Dear Schoolhouse Rock creators/artists/writers/musicians:
I grew up with your catchy songs that aid learning. (For Millennials and GenZ, it’s like the 1970s version of “Hamilton.”)
It should be no surprise that I’m partial to the grammar ones:
- “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get your adverbs here.“
- “Conjunction Junction: What’s your function?“
- “He was a hairy bear. He was a scary bear. We beat a hasty retreat from his lair. And we unpacked our adjectives.“
I mean, just TRY to get those out of your head.
I’ve been thinking about one in specific lately: The Great American Melting Pot.
And, even more specifically, these lyrics:
It doesn’t matter what your skin.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from,
Or your religion, you jump right in
To the great American melting pot.
Yeah. A bit idealistic, no?
People are actively protesting because skin color DOES matter. (When people say, “I don’t see color,” my eyes nearly roll out of my head. Of course you see skin color just like you notice if someone has brown hair. The key is not attaching JUDGMENT.)
And immigration … well. It’s like people want to say, “That’s it: America is closed.”
Don’t even get me started on religious bias.
So. I’m writing this because I’d really love a revival where you tackle thorny issues such as redlining, Jim Crow laws, Operation Mockingbird, First Amendment rights, white privilege, etc.
I feel like storytelling via music could come in handy here.
I remember when I first truly understood the concept of white privilege. I had walked a couple of blocks in downtown Atlanta and overheard three separate conversations among black people where the subject was race.
I went home that night and asked Eddie if he thinks about being Hispanic on a regular basis. He said he did. He’s been pulled over and asked to prove he’s legal, for example. He’s Puerto Rican, FFS.
And that’s when it clicked: I rarely thought about being white. And that’s a privilege. Now, of course, I’m hyperaware.
Not everyone has that moment of clarity. So I think it’s time for some lessons in your trademark accessible way.
Can you help?
Thank you for your consideration,
Beth
Observe and report 