Context and the Magic Negro Song

Posted on 12/31/2008 at 8:00 pm by Bob Cesca

Here’s a clip of Bill O’Reilly being deliberately thick about the Saltsman song parody thing. What O’Reilly and, frankly, both of his panelists don’t get is that in addition to the racially stereotypical “Step ‘n Fetch It” voice, the offensive and racist aspect of the song parody has to do with who is peddling it…

…A Republican white man name Paul Shanklin. And it was made famous by a racist white Republican man named Rush Limbaugh. And now it’s being circulated by a Republican operative named Chip Saltsman who doesn’t seem to understand why people are offended by it.

The Republicans have, to say the least, a problem with race (see my book for lots of examples). So it stands to reason that when white Republicans dive into an attempted comedy piece that features an offensive voice and lyrics that contain the words “magic negro,” there’s a very strong possibility that it comes from a place of conscious or subconscious racism.

Yes, The Simpsons or The Daily Show might be able to get away with this kind of bit because in those contexts, the hypothetical comedy would very likely skew into the realms of satirizing or mocking people like Limbaugh who deal in racial stereotypes. Coming from Republicans like Saltsman and Limbaugh, on the other hand, it’s just wrong.

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  • http://www.leestranahan.com Lee Stranahan

    Well, the purpose isn’t comedy, really. The song is used to highlight a political argument that Limbaugh has put forward repeatedly – that the reason people support Obama is because he’s black or out of a sense of ‘white guilt’.It’s not a point I think The Simpsons would make.

  • http://politicalpartypooper.wordpress.com/ Political Party Pooper

    Chef from South Park could have pulled this song off. That’s about it. Of course, South Park rips everyone, which is the way it should be.

  • http://www.osborneink.com Matt Osborne

    Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.Little Chippy Saltsman loves that bastard Rush,Distributing a parody containing his fat fluff. oh!Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.Together they conspired to spread a racist tuneHoping it would get around on iPods and on Zunes.For our new recession they give Barack the blame,Then insist there is no crime in saying his middle name. oh!Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.A smear can live forever, but not so big fat twitsPunditry and racist screeds don’t require much in wits.One great night will happen, Rush will speak no more.A few too many oxy pills will end this fiery bore!His head too full of hot air, his chest too full of bile,Chip will need a new ally on the radio dial.Without their slimy speaker, the GOP will fade,Republicans will finally go slip into their caves. oh!Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.Rush, the big fat bastard, on WABCSpewing propaganda forth while popping his O.C.

  • http://willpen.wordpress.com willpen

    This is classic 1950′s TV, Step and Fetchit, Mr Benny’ Rochester small minded negro white world humor that has no place nine years into the 21st century.I would have hoped that we had grown past this ignorant crap, but when you have the likes of a fat bastard Rush Limbaugh eating away at the minds of his mindless minions and making them believe that this should actually be thought of at all… then we really STILL have some major issues in this country that NEED to be addressed.I get angry about lots of things, but this just really pushes every fricking button that I have. IMO there is NO justification for this at all.As PPP pointed out about South Parks Chef, even his satire lent itself more to a 1970′s type of Superfly image, which was satirical in and of itself. These images that are trying to be portrayed in this supposed song parody are images from my youth that I long to obliterate from my brain.I am now skulking back into my hole to continue watching the Twilight Zone. I have “To Serve Man” paused right now on my DVR and I am going to watch the Kanamits prepare their dinner.

  • scribblechic

    I’m doing “The Magic Negro” shuffle all over the rotting corpses of the tired ass republican party.RNC: Where the NEW klan meets.

  • Eric

    I’d be interested to know Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice’s opinion about this song and if they even received a copy.

  • Bob_Cesca

    Brilliant, Matt!

  • Teaflax

    Not to mention that The Simpsons or The Daily Show would have made it funny, not to mention clever and more musically adept.

  • Mike from Boston

    It comes down to simple decorum. Had Howard Dean distributed a song called “Chimpy, the retarded ex(?) alcoholic”, then news pundits around the clock would be speculating WHEN Dean was going to retire from his chair, NOT asking whether the song is offensive.

  • Mike from Boston

    And when I use the word “Decorum”, its meant to be dripping with sarcasm.

    Long time reader, first time commenter. Love what your doing Mr Cesca.

  • http://www.windonwater.net QueenTiye

    Its even simpler than all of this. Barack Obama is a full human being with a full platform of ideas and by definition then, is NOT a “magic negro” except to whites who reduce him to such and refuse to take him seriously. So, in a single swipe, this “parody” attacks all whites who supported Obama as mindless and objectifies Obama.I, like Eric, wonder if black republicans got a copy of this “gift”. What I’m hoping for is a staged protest by black republicans – that they en masse form a 3rd part movement at the January 7th powwow.QT

  • scribblechic

    Yeah don’t hold your breath Queen. Cuz I love you and I’d hate to see you go. :-)

  • Connie

    I almost hate myself for this, because I can’t stand Rush. However, reading the lyrics and understanding the context of the song, I think the point isn’t that they (meaning Rush, conservatives, etc.) think of Obama as the “magic negro”, but that the LA Times had done a few pieces on how whites may vote for Obama to assuage their own guilt. Also, it’s sung by a guy impersonating Al Sharpton being angry about Obama’s popularity, and using the “magic negro” gimmick to attack Obama’s “street cred”:(“See, real black men, like Snoop Dogg,Or me, or FarrakhanHave talked the talk, and walked the walk.Not come in late and won!”)I don’t think the parody is funny; the writing sucks and the point is stupid and overplayed, but I think alot of people are wrong in attacking the song as racist. Lyrically, it is a mocking commentary on what the LA Times had written- calling the articles out on THEIR racism in using the “magic negro” methodology.