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Why 'My Old Kentucky Home' is controversial, explained
TL;DR
The song 'My Old Kentucky Home' is the state song of Kentucky but is controversial due to its origins and racist lyrics. Written in 1853, it reflects themes of slavery and has sparked debate about its appropriateness at events like the Kentucky Derby.
Key points
- The song is the Kentucky state song.
- It was written by Stephen Foster in 1853.
- The lyrics originally included a racist term.
- The song reflects themes of slavery.
- It is played at the Kentucky Derby.
If you watch the Kentucky Derby, you know one of the most notable pastimes is a playing of the old Stephen Foster song "My Old Kentucky Home."
While it's the Kentucky state song, the ballad carries with it a good bit of controversy for its origins.
The song was written by Foster in 1853 for a traveling minstrel group, per The Courrier-Journal's Chris Kenning. The initial lyrics featured a racist term used to describe the Black slaves of the time, as the content of the song involves a slave being sold into bondage and saying farewell to their home.
Kenning wrote about this specific context of the song's problematic origins back in 2019:
"It's a tragic song" that has "become such a key part of a classic American celebration," said Emily Bingham, a Louisville historian working on a book on the song.
Written in 1853 by Stephen Foster for a traveling minstrel group, the song is a slave's lament about being sold down the river. The slave is saying goodbye to Kentucky to face abuse and toil in the "land where the sugar canes grow."
The original lyrics included the line, "the darkies are gay," before the Kentucky General Assembly in 1986 changed some of the offending words, substituting "people" for "darky" and "darkies."
The song is typically performed by the University of Louisville Marching Band and choir as the horses head to the starting gate.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: My Old Kentucky Home controversy at Kentucky Derby, explained
Q&A
What are the controversial origins of 'My Old Kentucky Home'?
The song was written in 1853 by Stephen Foster for a minstrel group and originally included a racist term for Black slaves, reflecting themes of slavery.
Why is 'My Old Kentucky Home' played at the Kentucky Derby?
'My Old Kentucky Home' is traditionally played at the Kentucky Derby as it is the state song of Kentucky, despite its controversial lyrics.
What impact has the controversy around 'My Old Kentucky Home' had on its performance?
The controversy has led to discussions about its appropriateness at public events, prompting some to reconsider its performance due to its historical context.