Because I felt needed to wash my ears out (and maybe my brain) after listening to Michelle Bachmanns ranting about "anti-Americans" in Congress, let me offer another vision of America, Paul Robeson singing "The House I Live In."
(Also available at Remix America, which has some other interesting stuff.)
Here's a link to donate to El Tinklenberg, who is running against Bachmann.
And I join with Cecily in saying: "Do you hear me? I am a pro-choice East Coast liberal elitist and I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. Stop saying I'm not. "
update: My mother asked me whether my readers know who Paul Robeson was. I said I'd ask. Do you?
Actually, yes, I DO know who Paul Robeson is, he was an actor, singer, lawyer (I think he had a hard time practicing b/c of his race?) but I probably know that just b/c he's a native from my state (NJ). I'm pretty sure he was in Showboat (movie or browadway show? I forget). And he knew a ton of languages. Shame that he's not more well known!
Posted by: ana | October 24, 2008 at 04:46 PM
"Ol' Man River" and accusations of Communism is all I have on the tip of my brain.
Posted by: Chris | October 26, 2008 at 07:48 PM
yes
Posted by: the other bj | October 27, 2008 at 12:29 AM
um, 'accusations'? he was a Communist. Here is his tribute to Stalin: http://www.northstarcompass.org/nsc9804/robeson.htm
Posted by: dave.s. | October 27, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I was living and teaching in Russia in the initial post-Soviet period, and Robeson was a Communist icon. I think he may have even turned up in the Soviet-published English textbook I had, alongside the short English bios of Lenin and other worthies. I had never heard of him until I lived in Russia.
Posted by: Amy P | October 27, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Of course I'd heard of Robeson, but that's because for 20 years I've listened to Terry Gross, who wants in her heart of hearts to be a 400-year-old black musician.
Posted by: amy | October 27, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I know! I know!!! But then again, I went to Camp Kinderland for two years. My bunkhouse was Emma Lazerus. The bunkhouse next to mine was Paul Robeson.
Posted by: liz | October 28, 2008 at 02:41 PM
yes--he was a hero at my grandparents' house!
Posted by: Becca | October 28, 2008 at 11:13 PM
dave.s. -- Don't get so worked up, dude. As I said, I have only a few facts off the top, those were them. Heaven knows, it's hard to get overly worked up about *ooooh, scary!* Communists these days. It's the irrational capitalists I need to worry about, personally.
Posted by: Chris | October 29, 2008 at 03:33 PM