[Dixielandjazz] non-PC Choo Choo

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

My tongue was somewhere in my cheek, or there was some cheek or irony in my reference to PC.
"Boy" is of course offensive as a conventional form of addressing an adult, and no doubt a lot of offence had to be suppressed for decades when that monosyllable was used casually and patronisingly -- or even insisted on -- white to non-white. 

It does strike me as worse than schoolmasterly or master-to-page/ servant when used addresssing anybody. 
It's wrong in terms not of a modern but rather a properly informed sensibility. 

Them that used the form used it because they was ignorant. 


I do remember Doc Cheatham joining in the applause after Red Richards (as he can be seen on YouTube doing another time) did his solo spot in a band set with Willie the Lion Smith's "Echo of Spring". As the applause subsided he observed, "I used to work with Willie the Lion," whose authoritarian bellow he proceeded to mimic: "take a solo, boy!" 
Doc touched his forelock, laughing, and added "Yassur!"

Unlike the uppityness of almost all white men, all the time, the Lion's imperious manner was not amiss. 
He did have authority!

cheers, y'all!
Robert R. Calder 


>________________________________
> From: Ron L'Herault <lherault at bu.edu>
>To: 'ROBERT R. CALDER' <serapion at btinternet.com> 
>Cc: 'Dixieland Jazz Mailing List' <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com> 
>Sent: Monday, 11 February 2013, 16:34
>Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] non-PC Choo Choo
> 
>I believe the person addressed in the film was a young lad who shined shoes,
>commonly called a shoe-shine boy and so "boy" would have fit the situation.
>Anytime you watch an old film or listen to old recordings you can't
>interpret them with modern sensibilities because they did not come into play
>when the recordings were made.
>
>Ronald L’Herault
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
>[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of ROBERT R.
>CALDER
>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 10:10 AM
>To: lherault at bu.edu
>Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] non-PC Choo Choo
>
>Chattanooga, indeed!
>
>Surely the opening, "Pardon me, boy"  (Boy!!!) is racist and these days
>unacceptable?
>
>
>
>