you say you know he is)

“Do you feel like a cup of tea??” ‘Yes’. ‘You look like one”.

'Are you soft?’ ‘No’. ‘Are you daft? ‘ ‘No’. Are you far off of it?’ ‘No.’ (You say, ‘I thought not”.)

This last is almost one of those triple-question tricks in which the person is led to expect that the answer given to the first two questions will also do for the third:

Do you like apples?
Do you like pears?
Do you like tumbling
down the stairs?

Or,
Do you like white
Do you like pink?
Do you like falling
down the sink?

Possibly the rhyming aids the delusion, for these formulas are highly popular, particularly with very young children who have just started school. Our daughter, for example, was five years old when she came home with:
Do you like coffee ?
Do you like tea ?
Do you like sitting on a blackman's knee ?"...
-Iona Archibald Opie, ‎Peter Opie, The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, [first published in 1959, page 65]. This portion is given in the section entitled “Guile”.
-snip-
Few analysis of children's recreational rhymes that I've read consider that this rhyme and some other children's recreational rhymes might have different meanings for Black children than they do for White children. Although we [Black people] teach our children that they shouldn't sit on any strange man's lap-unless he's the Santa Claus at a cultural event during the Christmas season- for the most part, sitting on the knee of a Black man who is known to a Black child doesn’t have the same risque, sexualized, and scary connotations that it had in the past and probably still have in the 2000s for White children and other non-Black children.

**
2. "Another playground one round my way was

"Do you like coffee?
Do you like tea?
Do you like sitting on a black man's knee?"

There was one black kid in my class when I was eight (1974) and our teacher would regularly mock-glower at him and say "Don't you give me those black looks, boy" in a weird Windsor Davies-type voice, to the poor kid's obvious embarrassment. It was very funny for the rest of us at the time, though."
-Sexton Brackets, Reply #125 on: June 13, 2013, https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=36600.120 Topic: When did you first encounter racism?

****
III.DOWN DOWN BABY ("I like coffee, I like tea" verse)

1. Down, down baby
Down, down the roller coaster
Sweet, sweet baby
I'll never let you go
Chimey chimey cocoa pop
Chimey, chimey pow
Chimey, chimey cocoa pop
Chimey, chimey pop
I like coffee, I like tea
I like a colored boy and he likes me
So lets here the rhythm of the hands, (clap, clap) 2x
Let hear the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp) 2x
Let's hear the rhythm of the head (ding dong) 2x
Let's hear the rhythm of the hot dog
Let's hear the rhythm of the hot dog
Put em all together and what do you get
(Clap clap, stomp stomp), ding dong, hot Dog!
-Yasmin Hernadez; 2004; memories of New York City (Latinx/ African American neighborhood in the 1980s; cocojams.com [cocojams was the name of my cultural website that was active from 2001 to 2014).
-snip-
"Colored" is a referent for Black Americans which was no longer considered acceptable by at least 1970. In the United States the referent "Colored" is considered old fashioned and offensive.
 
"The early 1970s or mid 1970s" are the earliest dates that I've come across for these types of racialized "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" rhymes. That date come from an anonymous Guest who posted on Oct. 9. 2010 to a 2007 Mudcat discussion thread that I started entitled Down Down Baby-Race in Children's Rhymes: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653

That commenter wrote "Thank you so much for posting this!!! I went to an all black elementary school in Norfolk, VA in the early to mid 70's and we used the variation you described (shown below).

[quoting me] "The confrontational action in these verses follows a consistent pattern. First, these rhymes are almost always given from a female perspective {which makes sense since the person or persons reciting these rhymes are usually girls}. Secondly, in the rhyme, a Black {or "Colored"} girl rejects the advances of a White boy. Thirdly, the girl tells the White boy that she "likes a Black boy and he likes me". And fourthly {if there is such a word}, the girl threatens to get a Black {or "Colored"} boy to "beat his {the White boy's} behind"...
-snip-
This Guest also quotes me as saying that I hadn't come across any examples of this rhyme in which White people begin the confrontation (i.e "I like a White boy and he likes me, so step back Black boy etc.). However, since I wrote that comment in 2010 I have come across some examples like that (as given in #2 and #5 immediately below and as featured in this pancocojams post: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/racialized-versions-of-i-like-coffee-i.html

That said, the "I like a black boy and he likes me" examples that I've come across appear to be much more widely chanted than any other "I like a [racial referent] boy and he likes me" version of these rhymes.

**
2. "I always heard it as...

Down, down baby down down the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet baby, mama never let you go,
shimmy shimmy cocoa puff
shimmy shimmy pow
shimmy shimmy cocoa puff
shimmy shimmy wow
i like coffee, i like tea,
i like a white boy and he likes me
so stand back black boy you don't shine,
i got a white boy to kick your behind,
kick it rough, kick it tough, kick it till you get enough

I am VERY saddened that we said this in elementary school."
-GUEST,guest, 12 Dec 10, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653&threadid=100653, Down Down Baby-Race in Children's Rhymes, 

**
3. " down down baby down by the roller coaster sweet sweet baby mama never let you go if you wanna kiss me just say you love me shimmy shummy coa coa puff shimmy shimmy rah, shimmy shimmy coa coa puff shimmy shimmy rah. I like coffee I like tea. I like a black boy and he likes me so step back black boy you ain't shy I bet you 5 dollars I could beat your behind. Last night and the night before I met my boyfriend at the candy store. He bought me ice cream he bought me cake. He brought me home with a belly ache. I said momma momma I'm so sick. Call the doctor quick quick quick I said doctor doctor shall I die. He said close your eyes and count to 5 I said a12345 I'm alive on a channel 5 I said a678910 I'm dead on a channel 10 with a scooby dooby doo on channel 2. Frankenstein on channel 9. "

that's how me and my friends do it. I'm 14 so...I guess it's sort of there..."
-By Alana on Saturday, July 3, 2004 http://www.streetplay.com/discus/cgi-discus/show.cgi?75/77.html [This web page is no longer available.]

**
4. "Down down baby
down down the roller coaster
sweet sweet baby
sweet sweet i love you so
Jimmy Jimmy coco puffs
Jimmy Jimmy pow
Jimmy Jimmy coco puffs
Jimmy Jimmy pow
take a peach
take a plum
take a stick of bubblegum
no peach
no plum
just a stick of bubblegum
I like coffee and i like tea
I like a colored boy and he likes me
So step back whiteboy you don't shine
I'll get my colored boy to beat ya behind
He beat ya high
he beat ya low
he beat you all the way to Mexico"
-Aiakya at April 4, 2006; http://blog.oftheoctopuses.com/000518.php [This website is no longer available.]

**
5. "Down down baby down by the roller coaster
sweet sweet baby mama never let you go
if you wanna kiss me just say you love me

Shimmy shimmy coco pop shimmy shimmy pow
shimmy shimmy coco pop shimmy shimmy pow

I like a black boy and he likes me
so step back white boy I ain't shy
I bet you 5 dollars i'll beat yo behind

Last night and the night before
I met my boyfriend at the candy store
he brought me ice cream he brought me cake
he brought me home with a belly ache

I said momma momma i'm so sick
call the doctor quick quick quick!
I said doctor doctor shall i die
he said close your eyes and count to 5

I said ah 1 ah 2 ah 3 ah 4 ah 5...
i'm alive on channel 5
scooby dooby doo on channel 2
big fat lady on channel 80
and all the rest on channel 8"
-GUEST,Meme, 3 July 2014, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653&threadid=100653, Down Down Baby-Race in Children's Rhymes

**
6. "Went to a pretty racially mixed elementary school in Georgia in the early 90's. We white girls *definitely* knew Down Down Baby as a story of white aggression:

"I like ice cream
I like tea
I like a white boy and he likes me
So stand back, black boy
You don't shine
I got a white boy to beat ya behind!"

I don't remember ever seeing black girls doing that rhyme, so I don't know if they did it differently. But as a child it made sense to me that the rhyme would assert white dominance. It was just another example of the casual racism we were immersed in in rural Georgia. Even at that age my white friends and I understood that a white boy beating up a black boy for flirting with his girl was the expected norm, not the other way around."
-GUEST,mindy, 28 Feb 15, https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=100653&threadid=100653, Down Down Baby-Race in Children's Rhymes

**
7. "I went to elementary school starting in 1980, in Bloomfield, Connecticut (adjacent to Hartford). The girls (including my sister) did clapping games on the bus everyday it seemed, and when they hung out in the street, etc. Demographic note: my family is White; Blacks (including many Jamaicans) are a majority in the town, and were most of our playmates.

The version to this one went:
"I like coffee, I like tea
I like a Black/White boy an' he likes me
So step back White/Black boy, you don't shine
I'll get a Black/White boy to beat your behind."

The girls would switch the race of the boy, depending on who was singing. Sometimes there'd be confusion if a White and a Black girl were playing together, and they'd sort of get jumbled up on that word and try to push their version. Sometimes they would agree on a skin tone based on a previous conversion about who the girl whose "turn" it was actually "likes." The reason why I remember distinctly that they did it both ways was that as a little kid I tried to imagine what "you don't shine" meant. I'd try to reason what skin tone "shined" more! Needless to say, I never figured it out!"
-Guest Gibs, 05 Mar 09,  http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=115045&messages=154&page=2 ,RE: Not Last Night But The Night Before-rhyme 
-snip-
Here's a portion of my March 5, 2009 response to Guest Gib (posted to that "Not Last Night But The Night Before-rhyme" thread)

..."Here's my take on that "you don't shine" phrase:

In this context, "shine" means to be as radiant as the sun or stars. Saying "you don't shine" to a boy means that you don't think that he is anything special (in looks, and/or in actions, or in his very being) as he or she thinks he is. Perhaps that use of "shine" comes from the outer (or inner glow) that people are said to have because of their auras or their spirit. Theoretically, the aura* of a good or great person shines brighter than that of a person who is evil or ordinary. And a charismatic person would be described as shining brightly."...

**
8. "I learned Version of Down Down Baby in virginia in the 90's

Down down baby, down by the rollercoaster
Sweet sweet baby, mama never let you go
Shimmy shimmy coca pop, shimmy shimmy pow!

I like coffee, I like tea,
I like a color boy and he likes me
So step back white boy, you don't shine
I'll get the color boy to beat yo' behind

Let get the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)
We've got the rhythm of the hands (clap, clap)

Let's get the rhythm of the feet (stomp,stomp)
We've got the rhythm of the feet (stomp, stomp

Lets get the rhythm of the head DING-DONG

(move head side to side)

We've got the rhythm of the head DING-DONG (move head side to side)

Let's get the rhythm of the HOT-DOG

(move body around)

We've got the of the HOT-DOG

(move body around)

Put all together and and what do you get....
clap, clap, stomp, stomp, ding-dong, hot-dog

Say them all backwards and what do you get....

hot-dog, ding-dong, stomp, stomp, clap, clap!
-GUEST,Down Down baby, 30May 07,  https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63097 , Folklore: Do kids still do clapping rhymes?
-snip-
"Color" is a folk processed form of the racial referent "Colored"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/playground-rhymes-that-include-names-of_30.html for an example of "I Like Coffee I Like Tea" in which the person chanting says that she likes the Jackson 5 so step back white boy you don't shine/I'ma get the Jackson 5 to beat your behind". The Jackson 5 was a highly popular African American R&B group that included Michael Jackson.

****
IV. I LIKE COFFEE I LIKE TEA (jump rope rhyme)

 1. " 'Quote:
Originally Posted by sasbear 

This may be classed as un PC now but.this is what we sang ...

I like coffee
I like tea
I like sitting on a black man's knee

we sang it as a skipping song'
-end of quote-
as above then I want so and so in with me."
-snip-
“I want so and so in with me” meansI want [person’s name] to join me jumping rope."
-asher (female), May 9th 2007, http://britishexpats.com/forum/barbie-92/playground-songs-448434/page3/
-snip-
This rhyme is also given in the Opie's 1959 book that is referenced above.

**
2. I like coffee

I like coffee I like tea I like sitting on a black mans knee With a one and a two and a three (on three lift your skirt, turn tround quickly, bend over and show your bum)
-http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=381 [I can no longer access this website.]
 

**
3..."Did you play this one? You'd need a big group, and a big rope with two enders, or one ender (nobody wanted to be an ender) and then you'd tie the other end to a drainpipe. Anyway on 'Bluebells, cockle shells' the rope would be swayed, not turned all the way over until the word 'over' in the rhyme. At this the next girl, it was always a girl (and there was only Barry Morgan in our school who could skip I may be wrong here) would run into the rope. She'd sing;

I like coffee I like tea
I like Sheila in with me

And then Sheila would jump in and you'd both skip together and spell out her name as you jumped. But sometimes, and this would be around 1970 in London, I can remember singing;

I like coffee I like tea,
I like sitting on a black man's knee

Which seems completely shocking today - although we didn't think about it then - and did I think I was skipping about my Dad? Not at all, this was the same mythical black man who famously got caught by his toe, best mates, no doubt with the man from China who was forever doing up his flies. Skipping rhymes were always odd and sometimes rude and sometimes completely scatological. Can I just say I am glad those days are gone? I never felt these rhymes were a sign of any kind of innocence."...
-Catherine Johnson, http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2015/05/bluebells-cockleshells-catherine-johnson.html , 14 May 2015
-snip-
The portion of this page that caught my attention was when Catherine Johnson wrote
sometimes, his would be around 1970 in London, I can remember singing;

I like coffee I like tea,
I like sitting on a black man's knee

Did I think I was skipping about my dad? Not at all" ...:
-snip-
Here's information from Catherine Johnson's Wikipedia page that explains those sentences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Johnson_(novelist)
"Catherine Johnson FRSL (born 1962) is a British author and screenwriter. She has written several young adult novels and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2004 drama film Bullet Boy (directed by and co-written with Saul Dibb).[1]

Background and career

Catherine Johnson was born in London, England, in 1962. Her father was Jamaican and her mother was Welsh."...
-snip-
Read my note after the "Do You Like Coffee Do You Like Tea" rhyme about how Black children are likely to interprete certain rhymes differently than non-Black children because we weren't raised to view Black males as scary, inappropriate mates, and/or hyper sexual.

****
V.  I'LL BE

"I'll be. be
Walking down the street,
Ten times a week.
Un-gawa. Un-gawa {baby}
This is my power.
What is the story?
What is the strike?
I said it, I meant it.
I really represent it.
Take a cool cool Black to knock me down
Take a cool cool Black to knock me out.
I'm sweet, I'm kind.
I'm soul sister number nine.
Don't like my apples,
Don't shake my tree.
I'm a Castle Square Black
Don't mess with me.
- John Langstaff, Carol Langstaff,editor, Shimmy Shimmy Coke-Ca-Pop!, A Collection of City Children's Street Games & Rhymes (Garden City, New York, Double Day & Co; 1973, page 57)
-snip-
"What is the story"/"What is the strike" = "What's happening". "What's up?".

"Take a cool cool Black to knock me down" = It would take a cool, cool Black [person] to knock me down. "Cool" is used in its vernacular sense and means "hip" (up to date with the latest street culture and also "unruffled", in control of her or his emotions.

"Castle Square" is probably a neighborhood or a housing development within a particular neighborhood..

****

VI. I'M A BAD SOUL SISTER
I'm a bad soul sister from a bad soul town
It takes 48 whites just to knock me down
Don't you pick no apples from my apple tree!
I'm a bad soul sister, don't you mess with me!
-Guest (from Brooklyn, New York in the early 70's...the Brownsville version), cocojams.com, May 12, 2011
-snip-
cocojams.com was the name of my cultural website. It was online from 2000 to 2014.  

****
VII. INA LINA THUMBELINA ("I like coffee I like tea" verse) 

"INA LINA THUMBELINA TWO TIMES THUMBELINA IRIATCHEE LIRIATCHEE I LOVE YOU TAKE A PIECE TAKE A PLUM NOT A PIECE OF BUBBLEGUM I LIKE COFFEE I LIKE TEA I LIKE A BLACK/WHITE BOY AND HE LIKES ME SO STEP BACK WHITE/BLACK BOY YOU DONT SHINE IGOTTA A BLACK/WHITE BOY TO KICK YOUR BEHIND SEE THAT HOUSE ON TOP OF THAT HILL THATS WHERE ME AND MY BABY GNNA LEAVE WE GNNA CHOP SOME WOOD EAT SOME MEAT COME ON BABT LETS GO TO SLEEP"
-GUEST,17yr old kid at heart:), 20 Jul 10, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4300, Children's Street Songs

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VIII. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CHILDREN TOO

Ladies and gentlemen, children too
This brown girl
She gonna boogie for you
She gonna turn all around
She gonna wear her dresses up above her knees
She gonna shake her fanny just as much as she please.
I never went to college.
I never went to school.
But when it comes to boogie,
I can boogie like a fool.
You go in out, side to side.
You go in out, side to side.
-Barbara Ray (African American female), memory of childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1950s; collected in November 1996 & in August 2009 (second interview) by Azizi Powell
-snip-
An example of this rhyme is performed by the Pointer Sisters as an introduction to their rendition of the song "Wang Dang Doodle" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G6a6bIrmg8 ; published by SafariCreations on May 22, 2009 

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IX. MISS SUZY HAD A STEAMBOAT

1. Sung to: The Merry Melodies theme song, from the old Warner Brothers cartoons.

"Miss Suzy had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Miss Suzy went to heaven
The steamboat went to-
Hello operator
Give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I'll kick your big be-
'Hind the 'frigerator
There was a piece of glass
Miss Suzy fell upon it
And cut her big old-
Ask me no more questions
Give me no more lies
The boys are in the restroom
zipping up their-
Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Suzy and her boyfriend
Are kissing in the D. A. R. K.
D-A-R-K. D-A-R-K.
Dark Dark Dark Dark
Darker than the ocean
Darker than the sea
Darker than the black boy
That peed all over me!
-Jim, Houston, Texas,  http://inky.50megs.com/idlechild/songs/hellooperator.htm
-snip-
Here's a comment from a woman who shared an example of "Miss Susie Had A Steamboat" that mentioned "darker than the black bird" that chasing after me":
"Perhaps more often, the “black bird” is instead a “black boy,” which I only heard sung once as a child (by a white girl, to my shock). I’m guessing the “black boy” version precedes the race-neutral one I remember."
-SAHMURAI, April 18, 2016, https://sahmurai.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/miss-susie-a-hand-clapping-history/  Miss Susie: A hand-clapping history

****

2. 
MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT 

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
the steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven
and the steamboat went to

Hello, operator,
Please give me number nine
And if you disconnect me
I’ll kick your

Behind the ’frigerator,
there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie sat upon it
and broke her little

Ask me no more questions,
Tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom
zipping up their

Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Susie and her boyfriend
are kissing in the

D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K
Dark, dark, dark,
Darker than the ocean,
darker than the sea,
Darker than the black boy
who’s chasing after me!
-frugalera, 2014; https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/3zcqt1/miss_susie_had_a_steamboat_the_steamboat_had_a/

****  

X. NINETEEN MILES TO BLACKBERRY CROSS

"Nineteen miles to Blackberry Cross,
To see a Black Man ride on a white horse.
The rogue was so saucy he wouldn't come down
To show me the road to the nearest town.
I picked up a turnip and cracked his old crown,
And made him cry turnups all over the town
-Guest, Children's Street Songs, 01 Jul 04 

****
XI. I DON'T WANNA GO TO MEXICO
"i got one:
i dont wanna go to mexico no more more more
theres a big black policeman at the door door door
he’ll kiss you on the lips he’ll make you do the splits
i dont wanna go to mexico no more more more

then you try to say, shame on you! before your friend (partner) does.
-beth, May 19, 2013, http://losemyway.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/hand-clapping-games/

****
XII. YOU CAN ROLL YOUR EYES
You can roll your eyes,
You can stomp your feet,
but this pretty black girl you SHOLE can't beat!
-JaneLane, Aug 06 2009,  http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/childhood-songs-or-rhymes_topic205958_page5.html

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Singer & Activist Radmilla Cody Speaks About Her African American And Native American Heritage (2014 YouTube video & comments)

I Love Ancestry,

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Statistics as of March 21, 2021 (9:16 AM ET) 
total # of views- 23,586
total # of likes- 469
total # of dislikes- 24
total # of comments-142

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[Video Summary from I Love Ancestry] 

Singer and Activist Radmilla Cody, of Black & Native American heritage from the Navajo Nation accepts the Initiative Radio 2012 Black History Makers Award as "National Treasure & Icon of Cultural Unity" and speaks on her Black Native American Heritage. To Buy Her Music: http://www.canyonrecords.com/

"...To reaffirm the statement on the choosing of my identity, I come from two beautiful cultures which I have embraced, bridged, balanced, and identify with. I am proud to be who I am as a Dine' (Navajo) and Nahilii (African American) woman. Hozho', , & blessings..." ~Radmilla Cody

*We refer to people of African and Native American Indian heritage as Afro Native sometimes on this website. Many refer to people of both ancestry as Black Indians, African Native Americans or Black American Indians.

Inspiring Radmilla is the award winner of the Record of the Year for her song "Shi Keyah Songs for the People".

With an angelic voice of bluebirds singing, Radmilla Cody, traditional Navajo recording artist, Indie Award Winner and two-time Native American Award Nominee continues to maintain Navajo culture by recording music that the Diné elders can be proud of and that children sing with pride.

She is of the Tla'a'schi'i' (Red-Orche-on-Cheek) clan and is born for the African-Americans. Radmilla is the 46th Miss Navajo Nation from 1997-98. Born and raised in the beautiful and picturesque plateaus of the Navajo Nation, Radmilla Cody's childhood consisted of herding sheep on foot and horseback, carding and spinning wool, and searching late into the night with her grandmother for lost sheep and their lambs.

The highlight of her sheep herding days was standing in the sheep corral singing at the top of her lungs with the sheep and goats as her audience. "All that mattered at that time was the moment of living a dream," says Radmilla about her early life, which today has become a reality for the young musician. A survivor of domestic violence, Radmilla uses her personal experiences to advocate strongly against the epidemic of violence.

It is an issue she has become very passionate about. As a biracial person she attempts to communicate positive messages about her dual identity to biracial or multiracial children who still bear the brunt of prejudice.

Radmilla Cody is of the Tlaaschii (Red Bottom People) born for Nahillii (African American) and has traveled internationally to Kenya, South America, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, and Italy.

She has earned a BS in Public Relations from Northern Arizona University and is pursuing a MA in Sociology. She was the 46th Miss Navajo and is the subject of “Hearing Radmilla”, a documentary produced and directed by Angela Webb.

Radmilla is a domestic violence advocate and founder of “Strong Spirit…Life is Beautiful not Abusive” campaign which addresses teen dating violence. Her previous recordings for Canyon Records include Seed of Life, Spirit of a Woman and Precious Friends

"The Creator has given me the strength to look forward in life, to embrace the beautiful and the positive. Now I truly walk in beauty." ~Radmilla Cody

I Love Ancestry exists to empower people to seek knowledge of ancestral heritage, preserve historical truth, and unite like-minded people. At I Love Ancestry, we envision a world where people embrace their own and each other's roots, celebrate diversity, and advocate for indigenous cultures.

On Our Website: https://iloveancestry.com/stories/ancestry/ 

[This link replaces the one that was given in this summary. That link is no longer active.]

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of Radmilla Cody speaking about her African American and Native American heritage.

This post also includes some comments from this video's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Radmilla Cody for her music, her activism, and her role modeling. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to Iloveancestry.com for pubkLove the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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SELECTED COMMENTS 

These comments are given in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest comments given first except for relplies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Note: It's sometimes difficult to tell which comment is being responded to as some commenters changed their screen name and some comments may no longer be included in this discussion thread. Also, some comments appear to be in response to later [?] comments.

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybYz2IZWUfk&ab_channel=ILoveAncestry

1. Kal EL, 2016
"She's a Beautiful black woman"

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2. LoveMyCurls, 2016
"Kal EL she is not black she is a mixed NATIVE are you effin blind?!???👀👀🙄🙄"

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3. dante bigguy, 2018
"Tylona Hambrick Métis people of Canada makes them look like fools. And Métis people are mixed Natives with Europeans and some Métis even look white as snow too lol"

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4. Ambrosia Devyani, 2018
"Multiethnicgirl 6foot that's not the point. Point is she is Diné too.

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5. Titiana Bäb, 2020
"She is part Native American descent

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6. nomadic alma, 2020
" @donny peso goyard BPC  She's a mixed Navajo. There is no country called "black." It's a fake made up term. She also has African heritage but she was raised as a Diné woman."

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7. Silver SunTree, 2020
"Stating that she’s a beautiful black woman seems like a back-handed comment/compliment. She is both Navajo and Black."

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8. m. mann, 2016
"as an native-american, i hate the way many natives treat mixed natives.  we should respect and love all nstives as well as all people of the human race."

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9. dante bigguy, 2016
""you are not Black if you are born into the Tribe..you are Dine simple as that doesn't matter what Colour skin you have..Culture makes you who you are that's Native way not the colour of your skin..not gonna lie I got a kick out of hearing you speak in Dine because I understood some of it..."

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10. Tylona Hambrick, 2018
"Omg I’m so tired of the “ oh when the police pull you over you black “ blah blah blah  or the government "

Did you know that the government and official government forms have a box where it says “ more than one race “ did you not get the memo ???

mixed race people are being officially recognized now , it seems like you don’t want them to be .

Oh yeah , if the cops pull her over they would probably call her Hispanic and depending on where she lives Hispanics are considered white haaaaaa

I used to live in Florida and got pulled over by the cops on several occasions and my skin is obviously brown ( peanut butter cookie complexion ) and they classed me as white because they thought I was Mexican , when I corrected them ( with a reaction of shock mind you ) he told me

“ sorry mame , I wasn’t trying to offend you , it’s just that in the state of Florida Hispanics are classed as White “ I then had to tell him that I wasn’t Hispanic either and that I was mixed-race Half Black and Half white .

Cops are not going to call someone black unless they have all stereotypical Negro traits and it mainly the hair that would make them class you as black or not , if you’re brown and don’t have kinky hair they don’t see black they see Hispanic .

It seems you’re on this one drop kick , get over it .

Why are black people so butt hurt when a mixed-race person is seen as mixed instead of black or when that mixed person identifies as mixed/biracial instead of exclusively black. Mixed people are not black peoples property , we don’t owe it to black people to only or exclusively identify with you , just be happy that we’re acknowledging the black too when we identify as Biracial and move on ."

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11. donny peso goyard BPC, 2018
" @Tylona Hambrick  she don't need anyone permission she is black she already said that she's a black native did you guys read the title before you press play I said how all the other races hate us but that's fine we are going to continue to be living regardless don't say hi when you see us in the street"

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12. nomadic alma, 2020
" @donny peso goyard BPC  She's a mixed Navajo. There is no country called "black." It's a fake made up term. She also has African heritage but she was raised as a Diné woman."

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13. Me lolabean, 2019
"@dante bigguy  My grandmother is canadian born Chippewa ojibwe tribe and French descent we also say black too because we think she has black heritage as well but when she came to the U.S. of course she was Strip of her heritage that's why we don't know as far as her dad if he was black or not because in her times natives wasn't even introduce to blacks when she was in canada also when you came to the U.S. you were labeled as black no matter what race you were if you were dark toned your were automatically black I have hundreds of cousin still on the reservation in harrow Canada I was told though a lot of are people there are some Indians but a lot where colonized by the french so are blood relatives are different looking from just straight natives im glad to hear someone who knows about the Indians from Canada which the original come from.i also have Cherokee descent on my farther side which my grandmother  was half

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14. nomadic alma, 2020
"@esor val  Her skin isn't black, it's brown. She's a mixed Diné. I'll never understand why people insist on calling brown people black."

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15. nomadic alma, 2020
" @Tylona Hambrick  She is partially African. There is no country called "black". Most people called "African American" are already mixed with African European and sometimes Native American. I am Creole myself with Indigenous ancestry as well."

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16. Darlene Farmer, 2017
"Speak, Sister!  We are who we are!"

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17. Rhythms of The Sun, 2018
"Plot twist both races lived together way before slavery"

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18. dante bigguy, 2018
"allsports100 plot twist North America was already up and running with the help of indigenous people before blacks slaves came to America. Now how come you people never mention these things? Especially indigenous people of Canada. How come you people always leave us out of these conversations when talking about Indigenous people of North America? Seriously why?!? We have way more connections with real Natives of America because most of the Natives in America came from Canada. Now tell me again why you people never mention this?!? 635 First Nation Tribes in Canada and that’s not including Inuits and Metis(mixed Natives with Europeans)"

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19. Jeremy Rosa, 2018
" @dante bigguy  excatly much respect from your brother from the island of cuba and boriken . taiño tribe"

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20. Me lolabean, 2019
" @dante bigguy  Thank you my grandmother is of part ojibwe Chippewa and French and a bit of black descent which that's actually up in the air because Indians knew nothing of blacks in her time in Canada nor did they even migrate over there when she was there than when they came to the USA people don't understand how they were labeled as black because of skin tone but she is Canadian born native French and not sure but we say black descent but all of her/ our people are Canadian indians but a lot of the French colonized ojibwe as well."

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21. Thomas Oklahoma, 2017
"Radmilla Cody is a good role model for our Native Youth and carries her Native heritage with pride. She never forgets her Black American side too."

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22. dante bigguy, 2018
"you are not Black if you are born into the Tribe..you are Dine simple as that doesn't matter what Colour skin you have..Culture makes you who you are that's Native way not the colour of your skin..not gonna lie I got a kick out of hearing you speak in Dine because I understood some of it..."

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23. Pixie Dust, 2019
"My great grandma was half and half. Claim both sides girl! 👍🏽

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24. Prutiss Bartlow, 2020
"jimi h endrix hadnative and Irish blood.. as well as African (moor)..1/16cherokee.. look at Leon h 🎸endrix  his blood brutha.

Seattle's grandmother took him to the reservation at an early age explains why he played in concerts* moccasins LOL"

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