Al Jolson sings Mammy (I'll Sing About You) - Live On Set.

Live on set. From his film 'Go Into Your Dance' Al Jolson sings the very catchy "Mammy, I'll Sing About You"

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[the44118]

As a 29 year old african american I gotta say ...not bad!

[2havago]

@the44118

Interesting comment and appreciated! Thank you.

[the44118]

@2havago I say that only in the sense that I went in watching this video with mild apprehension. In the black community anybody who has wore black face is looked at as a person who is mocking our culture (I mean the guy is singing a song called mammy for goodness sake) he's obviously not wearing blackface in this but I wonder if he is just a guy that was so moved by black entertainment he only meant it as a tribute...I still hate the idea of minstrel shows but he seems to feel it @ 2:23

[2havago]

@the44118

I appreciate your measured thoughts! May I refer you to my last reply to "KawhackitaRag" (2 months ago) on this comments page - adding: I am not trying to persuade anyone of the right and wrongs of this world, but would just like to add that a representative from a black performance (type) association attended Jolson's funeral in 1950.

[KawhackitaRag]

Everybody who has a problem seeing Al Jolson in blackface should watch this video. In my opinion, there is nothing objectionable about it (although of course some people would object to the word "mammy", but I do believe this is a nit-pick, since this song has such sweet, sentimental lyrics... I cannot find anything racist about it at all).

[2havago]

@KawhackitaRag

Not forgetting Paul Robeson sang several "Mammy" songs when the term was accepted. In fact it is still used for "Mother" in Ireland, and probably other places too! It is as innocent as it is innocent!

Jolson championed equal rights for black performers and playrights, long before there was a "Civil Rights" movement. He was the only white person who was invited to be a member of an all black's club in New York. They didn't consider him racist. He is only considered racist today!

[babyfacemichael]

As a Jolson follower for almost thirty years it is my belief and strong understanding that Jolson never meant any harm or insult by blacking up. Indeed Jolson, himself a Russsian Jew, knew only too well what it was to be victimised as a nation and when he saw the same thing happening to the black race he saw the best way to fight this was by acting as a black man on stage ensuring it was the white man that was shown to be the fool. Jolson NEVER used blackface as a form of ridicule.

[LStrachey]

great, simply great

[diarci]

By the way, this isn't lip-synced. What you see is Jolson live.

[2havago]

@KawhackitaRag

Amen!

[KawhackitaRag]

Look at the way Jolson delivers, listen to the way he sings and plays with the time, and listen to that rock-solid orchestra behind him!!!

You can tell this a truly great artist, and in my opinion, a fairly high caliber of entertainment, at least in terms of pure musicianship, drama. etc.

Whatever this man may have been like in his personal life, on-stage, he was a great entertainer, and pleased people time after time who came to hear a great singer.