On
March 28, 2012 AfriClassical posted: “Bob Shingleton: 'Huffington Post piece which pre-dates our own posts on Philippa Schuyler by several years.'” Bettina Network, Inc. made this comment
today:
“I
am always amazed at these characterizations of Philippa Schuyler and
other African American artists who become large, well-known,
acknowledged with mastery over their art, etc. They are always
characterized in this way of 'tragedy'. Philippa had a pretty
incredible life. Her death was a tragedy which many of us don't
believe was an accident. She was an acknowledged, accomplished
pianist, which was her passion and she achieved a status which few do
even in the 30 plus years of her short life. Why does this negativity
surround all African American artists? Why such characterizations and
so consistent. I could do a language study on what is said about
African American artists who are at the top of their fields and it
will all read the same.
“None of us has a trouble free
existence. We all have problems and all of our lives could be called
tragic simply because we are human and exist. Report on her
accurately and without this drama. She was an infinitely interesting,
imaginative, humane, beautiful person, who reached a height with her
art that few of us can even dream of reaching. and she had a freedom
to practice her art which few of us ever achieve. What a blessed life
she lived. And what a gift she gave to us all. I knew Philippa
growing up and this exaggeration of her circumstances is not true and
biased writing.”
AfriClassical
forwarded the above comment to Bob Shingleton, who has
replied:
“Thanks Bill, I have expanded this into a post as
it raises an interesting question -
http://www.overgrownpath.com/2012/03/are-african-american-artists.html
I
hope I am write in who I have attributed the comment to.
Regards,
Bob
On An Overgrown Path [Excerpt]
“Although
the comment came from a commercial site it appears to have been
posted by Marceline Donaldson of the Philippa Schuyler Committee.
Whatever the source, the comment is thought provoking coming from a
writer who seems to have known Philippa. Are African American artists
unfairly stereotyped as tragic? Are portrayals of Rudolph Dunbar,
Dean Dixon and Everett Lee here and elsewhere too negative?”
1 comment:
very interesting discussion
John Malveaux
wwww.musicuntold.com
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