A liberal theater professor at world-renowned Boston University raised eyebrows on Friday, after she claimed the iconic Christmas song ‘Jingle Bells’ has “racist origins” that were “systematically removed from its history.”
Kyna Hamill, a theater historian at the left-leaning college, trashed the legendary song in her survey paper, titled “The story I must tell: ‘Jingle Bells’ in the Minstrel Repertoire.”
Jingle Bells has “racist origins”?
In it, she claims the holiday song has a secret history used in “blackface” performances throughout the United States.
“Although ‘One Horse Open Sleigh,’ for most of its singers and listeners, may have eluded its racialized past and taken its place in the seemingly unproblematic romanticization of a normal ‘white’ Christmas, attention to the circumstances of its performance history enables reflection on its problematic role in the construction of blackness and whiteness in the United States,” she wrote.
“Its origins emerged from the economic needs of a perpetually unsuccessful man, the racial politics of antebellum Boston, the city’s climate, and the intertheatrical repertoire of commercial blackface performers moving between Boston and New York,” Hamill added.
“As I mentioned in my article, the first documented performance of the song is in a blackface minstrel hall in Boston in 1857, the same year it was copyrighted,” Hamill told Fox News. “Much research has been done on the problematic history of this nineteenth-century entertainment.”
CHRISTMAS CANCELED: Nazareth BANS CHRISTMAS After Trump’s Jerusalem Remarks
The northern Israeli town of Nazareth has canceled their annual Christmas festivities for 2017, saying the Muslim-majority village “cannot be bargained with” and claiming “Trump’s decision” on Jerusalem has “taken the joy” out of the season.
According to Fox News, Nazareth’s mayor, Ali Salam, slammed the President’s recent decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying all festivities –including the famed Christmas flea market- will not be taking place.
“Our identity and faith cannot be bargained,” Salam, a Muslim, said. “[Trump’s] decision has taken away the joy of the holiday and we will cancel the festivities this year.”
President Trump made history earlier this month when he upended nearly two decades of empty promises and announced the US embassy in Tel Aviv will be moved to Jerusalem. Previous presidents have vowed to finally relocate the US ambassador, but have authorized a waiver delaying the decision.
The decision was met with demonstrations and protests throughout the Muslim world, with Hamas calling for a “day of rage” over the historic decision.
OUCH: Huckabee Sanders ROASTS CNN Over Christmas Snub
Christmas comes early! Finally, good news from @CNN. https://t.co/3GeJysIol3
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 29, 2017