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  • Reply to: Jim Crow Propaganda   18 years 6 months ago
    The mere fact, if true, that "most of Knipp's performance cities are located in the South", tells me nothing about how popular or unpopular he may be. Nor in itself does it even demonstrate that he's "more" popular in that region than others, since there could be any number of explanations for his choice of venues. In fact the evidence suggests that, far from being "popular", Knipp is essentially unknown outside the circle of drag enthusiasts and homosexual club patrons.<br> <br> Anyway, Toronto, Boston and Pittsburgh now qualify as "deep South"? And Austin, New Orleans, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa/Clearwater (their latitude notwithstanding)? At best your list is 50/50. Not that it matters since your syllogism is incomplete to begin with.<br> <br> I respectfully suggest that you and your sociologist pal [a] take a course in basic logic and [b] examine your own ignorant prejudices.
  • Reply to: Jim Crow Propaganda   18 years 6 months ago
    To begin with, David Pilgrim, the sociologist whose collection is the basis for the Jim Crow Museum, has written that Knipp is popular in the deep South, as have other reporters familiar with his act. For example, Keith Boykin reports that "[http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/000488.html| most of Knipp's performance cities are located in the South] ... From Pittsburgh, it's off to Boston, Austin, New Orleans, Memphis, Jackson, Mobile, Ft. Lauderdale and Clearwater, all by the end of the year. He also plans to be in Toronto, Columbia, Augusta, Savannah and Houston soon." As for the notion that all stereotypes are "equally objectionable," that's just ridiculous and certainly doesn't follow from "my logic."
  • Reply to: Jim Crow Propaganda   18 years 6 months ago
    I wonder what evidence you can offer for your claim that Charles Knipp's performances are "popular in the deep South"? Where did you get that? I'd suggest you're perpetuating some stereotypes yourself. Though drag performances are hardly unheard of, it's fair to say that drag queens are not exceptionally or unusually "popular in the deep South". Indeed, Knipp claims his fans include "Patti Labelle, Margaret Cho, RuPaul, Lipsynca, Jimmy James and Don Imus." In any event, are not all drag characters based on stereotypes of women and therefore equally objectionable, by your logic?
  • Reply to: Jim Crow Propaganda   18 years 6 months ago
    Although Aunt Jemima was a fictional character, she wasn't just a face on a box. She was played by actual women including, Brown County, Ohio native Rose Washington Parks,1901-1969, during the 1950s. This story was published 01/16/2001 in the Ledger Independent in Maysville, Ky. Rosa Washington Riles -- Aunt Jemima born in Brown County By T. J. TUCKER Staff Writer Aunt Jemima www.ripleyk.12.oh.us/ripley/historicripley/aunt_jemima.htm. Rosa Washington Riles, better known as "Aunt Jemima" was one of Brown County's most noted but least known natives. Although, the character of Aunt Jemima has been often criticized for its stereotypical portrayal of African-Americans, Rosa remains one of Brown County's most beloved daughters. "Aunt Jemima" was born in 1901 as Rosa Washington near Red Oak, Brown County, Ohio. She was one of several children of Robert and Julie (Holliday) Washington and a grand-daughter of George and Phoeba Washington, all of whom, like her, are buried in the Red Oak Presbyterian Graveyard somewhat south of her birthplace. She died in 1969. Rosa became "Aunt Jemima" in the 1950's. She was employed as a cook in the home of a Quaker Oats executive and went out for pancake demonstrations at her employer's request. This was following the death of Nancy Green, the former Aunt Jemima. The portrait of Rosa Washington showed a smiling, laughing, good-humored face that brought instant thoughts of delicious goodies and the anticipation of the stomach warming excellence of steaming hot pancakes smothered with fresh butter and maple syrup. Rosa rose to fame because of her jovial personality, which so readily won fans and friends as she toured the United States annually giving her demonstrations. She often would do demonstrations in Ripley and Georgetown. In the beginning of Rosa Washington's career as Aunt Jemima, the pancake mix was packaged and sold in one-pound covered cardboard cartons. At that period her portrait covered one entire side of the carton. Later redesigning of the packages reduced her portrait to a silver-dollar sized medallion in the upper left corner of the side of the box, and that is exactly how it can be found on the store shelves yet today. During the well advertised and well attended demonstrations, Aunt Jemima also promoted Log Cabin Syrup and Ball's Milk. At various times along the way, advertising "gimmicks" such as salt and pepper shakers, penny banks and rag dolls were produced - all in the easily recognized form of the chubby Aunt Jemima. Today, a collection of Aunt Jemima souvenirs and collector's items can be found at the Red Oak Church. The late Glen Woods of Russellville, Ohio, gave this collection to the church in recognition of what Aunt Jemima had contributed to the people of the United States. In honor of Aunt Jemima, an annual pancake breakfast is held at the church. The proceeds are used for the upkeep of the old part of the cemetery next to the church. Those attending often visit the grave of Rosa and reflect upon her life and its importance. She so successfully concealed her greatness, that few today who pass rapidly along the Ripley-Russellville Pike (Route 62/68) realize that the birth site and burial place of "Aunt Jemima" can be seen from that highway. Her daughter, Mrs. Ruth Sugg, who lives in Cincinnati travels from home to Red Oak every Memorial Day and Christmas to place flowers on the graves of her mother, her brothers and her grandparents and great-grand-parents. (From research papers of the late Glenn Woods recorded on Ripley's Web site at www.ripleyk.12.oh.us/ripley/historicripley/aunt_jemima.htm.).
  • Reply to: Sludge Slippage   18 years 6 months ago
    No biggie, but please revise the above "a lot of kooks" sentence to read "while in Georgia" . . . as that's THEIR Athens and Columbus in the linked article. :) Not that we don't have sludge problems in Ohio! http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/09/21/20050921-B1-04.html Keep up the great work!!!!!

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