- Jan 7, 2002
- 12,755
- 3
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http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0511/14/metro-381479.htm
BERKLEY -- The Berkley School District has pulled a song about cotton-picking from a school concert after a parent complained it glorified slavery.
The song, "Pick a Bale of Cotton," was among several selections planned for folk music choir concert at Berkley High on Wednesday. Choir student China Montgomery and her father, Greg Montgomery -- who are African-American -- objected to the song last week and asked to have it pulled from the program, but the district initially refused. Montgomery then pulled his daughter from the concert.
"We never wanted to cause this much distress for a child or her family," said district spokeswoman Gwen Ahearn.
The Montgomerys were pleased by the news.
"I feel it was a wise decision. We felt the song was insensitive. It shouldn't have come to this," said Greg Montgomery. "There's no animosity or ill feelings toward the district. The right decision was made, and that's all that's important."
Montgomery said he will allow his daughter to preform in the choir concert Wednesday at Berkley High School now that the song has been pulled from the program.
Ahearn said Superintendent Tresa Zumsteg was unaware of the controversy last week and decided Monday to pull the song.
"She came in this morning and said she's pulling it," Ahearn said. "It was a big surprise to us that it had become an issue."
Ahearn defended the decision to originally include the song in the concert by 30 choir students, six of whom are African-American.
"(The teacher) did not pick this song with the intention of offending anyone. Folk music is like an oral history" that often portrays the struggles of its era, she said. "They're more laments."
The song's lyrics included "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh Lordie, pick a bale a day."
The show will continue as planned Wednesday without the controversial song.
BERKLEY -- The Berkley School District has pulled a song about cotton-picking from a school concert after a parent complained it glorified slavery.
The song, "Pick a Bale of Cotton," was among several selections planned for folk music choir concert at Berkley High on Wednesday. Choir student China Montgomery and her father, Greg Montgomery -- who are African-American -- objected to the song last week and asked to have it pulled from the program, but the district initially refused. Montgomery then pulled his daughter from the concert.
"We never wanted to cause this much distress for a child or her family," said district spokeswoman Gwen Ahearn.
The Montgomerys were pleased by the news.
"I feel it was a wise decision. We felt the song was insensitive. It shouldn't have come to this," said Greg Montgomery. "There's no animosity or ill feelings toward the district. The right decision was made, and that's all that's important."
Montgomery said he will allow his daughter to preform in the choir concert Wednesday at Berkley High School now that the song has been pulled from the program.
Ahearn said Superintendent Tresa Zumsteg was unaware of the controversy last week and decided Monday to pull the song.
"She came in this morning and said she's pulling it," Ahearn said. "It was a big surprise to us that it had become an issue."
Ahearn defended the decision to originally include the song in the concert by 30 choir students, six of whom are African-American.
"(The teacher) did not pick this song with the intention of offending anyone. Folk music is like an oral history" that often portrays the struggles of its era, she said. "They're more laments."
The song's lyrics included "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh Lordie, pick a bale a day."
The show will continue as planned Wednesday without the controversial song.
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