The gentleman on the left is one Frederick Christ* Trump, father of the devil himself. (Although, to be fair, the devil's much smarter than Donald, and would know which way up to hold a Bible.)
The gentleman on the right is Woody Guthrie.
Many, many years ago, Fred Trump was Woody Guthrie's landlord. In 1954, Woody Guthrie wrote a song about "the racist housing practices and discriminatory rental policies" of his landlord, but never recorded it. The lyrics were unearthed years later and recorded by both U.S. Elevator, and later by Ryan Harvey, with Ani DiFranco & Tom Morello.
I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate
He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts
When he drawed that colour line
Here at his Beach Haven family project
Beach Haven ain't my home!
No, I just can't pay this rent!
My money's down the drain,
And my soul is badly bent!
Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower
Where no black folks come to roam,
No, no, Old Man Trump!
Old Beach Haven ain't my home!
U.S. Elevator - Beach Haven Ain't My Home
Ryan Harvey - Old Man Trump
Eliza Gilkyson revisits this story on her new album 2020. But rather than recording another version of Woody's lyrics, she's unearthed a letter, written by Guthrie and sent directly to Trump Sr. It was written two years before the song above and is a little more upbeat in tone, pleading with Trump to change his evil ways, “tear down these race hate locks” and “rip out the strangling red tape” that stopped non-white people living in the same apartment complex as Woody.
It's the ultimate Positive Song For Negative Times... written 68 years ago.
And we could shake hands together
And get together
And walk together
And talk together
And sing together
And dance together
And work together
And play together
The more things change...
(*That's not a joke. Fred's father was a Trump, his mother was a Christ. Google it if you don't believe me. Like everything else about The Donald, it's beyond parody.)
Like father like son
ReplyDeleteAn interesting historical artefact there Rol. Thanks
Crikey - from 68 years ago. That's a very illuminating artefact indeed. Little Richard who died recently was given kudos for having broken down so many barriers with his music, but again over 60 years ago. As you say, the more things change...
ReplyDeleteBloody hell - that is so telling. It's really something to see such prejudice recorded in that way, but sadly it comes as no surprise. So apposite in these times too and it shouldn't still feel like that. Thanks for such a revealing and interesting artefact as CC says.
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I call interesting.
ReplyDeleteGobsmacked. Every day, truly is a schoolday.
ReplyDelete