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A racially-discriminating song or performance is unthinkable in the modern world, but this genre was popular during the times of the Confederacy. Daniel Decatur Emmett’s “Dixie” was a song written in 1859 for the minstrel show, which is a racist comedy (“Daniel Decatur Emmett”). The song was composed before the Civil War; thus, it was not perceived as racial stereotyping and was performed on stage (“Daniel Decatur Emmett”). The song consists of five verses and the chorus, repeated three times. The lyrics seem to present the wish of a freed African American to return to the cotton plantations in the Dixie Land (Magia Internetu 00:00:42-00:01:00). The latter was the nickname for the southern states, aggressively supporting slavery. “Dixie” also tells the story of a young couple whose love story ended tragically (Magia Internetu 00:01:55-00:02:05). Still, the music is cheerful, suggesting that no emotional pain was associated with the longing and forbidden love of enslaved Black people.
Although this song was written for minstrelsy, its rhythm seemed suitable for singing near the camping fire or plantations. Indeed, it was popular among soldiers during the Civil War, becoming an informal national anthem of the Confederacy (“Daniel Decatur Emmett”). However, I did not have any positive association when listening to “Dixie.” I view it as a discriminatory song because the lyrics suggest that slavery is a natural state for black people; hence, they miss their plantations and cannot enjoy freedom. My emotional response was negative since the song seemed to sound to me like a parody of the music of slaves, singing during evening gatherings after hard labor. It might not have been intend to resemble black music’s rhythm, but I felt that lyrics were written to show that enslaved people’s lives can be placed in one song. The fact that verses first present the story of a freedman missing his plantation and then move to the love story of two black individuals confirmed my initial reaction.
I believe the main reason why this song elicited antipathy in me was that I knew the story of its making. Indeed, it is challenging not to think about the history of the music, especially if it was created as part of a stage performance that used to discriminate against black people. Even though I knew that the song was written before the Civil War, it did not help remove adverse connotations. Nevertheless, I believe it is possible to separate a piece of art from its past, but it depends heavily on the context of creation. In this particular case, I could not block my negative emotional reaction because I was raised in an environment where any forms of racial discrimination, stereotyping, and humiliation were inconceivable. However, if the song were only about longing for place or separation and had more minor chords, I would likely view it positively.
Since we all now know the story behind “Dixie,” it was shocking to learn that some people in the southern states are proud of that legacy. I would assume that these individuals are unaware of the term’s etiology; however, you mentioned in your post that this restaurant had existed there for a long time. Hence, the likelihood that the owners are aware of the word’s connection to slavery is high. Since the origin of “Dixie” is known to me, I also find it challenging not to feel revulsion when listening to it and not to judge those who use this term for naming their companies.
Works Cited
“Confederate Song – I Wish I Was in Dixie Land (with Lyrics).”YouTube, uploaded by Magia Internetu, 2013.
“Daniel Decatur Emmett.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2021, Britannica.
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