Music has had a profound influence on religion, politics, foreign policy, and pop culture throughout the years. Frequently, we credit rap and hip-hop for having such a positive impact in the world of politics and social standing; however, there isn't much analysis on the influence that southern rock has had in the molding of white, southern identity.
White supremacy and white privilege are among some of the most sensitive topics in America. While some are unwilling to admit they exist all together, others zone in on white privilege as an excuse. The line between the two is very difficult to navigate. In a time of high intensity race issues, is southern rock further perpetuating the divide we see in America?
Southern rock music was both a reflection …show more content…
You’ll notice that in the second part of the first verse, Lynyrd Skynyrd takes a direct shot at the Canadian musician –
“Well I heard mister Young sing about her [Alabama]. Well, I heard ole Neil put her [Alabama] down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow”.
Those who identify as white southerners have been largely labeled as uneducated, racist, closed-minded, and stricken with poverty. Much of this is attributed to the generalization of southerners from the post-Civil War era: the belief that every white southerner must have the exact same morals, beliefs, and background, especially with the feeling towards different races. The intense public criticism has proved to ignite an explosive response from white southerners. I think that feeling by Skynyrd is displayed in the verse shown above. The lyrics of "Sweet Home Alabama" do take Young to task for bashing the entire South as racist in his songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama”. Feeling like Neil Young was ragging on the South as a whole, the first verse of the song reinforces that theory that white southerners resent the generalization of racism in the South, thus the rise of southern defiant pride is higher than ever
White supremacy and white privilege are among some of the most sensitive topics in America. While some are unwilling to admit they exist all together, others zone in on white privilege as an excuse. The line between the two is very difficult to navigate. In a time of high intensity race issues, is southern rock further perpetuating the divide we see in America?
Southern rock music was both a reflection …show more content…
You’ll notice that in the second part of the first verse, Lynyrd Skynyrd takes a direct shot at the Canadian musician –
“Well I heard mister Young sing about her [Alabama]. Well, I heard ole Neil put her [Alabama] down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow”.
Those who identify as white southerners have been largely labeled as uneducated, racist, closed-minded, and stricken with poverty. Much of this is attributed to the generalization of southerners from the post-Civil War era: the belief that every white southerner must have the exact same morals, beliefs, and background, especially with the feeling towards different races. The intense public criticism has proved to ignite an explosive response from white southerners. I think that feeling by Skynyrd is displayed in the verse shown above. The lyrics of "Sweet Home Alabama" do take Young to task for bashing the entire South as racist in his songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama”. Feeling like Neil Young was ragging on the South as a whole, the first verse of the song reinforces that theory that white southerners resent the generalization of racism in the South, thus the rise of southern defiant pride is higher than ever