Normally, I'm one to balk at ever raising race as an issue to contend with of my own accord, but...I've been unable to find any black/African-American/Negro cigar box artists other than myself either here or at sites like Cigar Box Nation. I even took at the movie site for Songs Inside the Box, looked at the featured artist--hardly a brown face to be found there either.
Now, I realize all too well that this was not a conscious effort on anyone's part. Perhaps there are no black bottleneckers playing cigar box guitars anymore.
I don't know. I do know that I'm a lonely one--which is ironic considering the past of CBGs. But I can't quite bring myself to believe I'm the only one.
And, if I am, I can't believe I wasn't included in the documentary!!! I mean, I can play!
Ha-ha-ha! How's that for a shameless plug amid a socially-conscious discussion?
Seriously, though, I'd appeciate everyone's thoughts.
- Kevin
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Many good observations! Cultural alienation seems common among most Americanized ethnic groups, eh?
Keni Lee Burgess said:
You know, you bring up an interesting point. I have attended many Blues guitar workshops and they are usually filled with middle aged white men. LOL I also have trained in martial arts all my life and oddly, most are men of various ethnic races, but the minority are Asian. Actually at this point it is funny. I know many instructors who are not Asian and have Asian students. These teachers know more about Asian culture than their Americanized Asian students. LOL Sadly, the joke is they are selling their culture back to them. I have not done an indept study of sociology, but it may be due to the fact that many African Americans do not appreciate the value of their early culture. This is understandable considering they lived under great suppression. This is the same situation with first generation immigrants too. Out with the old and in with the new. They don't want to look back at the bad times of the past, but instead look into the amazing new things and ideas of the future. Personally, I feel that Blues addresses the human condition that anyone can relate too regarless of their cultural background. Suffering, pain, loss, anger, joy, happiness...etc. are all universal. You can't tell anything about a person by looking at them. All you really see is your own opinions. Understand in no way am I disregarding racism. It is still alive and well, but speaking for myself (and being white) I can only try to understand and help eliminate it because I have never been a victim of it. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, Keni Lee
You know, you bring up an interesting point. I have attended many Blues guitar workshops and they are usually filled with middle aged white men. LOL I also have trained in martial arts all my life and oddly, most are men of various ethnic races, but the minority are Asian. Actually at this point it is funny. I know many instructors who are not Asian and have Asian students. These teachers know more about Asian culture than their Americanized Asian students. LOL Sadly, the joke is they are selling their culture back to them.
I have not done an indept study of sociology, but it may be due to the fact that many African Americans do not appreciate the value of their early culture. This is understandable considering they lived under great suppression. This is the same situation with first generation immigrants too. Out with the old and in with the new. They don't want to look back at the bad times of the past, but instead look into the amazing new things and ideas of the future.
Personally, I feel that Blues addresses the human condition that anyone can relate too regarless of their cultural background. Suffering, pain, loss, anger, joy, happiness...etc. are all universal. You can't tell anything about a person by looking at them. All you really see is your own opinions. Understand in no way am I disregarding racism. It is still alive and well, but speaking for myself (and being white) I can only try to understand and help eliminate it because I have never been a victim of it. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, Keni Lee
Thanks. And understand, I didn't mean to imply that color was important. I only thinks it's odd, given the history and origins of CBGs, that there are so few black performers...anymore. And I wondered what happened to cause that. I certainly feel welcome here. Here we are brothers all!
Bob Cianci said:
Kevin...Color is not an issue here, I assure you, and I'm sure everyone agrees. You're part of the group. Welcome.
"In the span of civilization.... blah, blah, blah,....." Heck no one really knows why at any given moment in time a certain group is into this or than and another group isn't. We'd probably have to intereview every person to see why they (think they) are into certain things at this precise moment in time. I'm just glad that it seems that at least here and now ethnicity is not a barrier that would keep someone out or a qualifier that admitted someone to our wonderful world of CBGing.
I'd be totally bummed if I had to be a certain race to be "authentic" playing my CBGs. I'd be outraged if someone told you the same. Keep playing and we'll all keep the door open.
"In the span of civilization.... blah, blah, blah,....." Heck no one really knows why at any given moment in time a certain group is into this or than and another group isn't. We'd probably have to intereview every person to see why they (think they) are into certain things at this precise moment in time. I'm just glad that it seems that at least here and now ethnicity is not a barrier that would keep someone out or a qualifier that admitted someone to our wonderful world of CBGing.
I'd be totally bummed if I had to be a certain race to be "authentic" playing my CBGs. I'd be outraged if someone told you the same. Keep playing and we'll all keep the door open.
I'm delighted that I've sparked such a vigorous discussion!
Paul Doug said:
I am a none musical member, can't play a thing, but love to build. Got to say though I find this a great thread and very interesting. The only thing I can say is I feel with the younger people, it is all about what is popular no matter what race you are and the blues and such is just not the in thing for most. Sad but true and we all went through it pretty much at a young age. Can't wait for the day when to old folks are saying "why doesn't anyone rap anymore?" Coarse I will be long gon by than.
I read with great interest and Kevin, thanks for bringing it up, and thanks for being a member here.
I am a none musical member, can't play a thing, but love to build. Got to say though I find this a great thread and very interesting. The only thing I can say is I feel with the younger people, it is all about what is popular no matter what race you are and the blues and such is just not the in thing for most. Sad but true and we all went through it pretty much at a young age. Can't wait for the day when to old folks are saying "why doesn't anyone rap anymore?" Coarse I will be long gon by than.
I read with great interest and Kevin, thanks for bringing it up, and thanks for being a member here.
Your words are much-appreciated, my friend. Thank you!
Fernando Amorim said:
Here in Portugal we use to say something like, "better alone, than with bad companies!" But you're not alone, as you know by now, the great Rev. KM Williams is also in the nation! Here in my country, the black community only care about fu****ing hip-hop, rap, and similar kinds of music (?) they are all African natives, from Angola, Mozambique, cabo verde,etc... and they don't know anything about the blues!!!! what a shame!
When I took a look at your pictures, I just thought: "this guy is a young incarnation of Taj Mahal!", and you should be proud of that, that’s rare today, everybody’s trying to be like hip-hop and R&B pop stars, some of them useless people!
I don't care if you're black or white, because people for me are all the same, blood, flesh, bone and SOUL! And I love people with soul! That’s what matters, SOUL! Not the color of the skin!
Many of my greatest music idols are black people!
And I thank God for their existence!
You might be right about the African native populations not knowing anything about blues, but I think blues style music is not their background/history per se. Plus, the African nations are very diverse and their cultures don't have the same historical background for the blues. Rap and hip-hop are popular and if you want to be culturally modern, that's what you listen to. It does take one with a greater appreciation for music to understand any style of music.
I did find one GREAT bluesman from the Cameroon on youtube (Jean-Rene Reming). You ought to check him out.
Fernando Amorim said:
Here in Portugal we use to say something like, "better alone, than with bad companies!" But you're not alone, as you know by now, the great Rev. KM Williams is also in the nation! Here in my country, the black community only care about fu****ing hip-hop, rap, and similar kinds of music (?) they are all African natives, from Angola, Mozambique, cabo verde,etc... and they don't know anything about the blues!!!! what a shame!
When I took a look at your pictures, I just thought: "this guy is a young incarnation of Taj Mahal!", and you should be proud of that, that’s rare today, everybody’s trying to be like hip-hop and R&B pop stars, some of them useless people!
I don't care if you're black or white, because people for me are all the same, blood, flesh, bone and SOUL! And I love people with soul! That’s what matters, SOUL! Not the color of the skin!
Many of my greatest music idols are black people!
And I thank God for their existence!
Replies
Keni Lee Burgess said:
I have not done an indept study of sociology, but it may be due to the fact that many African Americans do not appreciate the value of their early culture. This is understandable considering they lived under great suppression. This is the same situation with first generation immigrants too. Out with the old and in with the new. They don't want to look back at the bad times of the past, but instead look into the amazing new things and ideas of the future.
Personally, I feel that Blues addresses the human condition that anyone can relate too regarless of their cultural background. Suffering, pain, loss, anger, joy, happiness...etc. are all universal. You can't tell anything about a person by looking at them. All you really see is your own opinions. Understand in no way am I disregarding racism. It is still alive and well, but speaking for myself (and being white) I can only try to understand and help eliminate it because I have never been a victim of it. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, Keni Lee
Bob Cianci said:
Wichita Sam said:
"In the span of civilization.... blah, blah, blah,....." Heck no one really knows why at any given moment in time a certain group is into this or than and another group isn't. We'd probably have to intereview every person to see why they (think they) are into certain things at this precise moment in time. I'm just glad that it seems that at least here and now ethnicity is not a barrier that would keep someone out or a qualifier that admitted someone to our wonderful world of CBGing.
I'd be totally bummed if I had to be a certain race to be "authentic" playing my CBGs. I'd be outraged if someone told you the same. Keep playing and we'll all keep the door open.
the best,
Wichita Sam
Paul Doug said:
I read with great interest and Kevin, thanks for bringing it up, and thanks for being a member here.
Fernando Amorim said:
I did find one GREAT bluesman from the Cameroon on youtube (Jean-Rene Reming). You ought to check him out.
Fernando Amorim said:
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