"Accidental Racist"

I'll be posting the full lyrics below, and I'm sure everyone has been reading the media buzz and pushback against the song. I am going to try and historically analyze what I believe to be the main problem within the song's racial dialogue (one among many).

So the first time I read through the lyrics, I think I was intending to find something I liked. I like the idea of a famous country artist and a rapper doing a piece on racism today. I think I was hoping for something addressing white privilege or dialogue of more modern situations.

I pulled out one of the lyrics I found powerful -

“I’d love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air

But I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn’t here.” (L.L. Cool J)

The idea of racial dialogue about the impact of the Confederate Flag being used for Southern Pride is a positive conversation about racial tensions that remain in existence in the South. However, the problem with the lyrics to the song, and the reason I find them to be antiquated when it comes to racial dialogue is the discussion of the black man’s reaction to the Confederate Flag being confined to a connection to slavery. The song directly references the 150-year anniversary, and I am sure that a song about a man coming into Starbucks with a Confederate Flag shirt was L.L. Cool J and Paisley’s response to that anniversary.

The issue, however, is simplifying the flag as a representation of Southern Pride today and the Confederacy. It ignores the 150 years between today and the Civil War that the flag was used as symbol of white supremacy. The song appears to have good intentions, but it ends up being accidentally racist in return.

I could continue to criticize some further lines, but I believe the biggest limitation of the lyrics is their basis on the master narrative of the times whites ‘mistreated’ or ‘helped’ the blacks (i.e. references to Lincoln, Sherman’s March, Reconstruction, Django (non-historical), Robert E. Lee). These simplify the idea that racial dialogue is only needed as an apologetic for slavery.

“if you don’t judge my gold chains, I’ll forget the iron chains” 

"Accidental Racist"
(feat. Ll Cool J)

To the man that waited on me at the Starbucks down on Main, I hope you understand
When I put on that t-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is I’m a Skynyrd fan
The red flag on my chest somehow is like the elephant in the corner of the south
And I just walked him right in the room
Just a proud rebel son with an ‘ol can of worms
Lookin’ like I got a lot to learn but from my point of view

I’m just a white man comin’ to you from the southland
Tryin’ to understand what it’s like not to be
I’m proud of where I’m from but not everything we’ve done
And it ain’t like you and me can re-write history
Our generation didn’t start this nation
We’re still pickin’ up the pieces, walkin’ on eggshells, fightin’ over yesterday
And caught between southern pride and southern blame

They called it Reconstruction, fixed the buildings, dried some tears
We’re still siftin’ through the rubble after a hundred-fifty years
I try to put myself in your shoes and that’s a good place to begin
But it ain’t like I can walk a mile in someone else’s skin

‘Cause I’m a white man livin’ in the southland
Just like you I’m more than what you see
I’m proud of where I’m from but not everything we’ve done
And it ain’t like you and me can re-write history
Our generation didn’t start this nation
And we’re still paying for mistakes
That a bunch of folks made long before we came
And caught between southern pride and southern blame

Dear Mr. White Man, I wish you understood
What the world is really like when you’re livin’ in the hood
Just because my pants are saggin’ doesn’t mean I’m up to no good
You should try to get to know me, I really wish you would
Now my chains are gold but I’m still misunderstood
I wasn’t there when Sherman’s March turned the south into firewood
I want you to get paid but be a slave I never could
Feel like a new fangled Django, dodgin’ invisible white hoods
So when I see that white cowboy hat, I’m thinkin’ it’s not all good
I guess we’re both guilty of judgin’ the cover not the book
I’d love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air
But I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn’t here

I’m just a white man
(If you don’t judge my do-rag)
Comin’ to you from the southland
(I won’t judge your red flag)
Tryin’ to understand what it’s like not to be

I’m proud of where I’m from
(If you don’t judge my gold chains)
But not everything we’ve done
(I’ll forget the iron chains)
it ain’t like you and me can re-write history
(Can’t re-write history baby)

Oh, Dixieland
(The relationship between the Mason-Dixon needs some fixin’)
I hope you understand what this is all about
(Quite frankly I’m a black Yankee but I’ve been thinkin’ about this lately)
I’m a son of the new south
(The past is the past, you feel me)
And I just want to make things right
(Let bygones be bygones)
Where all that’s left is southern pride
(RIP Robert E. Lee but I’ve gotta thank Abraham Lincoln for freeing me, know what I mean)
It’s real, it’s real
It’s truth