Thoughts Of A Small Town Citizen

By

Robert A. Jackson, Jr.

If you are reading this blog post, I’m pretty sure by now you have either heard the song or seen the video of the song that was filmed in front of the courthouse in Columbia, TN. Some reading this blog post do not know me and may have some preconceived notions about what you think I’m thinking. I am a proponent of art and creativity. I believe in the freedom of speech, but I also still believe what the Ancient Text says about speaking truth in love. We live in a society that believes that we can say whatever we want to say, even harmful things, but get offended when we get checked by those whom we offend.

With that said, let me share something with you. I have listened to and enjoyed many of Jason Aldean’s songs over the years. I like country music. I was privileged to have the opportunity to sing with my 4th Grade Chorus at the Ryman Auditorium in November of 1990. I grew up watching Hee Haw, Andy Griffith, and the Dukes of Hazzard. So, I’ve heard my fair share of country and bluegrass music. I believe they are variants of the Blues, which has been around since the days that my ancestors were enslaved. 

I mentioned the previous because this is not an indictment against a genre of music (even though I disagree with the lyrics of many songs in the genre like those of other genres), but it is to critique the spirit of idolatry and disrespect that has birthed the lack of artistic creativity that this video portrays. I’ve read where some people believe that the only reason why people are upset about the video is because a “conservative” artist is speaking against a “liberal” agenda. 

This ignorant rhetoric of American society is the reason why history should not be suppressed but taught in its entirety. Since the flag has been mentioned, I wonder how many know that the flag veils a crime scene from 1927?

I am not speaking on this from an American Political perspective. As a theologian, I have to take the conversation deeper than the rhetoric that floods our media. Here is what I observed. The message of the video coupled with the song has a philosophical ideology that is rooted in Christian Nationalism, idolatrous imperialism, vigilantism, and dog whistling. Those who worship the preceding spirits cannot understand the rest of this blog post because I am indicting their gods. So, they will be blinded with the rage to defend them. I know some will disagree and say that the message about small towns sticking together is one of absolute truth. I wish that were true in every scenario. But time and time again, small towns have missed the mark when it comes to pulling together. For instance, the very backdrop of Aldean’s video is the site of where citizens of a “small town” publicly displayed the lynched body of an 18yr teenager named Henry Choate in 1927. The history of the phrase “Good Ol’ Boy” has a negative connotation for those outside of the group. Let’s just say Good Ol’ Boy reputation from this country’s past has not been reputable enough to win the Noble Peace Prize. This ideological concept has not been as law abiding as it claims. This ideology has a history of celebrating vigilantism and thuggery, acts that Aldean claims to condemn in his song.

While many young men like Aldean grew up in these environments that seemed to be a fantasy like Mayberry, several young men have experienced hell from these same environments. Aldean said the song “refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences.” While this is what he experienced growing up in the 80s and 90s, I saw a small town that was divided with its loyalties. Some residents came together no matter the differences but there were others who were dedicated to holding on to the “values” of the town’s dark past. My childhood was riddled with stories of how my small town (Pulaski, TN) was a part of the Jim Crow South that had sought to oppress the childhood of the people in my neighborhood. My childhood in my small town was sprinkled with sightings of KKK Marches and even a visit from the Aryan Nation. As you read this, be mindful that Aldean is only a few years older than me. So, we were experiencing our childhoods around the same time in this country. 

While my small town was a peaceful place (from my perspective), it was still somewhat segregated by ethnicity and class. So, I am mindful that everyone did not have my same experience. This philosophical thought process that believes “perception is reality” is actually more dangerous than the rhetoric that is being used against this video. “Perception is reality” has shed a lot of innocent blood that has saturated the soil of small towns around this country. “Perception is reality” has brought psychological turmoil to many people over the years. Your perception of a reality that all is well in a small town because we do not see a lot of protesting or riots is a misconception. 

Some citizens are dealing with poverty (or struggling to get by financially), a lack of healthcare, homelessness, addiction, depression, anxiety, and other mental and social issues. I know because some of them have shared their stories with me and I seek to minister to them and encourage them. Some of these people who are struggling in these small towns helped to make Aldean a millionaire by buying his music and attending his events. Where is the lyrical, political, financial, or spiritual advocacy for these citizens by millionaires like him who claim to care? Instead of making a song that stirs up a political voting base to side eye their neighbor and seek to prove they are right, why not use your capital (financial & influential) to advocate for the citizens of these small towns to be able to indulge in some of the basic human amenities that you enjoy daily? Instead of gaslighting the community of Columbia by allowing your name and likeness to be tied to a video where the background was the exact site of a lynching of a small town citizen who was murdered in a small town where you stated that citizens take care of each other, why not advocate for your music to inspire this community to come closer together despite differences since you have fans of all backgrounds?

This is the same small town in which I live where people will look me square into my soul but will not acknowledge my humanity by speaking to my physical existence. Aldean used politically charged images to paint a picture for the words of his song that has conjured up spirits of the Jim Crow Era that has plagued Columbia and other small towns and then denied intent. This is why Dr. King’s Speech about “Two Americas” should not be suppressed. This is why the story of the citizens of Mink Slide and Thurgood Marshall should be a part of the local history taught in schools in this area. Someone in history did try it in a small town and Mink Slide defended itself when other “neighbors” stood idly by as the defenders of Jim Crow Laws sought to terrorize the very citizens they were supposed to protect. 

Those that support Aldean’s song have their prerogative to do so. However, please be mindful that there are many of us that know and remember the history of the events of 1927, 1946, and many other dates that reflect the coded threats of this song and we reject its dog whistling message of violence towards certain groups. And we are not wrong for feeling this way. Like I said earlier, I like several Aldean songs, but I believe he dropped the ball on this one. Also, to those elected officials, community, and church leaders who encourage people to forget the past, I want you to know that while we may have the privilege to move on and ignore events that did not affect us, there are others who can’t “forget the past” because it has affected their present. The past still lives with them and us because these people are still alive. So, we reject the spirits of willful ignorance and narcissism that plague this society. I wish leaders in this community and country understood that fighting for the justice of the Creator is more than retribution. It is about honoring the humanity of others and making sure we do our part to give everyone a fair chance to experience the goodness of the Creator. We honor the legacy of the citizens of this small town that were terrorized by their neighbors and the authorities while others got to peacefully enjoy their lives like Aldean said he did. I honor those who fought for justice during 1946 because they laid the groundwork for me to live in this small town (Columbia, TN) and do justice towards all of my neighbors despite our differences and their lackadaisical efforts towards acknowledging me.