Elvis Presley is one of the world’s most popular music icons. The article “Elvis Presley and the politics of popular memory” is written by Michael T. Bertrand, presenting the two different views on held by Black and White Americans around the iconic pop culture Elvis Presley. The number of people at Elvis Presley’s funeral was tremendous and received thousands of people’ mourning. His passing away had caused a huge loss for the music industry as well as in people’s hearts. However, there are two opposing arguments about Elvis Presley. While white people cried for him, black people formed both positive and negative perspectives on Presley.
Some people claim that Elvis Presley was racist toward those African Americans and a “perpetual exploitation …show more content…
According to the Rolling Stone magazine, Presley had originally developed empathy for African Americans since he came from a poor white family who can understand the miserable lives of poor blacks. Feeling empathy toward the black, Presley was described as a bridge to introduce black’s favorite music to the white community. Thus, he was successful brought the rhythm and blues heroes, such as Chuck Willis, Chuck Berry, and the Drifters, to become more familiar and well-known among white America. Digging deeply into Elvis background indeed provides a better understanding into the complexities of the southern society that he had been through along with the types of music – rock ‘n’ roll and the rhythms and blues – he associated with. Tan magazines once published an article “What You Don’t Know about Elvis Presley” that justified two reasons the singer had deep absorbed in black style and music. He grew up in Mississippi, which characterized as a hierarchical society that historically practiced overt discrimination; therefore, associating and hearing African Americans appearances and songs were strongly existed in his blood. In response to the criticism of musical theft, Presley emphasized, “Rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let’s face it: I can’t sing it like Fast Domino can. I know that. But I always liked that kind of …show more content…
In response to the accusation of the racist slur, Presley said, “I never said anything like that, and people who I know I wouldn’t have said it” (Bertrand 2007). Indeed, those who have met the singer outside all commented upon his nice manner, sweet, and humble guy whose racist and scathing tone does not sound like him. Louie Robinson, who is an interviewer for Jet, started his investigation into the controversy by asking Presley’s friends. Presley made close friends with several African Americans and one of them showed great surprise: “[He] faces everybody as a man. I never heard of the remark, but even so I cant imagine Presley saying that, not knowing him the way I do.” Another friend also said, “it’s a stupid rumor” and “to Elvis, people are people, regardless of race, color, or creed” (Bertrand 2007). Bringing this matter to light, rumor is clearly a twist of the truth and those who hate him had made up or turned his statement into mere fabrication. Therefore, it is more convinced by talking to real people since rumors can be manipulated and distorted easily depending on people’s intention. During his career, Presley was challenged to confront the furor of race and music surrounding him all the time. However, it did not stop his rhythm and blues music from making great influence in the 1950s. His songs have been regularly on top of the week ranking in specific areas where African Americans live: New Orleans, Atlanta,
Some people claim that Elvis Presley was racist toward those African Americans and a “perpetual exploitation …show more content…
According to the Rolling Stone magazine, Presley had originally developed empathy for African Americans since he came from a poor white family who can understand the miserable lives of poor blacks. Feeling empathy toward the black, Presley was described as a bridge to introduce black’s favorite music to the white community. Thus, he was successful brought the rhythm and blues heroes, such as Chuck Willis, Chuck Berry, and the Drifters, to become more familiar and well-known among white America. Digging deeply into Elvis background indeed provides a better understanding into the complexities of the southern society that he had been through along with the types of music – rock ‘n’ roll and the rhythms and blues – he associated with. Tan magazines once published an article “What You Don’t Know about Elvis Presley” that justified two reasons the singer had deep absorbed in black style and music. He grew up in Mississippi, which characterized as a hierarchical society that historically practiced overt discrimination; therefore, associating and hearing African Americans appearances and songs were strongly existed in his blood. In response to the criticism of musical theft, Presley emphasized, “Rock ‘n’ roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let’s face it: I can’t sing it like Fast Domino can. I know that. But I always liked that kind of …show more content…
In response to the accusation of the racist slur, Presley said, “I never said anything like that, and people who I know I wouldn’t have said it” (Bertrand 2007). Indeed, those who have met the singer outside all commented upon his nice manner, sweet, and humble guy whose racist and scathing tone does not sound like him. Louie Robinson, who is an interviewer for Jet, started his investigation into the controversy by asking Presley’s friends. Presley made close friends with several African Americans and one of them showed great surprise: “[He] faces everybody as a man. I never heard of the remark, but even so I cant imagine Presley saying that, not knowing him the way I do.” Another friend also said, “it’s a stupid rumor” and “to Elvis, people are people, regardless of race, color, or creed” (Bertrand 2007). Bringing this matter to light, rumor is clearly a twist of the truth and those who hate him had made up or turned his statement into mere fabrication. Therefore, it is more convinced by talking to real people since rumors can be manipulated and distorted easily depending on people’s intention. During his career, Presley was challenged to confront the furor of race and music surrounding him all the time. However, it did not stop his rhythm and blues music from making great influence in the 1950s. His songs have been regularly on top of the week ranking in specific areas where African Americans live: New Orleans, Atlanta,