Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
actually, there's a lot more to it than that.
Medford proudly bills itself as the birthplace of ‘Jingle Bells.’ But should it?
First, Pierpont couldn’t have written the song in Medford in 1850 because he was in San Francisco at the time and wouldn’t return to Massachusetts for at least another year. In fact, as Hamill told The Boston Globe last year, “Jingle Bells” was most likely written in Boston, where Pierpont briefly lived upon his return — which leads to the second complicating aspect of the song’s history.
“It was first performed in this blackface minstrel hall in Boston in 1857,” Hamill said.
As Hamill wrote in a paper published this September in Cambridge University’s theater history journal, Theatre Survey, the story of “Jingle Bells” — originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” — is one in which “the racial history of the song has remained hidden behind its local and seasonal affection.” First performed on September 15, 1857, at the Washington Street minstrelsy, Ordway Hall, the song was one of many attempts by Pierpont to cash in on the racist entertainment that was popular at the time.
In the study, Hamill found that such onstage minstrel shows were part of a larger genre of satire at the time that “lampooned” black participation in wintry activities such as sleigh riding. The field often depicted black people “behaving foolishly, grotesquely, and incompetently.” Performances of “Jingle Bells” included stereotyped “dandy” characters that mockingly portrayed black people within Northern culture.
The song, however, has since “eluded its racialized past” and is “a prime example” of how some popular 19th century music’s “blackface and racist origins have been subtly and systematically removed from its history,” according to Hamill. It wasn’t until decades later that it became a Christmas song, much less the popular holiday anthem it is today. Upon the festive recitations of the song each season, there’s likely not much reflection upon its origins profiting off the racist caricatures of black people.
The Regressives want every possible public tradition wiped away.
Given how they feel about this country, I guess that would make sense from their perspective.
The Regressives want every possible public tradition wiped away.
Given how they feel about this country, I guess that would make sense from their perspective.
First, no one is trying to take away your "Jingle Bells". Not sure what that has to do with the birth of Jesus, but never mind.
Point is, the song does have its roots in the racist minstrels shows of the 19th century... I'm sorry that upsets you when someone points out we have a lot of stuff in our past that is not comfortable, but you all need to deal with it.
actually, there's a lot more to it than that.
Medford proudly bills itself as the birthplace of ‘Jingle Bells.’ But should it?
First, Pierpont couldn’t have written the song in Medford in 1850 because he was in San Francisco at the time and wouldn’t return to Massachusetts for at least another year. In fact, as Hamill told The Boston Globe last year, “Jingle Bells” was most likely written in Boston, where Pierpont briefly lived upon his return — which leads to the second complicating aspect of the song’s history.
“It was first performed in this blackface minstrel hall in Boston in 1857,” Hamill said.
As Hamill wrote in a paper published this September in Cambridge University’s theater history journal, Theatre Survey, the story of “Jingle Bells” — originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” — is one in which “the racial history of the song has remained hidden behind its local and seasonal affection.” First performed on September 15, 1857, at the Washington Street minstrelsy, Ordway Hall, the song was one of many attempts by Pierpont to cash in on the racist entertainment that was popular at the time.
In the study, Hamill found that such onstage minstrel shows were part of a larger genre of satire at the time that “lampooned” black participation in wintry activities such as sleigh riding. The field often depicted black people “behaving foolishly, grotesquely, and incompetently.” Performances of “Jingle Bells” included stereotyped “dandy” characters that mockingly portrayed black people within Northern culture.
The song, however, has since “eluded its racialized past” and is “a prime example” of how some popular 19th century music’s “blackface and racist origins have been subtly and systematically removed from its history,” according to Hamill. It wasn’t until decades later that it became a Christmas song, much less the popular holiday anthem it is today. Upon the festive recitations of the song each season, there’s likely not much reflection upon its origins profiting off the racist caricatures of black people.
"deal with it...." ???? Stereotype in LITERATURE and ART is an interesting
subject and NOTHING NEW--------it existed even in the very ancient greek plays.
"""ART""" remember "ART"??? Long ago I did a really nice paper in high school (no less) on the depiction of WOMEN in the ancient greek plays of Euripides (it was actually before the FEMININE MYSTIQUE came about-----and
was kinda just early 60s naïve) I think it was Euripides-------he's the jerk who did MEDEA right?
"deal with it...." ???? Stereotype in LITERATURE and ART is an interesting
subject and NOTHING NEW--------it existed even in the very ancient greek plays.
"""ART""" remember "ART"??? Long ago I did a really nice paper in high school (no less) on the depiction of WOMEN in the ancient greek plays of Euripides (it was actually before the FEMININE MYSTIQUE came about-----and
was kinda just early 60s naïve) I think it was Euripides-------he's the jerk who did MEDEA right?
Okay, you are wandering off topic again.
actually, there's a lot more to it than that.
Medford proudly bills itself as the birthplace of ‘Jingle Bells.’ But should it?
First, Pierpont couldn’t have written the song in Medford in 1850 because he was in San Francisco at the time and wouldn’t return to Massachusetts for at least another year. In fact, as Hamill told The Boston Globe last year, “Jingle Bells” was most likely written in Boston, where Pierpont briefly lived upon his return — which leads to the second complicating aspect of the song’s history.
“It was first performed in this blackface minstrel hall in Boston in 1857,” Hamill said.
As Hamill wrote in a paper published this September in Cambridge University’s theater history journal, Theatre Survey, the story of “Jingle Bells” — originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” — is one in which “the racial history of the song has remained hidden behind its local and seasonal affection.” First performed on September 15, 1857, at the Washington Street minstrelsy, Ordway Hall, the song was one of many attempts by Pierpont to cash in on the racist entertainment that was popular at the time.
In the study, Hamill found that such onstage minstrel shows were part of a larger genre of satire at the time that “lampooned” black participation in wintry activities such as sleigh riding. The field often depicted black people “behaving foolishly, grotesquely, and incompetently.” Performances of “Jingle Bells” included stereotyped “dandy” characters that mockingly portrayed black people within Northern culture.
The song, however, has since “eluded its racialized past” and is “a prime example” of how some popular 19th century music’s “blackface and racist origins have been subtly and systematically removed from its history,” according to Hamill. It wasn’t until decades later that it became a Christmas song, much less the popular holiday anthem it is today. Upon the festive recitations of the song each season, there’s likely not much reflection upon its origins profiting off the racist caricatures of black people.
It is not a racist song because people today do not use it as a racist song.
It's a Christmas song.
The Left Wingers just can't stop hating can they.
you exhibit "concrete thinking"
The Regressives want every possible public tradition wiped away.
Given how they feel about this country, I guess that would make sense from their perspective.
you exhibit "concrete thinking"
No, it's just every conversation with you often ends up going into weird tangents like Nazis in New England or some such shit... so let's try to stay on topic here.
The Song Jingle Bells absolutely has racist roots. Back in the days when we considered it funny to put white actors in black face and make fun of black people.
Should it lessen our enjoyment of the song? Meh... not much, I guess.
Guess that means the English language is racist. Racists speak English.Yes, it's racist because it was performed at a minstrel show! Not only that! There's mysogyny in the description of the horse. You can't make this stuff up. Oh wait. Somebody did. LOL
Well, politically correct people want to rewrite history... lolactually, there's a lot more to it than that.
Medford proudly bills itself as the birthplace of ‘Jingle Bells.’ But should it?
First, Pierpont couldn’t have written the song in Medford in 1850 because he was in San Francisco at the time and wouldn’t return to Massachusetts for at least another year. In fact, as Hamill told The Boston Globe last year, “Jingle Bells” was most likely written in Boston, where Pierpont briefly lived upon his return — which leads to the second complicating aspect of the song’s history.
“It was first performed in this blackface minstrel hall in Boston in 1857,” Hamill said.
As Hamill wrote in a paper published this September in Cambridge University’s theater history journal, Theatre Survey, the story of “Jingle Bells” — originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” — is one in which “the racial history of the song has remained hidden behind its local and seasonal affection.” First performed on September 15, 1857, at the Washington Street minstrelsy, Ordway Hall, the song was one of many attempts by Pierpont to cash in on the racist entertainment that was popular at the time.
In the study, Hamill found that such onstage minstrel shows were part of a larger genre of satire at the time that “lampooned” black participation in wintry activities such as sleigh riding. The field often depicted black people “behaving foolishly, grotesquely, and incompetently.” Performances of “Jingle Bells” included stereotyped “dandy” characters that mockingly portrayed black people within Northern culture.
The song, however, has since “eluded its racialized past” and is “a prime example” of how some popular 19th century music’s “blackface and racist origins have been subtly and systematically removed from its history,” according to Hamill. It wasn’t until decades later that it became a Christmas song, much less the popular holiday anthem it is today. Upon the festive recitations of the song each season, there’s likely not much reflection upon its origins profiting off the racist caricatures of black people.
We want nothing to do with your socialist Society, but you can’t help it your control freaksThe Regressives want every possible public tradition wiped away.
Given how they feel about this country, I guess that would make sense from their perspective.
First, no one is trying to take away your "Jingle Bells". Not sure what that has to do with the birth of Jesus, but never mind.
Point is, the song does have its roots in the racist minstrels shows of the 19th century... I'm sorry that upsets you when someone points out we have a lot of stuff in our past that is not comfortable, but you all need to deal with it.
