There’s an interesting, and intellectual, debate over an article in the New York Times concerning the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas” Sophie Tucker. Tucker, who began her career in vaudeville, was a larger than life performer and arguably helped pave the way for the future of popular music. But like many entertainers of the early 20th Century, Tucker performed in blackface early in her career and was known as a “coon-shouter.”
Read Jody Rosen’s article on the release of Tucker’s earliest recordings on CD here; then check out Sady Doyle’s reaction piece, “Can a feminist hero do blackface?” in Salon. Finally read Rosen’s response in Slate. It’s an interesting debate handled with grace over a very touchy subject.
There are many facets to this fascinating debate; thank you for posting the string of articles. It has always been an interesting question as to whether something that is now considered morally reprehensible should be viewed through the perspective of today’s culture or that of its own time. Or can art be examined for its own sake without taking the controversial content into consideration? I also find it interesting that other elements come into play in the debate, such as the fact that Tucker herself was an ethnic minority, and the double standard involved in how her impact on music is regarded versus that of Al Jolson, although both used blackface.