Coon Songs Must Go! Coon Songs Go On . . .

1

A show goes  all ‘cross country, to a  farmland country town  or big city— —some low down  uppity Negroes put loudmouth  blame on a coon shouter  minstrel for how he sings  moanin’ “Coon, Coon, Coon” or some other song  —but we wear blackface that has plenty of coon in it  to make white folks’ truths easier, with an emphasis on the word coon.  to mask the ugly in their mirrors.Left side is excerpted from “Coon Songs Must Go!” Indianapolis Freeman, Jan. 2, 1909.

2

In this way  I make cash- and in many other ways  I give white folks giggles too numerous to mention  when I wear blackface. Yeah, them “coon” songs have done more  earnin’ much bread. Want to insult the  highfalutin’ Negro and cause  hilarity with his white brethren,  laughing all ‘round? Crackers, especially the young generation,  they want to see unrefined niggers: to have a bad opinion of  the way they think we are. There ain’t good Negroes and bad Negroes,  but one kind of coon they want. And more . . . than anything that has ever happened . . .  they want it made true for them on stage.Left side is excerpted from “Coon Songs Must Go!” Indianapolis Freeman, Jan. 2, 1909.

3

The colored man writes the “coon” song,  This song that I sing. Do you know how the colored singer sings the “coon” song,  twisting beauty into ugly burns? the colored race is compelled to  Believe this: ain’t no way I’d take a stand for the belittling and ignomy of  insult if I weren’t getting paid. Yes, I sing the “coon” song, but the money from the “coon” song  —it keeps a belly full. That work flows with ceaseless activity  just enough to feed my own. I sing into the white man’s pockets . . .  to put clothes on my baby’s back.Left side is excerpted from the Indianapolis Freeman, Aug. 24, 1901.