In short: No.
Originally, the song was made by Daniel Decatur Emmett, a man from [b]Ohio[/b]. And, it was a "Blackface" song, or really something you'd hear to mock African Americans. However, those offensive lyrics were only used in Blackface Minstrelsy and were quickly replaced with the modern lyrics (scroll down a bit to find it).
This is it's original lyrics. Not too explicit, but some MAY find it offensive. You have been warned, ninjas plz no ban:
[spoiler]
I wish I was in Canaan
Oaber dar—Oaber dar,
In Canaan's lann de color'd man
Can lib an die in cloaber
Oaber dar—Oaber dar,
Oaber dar in de lann ob Canaan.[18] [/spoiler]
Of course, it heavily exaggerates African American Vernacular English. But does that make the modern Dixie's Land a racist song? Let's look at it's "official" lyrics.
"Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten.
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
In Dixie's Land, where I was born in,
early on one frosty mornin'.
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand,
to live and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie!
Away, away, away down south in Dixie!
There's buckwheat cakes and Injun batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter.
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,
To Dixie's Land I'm bound to travel.
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand,
to live and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie!
Away, away, away down south in Dixie![15]"
Now, if it wasn't obvious enough, the tune was taken and different lyrics were inputted. So, that doesn't make the song racist. In fact, it's now regarded as a legitimate folk song about Southern Culture, and supporters of it, such as myself, regard people who attack/condemn the song as being politically correct.
However, Dixie was the Confederate's anthem. Does it make it racist? No, because:
1. The Confederacy wasn't formed because of slavery at first.
2. The song, along with it's lyrics, were composed well over a decade before the Confederacy was formed.
There you have it, folks.
[b]EDIT:[/b] This was one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs, and he had it played at many of his ceremonies and speeches.
English
#Offtopic
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Imagine the movie white chicks but opposite. Two white guys dressed up as black chicks doing all the stereotypes. Black face is bad, Dave Chappelle/Tyler the creators white face is fine?
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Yet people are still going to call it racist.
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Regarding origins of the civil war: Each state's document of secession is a good read. Tennessee is a particularly good one. Not sure why people don't read these. Sorry ahead of time for what you find there, they had some strong feelings about slaves and slavery back then.
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It sounded pretty good in Hell on Wheels
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Didn't help motivate them enough to win
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Is this a good spot to say something random? [spoiler]Random.[/spoiler]
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[b]Fun fact[/b]: [i]Dixie Land[/i] was one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs.
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Racism is labeled depending on the person apparently. My post long ago "what is your definition of racism" varied To some saying you hate all blacks at your school because they are loud, and want them to die.... could be considered racist Ask the person who said it though and they will say not it is not it is maybe genocidal but not racist because he isnt explicitly saying he is superior to them. It is impossible to pin down and easy to slink out of. That is why i dont bother using the word on these forums. Inb4 someone posts various definitions to justfy themselves.
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Yeah its racist, its about the lyrics not who adopted them. But we shouldn't take it down, its archaic lyrics are a great example of why history is important. Because it would prevent -blam!-ups like the whole slave trade.
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Racism isn't real, people just hate differently. Institutionalized racism is however real. Paradoxical amaright?
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Edited by Vekkei: 10/19/2016 3:52:52 AMyes thank you for telling us about a non racist song that 89% of us have no idea what this is
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Neat!!
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It's the theme song of the Democratic party
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It's very catchy. [spoiler]*whispers in your ear* it's free real estate.[/spoiler]
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Wow... This is actually worse than your usual political posting.
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Are you just running out if spam to post
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[b] [/b]