Country singer Brad Paisley sparked some controversy this week over his latest hit, “Accidental Racist” over whether it is actually not just ‘accidentally racist.’
The song, which also features rapper and actor LL Cool J, addresses the racial tensions still lingering in the South.
“I’m proud of where I’ve come from, but not everything we’ve done. It ain’t like you and me can re-write history,” Paisley sings. “Our generation didn’t start this nation, and we’re still picking up the pieces, walking on eggshells, fighting over yesterday. Caught between southern pride and southern blame… Cause I’m a white man, living in the South land.”
According to Paisley, the song’s topic was no mere accident.
“I’m doing it because it just feels more relevant than it even did a few years ago,” the country star told Entertainment Weekly. “I think that we’re going through an adolescence in America when it comes to race. You know, it’s like we’re almost grown up. You have these little moments as a country where it’s like, ‘Wow things are getting better.'”
In fact, the first lyric of “Accidental Racist” features Paisley walking into a Starbucks wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the Confederate flag, adding in song that whenever he wears a Confederate Flag t-shirt, he’s always “caught between southern pride and southern blame.”
But despite Paisley’s attempts to paint it as a symbol of “Southern pride,” the confederate flag still hasn’t lost its stigma. While some Southerners consider it a part of their heritage, others still connect it with slavery and racism.
Even a black rapper’s stamp of approval can’t wipe away the history of violence and discrimination associated with the flag. LL Cool J sings that he won’t judge Paisley for wearing the Confederate Flag as long as Paisley accepts his “do-rag,” but many others did not share this sentiment after the song was released on Monday.
“In spite of good intentions, the song doesn’t accomplish artistically or musically what it attempts to spiritually,” country music star Beau Davidson said of “Accidental Racist.” “I don’t know if we should expect the next Lil Wayne album to feature Alan Jackson, but this is a slippery slope…the feelings, although palpable, come across a little forced.”
The twitterverse wasn’t all too pleased with Paisley’s new ditty either.
what is this “Accidental Racist” crap from Brad Paisley… Brad, you are from WV not the south…it became a state bc it isn’t the south.
— Kayla Thompson (@kmthomp29) April 9, 2013
Brad Paisley wrote a song”Accidental Racist” because he cant wear a confederate flag. That’s right- it’s hard to be a white man in the south
— Taj (@tajjuliana) April 9, 2013
You can decide for yourself if the song is racist below:
