Home Invites Members Groups Events Careers Directories Videos News Photos Blogs Singles Forums Chat Health & Wellness
Home > Blogs > Post Content

The Clown (3045 hits)


The Clown
Another popular character which has its origin in slavery
is the African-American clown.
One of the primary forms of remaining in favor with the
slave master by the slave was to provide entertainment
for the master and his household. It is easy to observe that
man exults in his superiority over lower animals by
teaching them to do tricks and to be entertained by those
tricks. In much the same way, the slave owner prided
himself in his superiority by being entertained by the
slave. Writers have long pointed to the fester, the clown,
or the fool, as the inferior one who was responsible for
making his superior laugh. Using a person for your clown
has always been one of the major ways to assert your
dominance over a person. Mockery is one of the more
sophisticated forms of humiliation.
Great favors of leniency and special rewards were given
to the clowning slave. He enjoyed a special status above
the other slaves because he kept his master entertained.
Even the arts, music and dance, which had originally been
used for cultural expression and community recreation,
became devices which were used by the slave to protect
himself from the master's anger. "Fiddler," in the TV
drama, Roots, was a colorful example of this manipulative
function of the clown. Clowning and buffoonery became
one of the primary ways that the violent and abusive
slave master could be controlled and manipulated. A
laughing or satisfied master was less likely to be a violent
master. Frederick Douglass observes in his
autobiography:
In all the songs of the slaves, there was ever some
expression in praise of the great house farm; something
which would flatter the pride of the owner, and possibly
draw a favorable glance from him.
"I am going away to the great house farm, 0 yea! 0 yea! 0 yea!
My old master is a good old master,
0 yea! 0 yea! 0 yea!"
This they would sing, with other words of their own
improvisation-jargon to others, but full of meaning to
themselves.'
The problem with this pattern, as with others we have
discussed, is that this kind of response has long outlived
its real usefulness. What began as a survival tactic under
highly unnatural living conditions, has become a
crippling part of the psychology of a people seeking to
restore life and community to themselves.


The current slave mentality still inhibits
aspiration to be anything more than a clown. The clear
exception is Dr. Bill Cosby, who used the clown's role only
as a tool in the educational agenda from his mind and that
of others, who were committed to the advancement of
African- American life.
An even more common example of the modern slave
clown is the person who feels the necessity to be a daily
clown in his interactions with Caucasians. Many people
have observed or experienced the African-American
member of an interracial team serving as the entertainer
over lunch or at the party. Somehow, the "token" African-
American always manages to be the "funniest guy." It
becomes an obsession on the part of the minority member
to maintain favor with his colleagues by keeping them
laughing. He often finds himself being urged: "Come on
Sam, tell us a joke."
So another old pattern, with its roots in slavery, continues
to bring rewards on the modern stage. Human beings are
unable to be about the serious business of living and
building societies if they feel compelled to always clown
or entertain others. People do not take you seriously if
you don't take yourself seriously. A sense of humor brings
necessary balance to an organized life, but a life of humor
blinds one to life.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, July 17th 2014 at 8:45PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...

Report obscenity | post comment
Share |
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR CHILD
Oprah sells ''Own'' network for pennies on the dollar - The Dr Boyce Breakdown
should marijuanas be legalized pros and cons
MALCOUM X !! ''SHUT EM DOWN PARADE'' REAL Gs live with Sa Neter T v and HOK, family
testing 1 2 3 can you hear me
testing 1 2 3 can you hear me
should marijuanas be legalized pros and cons
REAL Gs TV ! SELF DESTRUCTION !! '''THE REMIX'''' ! 2019 BarelyTeens and Friends
Forward This Blog Entry!
Blogs Home

(Advertise Here)
New Members
>> more | invite 
Latest Jobs
Maintenance Seasonal Worker with State of Connecticut Department of Transportation in Various locations, CT.
New Grad Hire – R&D Product Dvl Engineer I with TE Connectivity in Central PA, PA.
Product Engineer I with TE Connectivity in Central PA, PA.
R&D Product/Development Engineer I with TE Connectivity in Central PA, PA.
Emergency Management Program Specialist - Apply by 4/4/24! with State of Connecticut, Executive Branch in Middletown, CT.
>> more | add
Employer Showcase
>> more | add