A Pastoral Word. . .
Pastor Mark Adams
February 25, 2021

Last summer, Sue and I were at the Fauloner’s playing corn hole in the backyard when I heard music that filled my heart with joy! It was the ICE CREAM TRUCK! I didn’t know they were still around, but at the sound of those distinctive tingly songs, I almost jumped the fence and chased the truck down for a treat as I did back when I was a kid and could actually jump fences!
This week I learned that some of the songs played by those trucks have racist roots. To address this issue, the Good Humor Ice Cream company has decided to live up to its name and decommission the popular tune “Turkey in the Straw” from all of its ice cream trucks, and replace it with a new customized hip-hop track.
(In case it ever comes up on Jeopardy you should know that minstrel songs were often played in ice cream parlors, which is how they became jingles on ice cream trucks. Don’t forget to tithe on your winnings!)
I had no idea that the minstrel song, “Turkey in the Straw” had anything to do with racism, but it did indeed. This nineteenth century Irish fiddle tune was popularized in the US with vocal renditions containing lyrics that would cause great pain to people of color, lyrics that should in fact offend anyone who understands the evil of prejudice:
“Oh, I went out to milk and I didn’t know how,
I milked an old goat instead of a cow,
A monkey sittin’ there on a pile of straw,
A-winkin’ his eyes at his mother-in-law.”
I had no idea that this old song had a verse like that, but it provides an example of the sinful attitudes that are too often buried in our culture.
To give further evidence of HOW deep, traveling minstrel shows sang “Turkey in the Straw” with the title: “Zip Coon” as far back as 1834. In 1916, another recording of the tune by Harry C. Browne became popular. Its title? “[N-word] Love a Watermelon, Ha! Ha! Ha!”
To come up with a replacement, Good Humor tapped Robert Fitzgerald Diggs of the famed NY collective The Wu-Tang Clan. In a press release, Diggs, who goes by the stage name RZA, explained his involvement:
“I remember the days when I would hear that iconic ice cream truck jingle outside, and I would drop what I was doing to chase it down for a treat. When I learned about that song’s problematic history this summer, I knew I had to get involved.”
You can listen to the new tune here. But don’t blame me if you get an irresistible urge for a Good Humor bar!
During this Black History Month, we should be reminded, especially as Christ-followers, of the importance of learning about things like this that cause people of color pain. Learning is often the first step toward empathy, which helps motivate us to heal the wounds that racism causes.
Plus, we are a part of the body of Christ, and as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 12: “There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.”
Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark
This week I learned that some of the songs played by those trucks have racist roots. To address this issue, the Good Humor Ice Cream company has decided to live up to its name and decommission the popular tune “Turkey in the Straw” from all of its ice cream trucks, and replace it with a new customized hip-hop track.
(In case it ever comes up on Jeopardy you should know that minstrel songs were often played in ice cream parlors, which is how they became jingles on ice cream trucks. Don’t forget to tithe on your winnings!)
I had no idea that the minstrel song, “Turkey in the Straw” had anything to do with racism, but it did indeed. This nineteenth century Irish fiddle tune was popularized in the US with vocal renditions containing lyrics that would cause great pain to people of color, lyrics that should in fact offend anyone who understands the evil of prejudice:
“Oh, I went out to milk and I didn’t know how,
I milked an old goat instead of a cow,
A monkey sittin’ there on a pile of straw,
A-winkin’ his eyes at his mother-in-law.”
I had no idea that this old song had a verse like that, but it provides an example of the sinful attitudes that are too often buried in our culture.
To give further evidence of HOW deep, traveling minstrel shows sang “Turkey in the Straw” with the title: “Zip Coon” as far back as 1834. In 1916, another recording of the tune by Harry C. Browne became popular. Its title? “[N-word] Love a Watermelon, Ha! Ha! Ha!”
To come up with a replacement, Good Humor tapped Robert Fitzgerald Diggs of the famed NY collective The Wu-Tang Clan. In a press release, Diggs, who goes by the stage name RZA, explained his involvement:
“I remember the days when I would hear that iconic ice cream truck jingle outside, and I would drop what I was doing to chase it down for a treat. When I learned about that song’s problematic history this summer, I knew I had to get involved.”
You can listen to the new tune here. But don’t blame me if you get an irresistible urge for a Good Humor bar!
During this Black History Month, we should be reminded, especially as Christ-followers, of the importance of learning about things like this that cause people of color pain. Learning is often the first step toward empathy, which helps motivate us to heal the wounds that racism causes.
Plus, we are a part of the body of Christ, and as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 12: “There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.”
Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark
Posted in A Pastoral Word
Recent
Archive
2023
February
March
Tool Round-Up on March 12Easter Offering – Day 1Easter Offering – Day 2Easter Offering – Day 3Easter Offering – Day 4Spring Church Work Day - April 1Easter Offering – Day 5March 9, 2023Community Easter Egg Hunt - April 8Easter Offering – Day 6Easter Offering – Day 7Easter Offering – Day 8Churchwide Summer Mission Trip - July 29-Aug 4March 23, 2023
2022
January
May
September
September 1, 2022Two men's studies begin this weekSave the Date: Nov. 5 Men's CookoutWednesday Parenting DiscussionsKids and Screens: Wednesday Parenting Discussion TopicLadies Bible Study every TuesdaySeptember 22, 2022Great Night Out with Mark CableAHG National Day of ServiceKids and Screens, part 2: Wednesday Parenting Discussion TopicYouth Reboot retreatRYM Parent meeting on Oct. 2
October
October 6, 2022Youth Costume PartyRYM BeaniesTwo Great Fall Men's Studies - UPDATED5th Sunday Brunch, October 30Trunk or Treat, Oct 30Men's Nov. 5 Decathlon with Steak DinnerFall Church Work DayOperation Christmas Child 2022October 20, 2022Amani ya Juu Fair Trade Craft Sale 2022AHG sponsors Wreaths Across America 2022
November
Categories
Tags
52 VERSES
Adult Ministry
Bible
Children's Ministry
Crew Young Adults Ministry
Daily Devotional
Easter Offering
Easter
FAMILY
FIGHT
Family Ministry
Fellowship
Kenny Luck
Ladies
Missions
Music and Worship Ministry
Recreation Ministry
Right Now Media
Sacred Rhythms
Sermon MInistry
Study
Thriving in Babylon
Women
Youth Ministry
anxiety
couples
discipleship
faithtalks
finances
grace groups
make disciples
marriage
parenting
retreat
trainint
weekend to remember