In response to "Top 10 Rap Songs White People Love," a guest writer for Catsandbeer.com humorously notes 10 rock songs beloved by black people, and, apparently, black people love Steely Dan. The Dan caps a list including "Smoke on the Water," "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)," and anything by Taylor Dayne. (Hey, where's Teena Marie?) Here's the quote:
"Want to get black folks in a comfortable mood at a party with the lights all low, and get them nice and friendly with the white people also at the party? Throw on some Steely Dan and see how the colors mingle and black folk start waxing rhapsodic on how many white musicians are quite gifted. Once again: all black people like and will listen to Steely Dan. The Doobie Brothers come close on this black respect meter, but nobody touches the Dan."
I have long believed that humor is an effective means to discussing social truths. Nobody in my life wishes to be racist, but we all are to some degree, so we might as well make fun of it, perhaps over coffee, during a trip to Whole Foods, or after a marathon viewing of the Wire on DVD. My wife showed me the blog Stuff White People Like, which will put you on the floor laughing. I'm reading through ethnographies for my graduate level Immigration and Performance class, and this is a magnificent and truthful spoof on the genre. It's kind of mean, but very funny. I myself have several black friends.
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