Elvis' Dance With Segregation: Breaking Laws With Moves

In the 1950s, segregation laws were still in place in the United States, and the civil rights movement was gaining momentum. During this time, Elvis Presley, a white singer who sounded black, gained popularity for his rock 'n' roll music, which was heavily influenced by black music and culture. In June 1956, Presley attended the Memphis Fairgrounds amusement park on coloured night, breaking Memphis's segregation laws. He also attended the WDIA Goodwill Revue, an annual charity concert held by a black radio station, where he performed alongside black artists, including his friend BB King. Presley's embrace of black music and culture, and his indifference to social distinctions, led to accusations of cultural appropriation and even racism. However, many of his defenders, including BB King, argue that Presley helped to break down racial barriers and advance the civil rights movement by introducing white audiences to black music and culture.

Attended a 'coloured night' at an amusement park

In June 1956, Elvis Presley attended the Memphis Fairgrounds amusement park on a designated 'coloured night'. This was a significant event as it was during a time when segregation laws were still in place in Memphis. By attending the amusement park on a night designated for people of colour, Elvis showed his support for racial equality and actively challenged the segregation laws.

Elvis had grown up in a mostly black neighbourhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, and had been influenced by black music and culture from a young age. He regularly attended the East Trigg Baptist Church, a coloured church, and listened to black radio stations such as WDIA. So, when he became famous, he wanted to use his platform to foster race equality.

One way he did this was by attending the 'coloured night' at the Memphis Fairgrounds amusement park. This was a bold move as it went against the social norms and expectations of the time. By doing this, Elvis sent a message that he did not agree with the segregation laws and believed in the equality of all people, regardless of race.

This event was not an isolated incident for Elvis. He continued to show his support for the black community and the civil rights movement in various ways. For example, he attended black radio station WDIA's charity events, featuring all-black talent, and he donated money to civil rights organisations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).

Elvis's actions had a significant impact on challenging the segregation laws and fostering racial equality. His fame and popularity as a white singer who "sounded black" helped to introduce a larger audience to black culture and showed that it was 'okay' for white people to appreciate and support black artists.

Attended the WDIA Goodwill Revue

On 7 December 1956, Elvis Presley attended the WDIA Goodwill Revue at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee. The WDIA was the first radio station in the United States that was programmed entirely for African Americans, and it played an influential role in the music industry by hiring musicians early in their careers and playing their music to a large audience. The WDIA Goodwill Fund was set up to help and empower black communities, and the revue was a benefit concert to raise funds for the city's deprived children.

Although Presley's recording contract did not allow him to perform, he supported the event from the wings. When invited on stage, he greeted the screaming crowds with a trademark rebellious twist of his hip. The Pittsburgh Courier described the reaction of the audience, which included "a thousand black, brown and beige teenage girls", as a "wild crescendo of sound that rent the rafters".

Presley's presence at the revue was significant. Blues singer BB King, who performed at the event, said: "I believe he was showing his roots. And he seemed proud of those roots." Presley's attendance demonstrated his support for black artists and causes, and his appreciation of African-American culture. It also challenged the racial segregation that was prevalent in the United States at the time.

Presley returned to the WDIA Goodwill Revue the following year, on 6 December 1957.

Performed black music

Elvis Presley was a white singer renowned for "sounding black". He grew up in a mostly black neighbourhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was exposed to black music from a young age. He was a big fan of black music and would attend black churches to hear local black gospel music. He also listened to black "secular" music, especially the blues.

Elvis performed songs by black artists, including "Hound Dog", originally by Big Mama Thornton, and "That's All Right", by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. He was criticised for "covering" songs by black singers and for getting acclaim that was denied to black performers. Elvis was accused of cultural appropriation and even racism, with some believing he had declared, "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." However, there is no evidence that he ever said this, and Elvis himself denied the accusation in an interview with black magazine Jet in 1957.

Despite the criticism, Elvis continued to perform black music. He attended the 1956 Goodwill Revue in Memphis, an annual charity concert put on by the radio station WDIA, which called itself the "Mother Station of the Negroes". Although his contract prevented him from performing, he supported from the wings and greeted the crowd with his trademark hip twist.

Elvis's performance of black music helped to break down racial barriers. His success introduced a wider audience to black culture and showed that it was okay for white people to appreciate it. In this way, he helped white southerners to rethink their attitudes towards race and supported the civil rights movement.

Stood against segregation in his music

Elvis Presley was a white singer who "sounded black". He was renowned for his hip-swinging and gyrating stage performances, which were considered vulgar and deliberately sexual by critics. Presley's music was heavily influenced by black music, particularly blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues (R&B). He covered songs by black artists and brought rock 'n' roll, a genre developing in underground black clubs, to the mainstream.

Presley's music and performances broke down racial barriers. In the summer of 1956, he attended the Memphis Fairgrounds amusement park on "coloured night", effectively cracking Memphis' segregation laws. He also attended the WDIA Goodwill Revue, an annual charity concert hosted by a black radio station, where he greeted screaming crowds with his trademark hip twist. Presley's embrace of black music and culture earned him recognition in the black community, with two African-American newspapers in Memphis hailing him as a "race man".

Presley's success in crossing over racial boundaries in his music and gaining a broad-based pop following was not without controversy. He faced fierce criticism, particularly from the black community, for appropriating black music and culture. There were persistent rumours that he had made racist remarks, declaring: "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." Presley denied these allegations, stating: "I never said anything like that, and people who know me know I wouldn't have said it."

Despite the rumours, Presley continued to show his appreciation for black music and culture. He performed and recorded songs with racial equality themes, such as Joe South's "Walk a Mile in My Shoes". He also supported black artists and causes, such as attending the WDIA Goodwill Revue and donating money to the NAACP and other civil rights organisations.

Presley's impact on racial equality was not limited to his music. He defied social distinctions by growing up and performing in integrated spaces, and he treated everyone he encountered with respect, regardless of race.

Supported black artists and causes

Elvis Presley's relationship with the Black community has been the subject of much debate. Some have accused him of being racist and profiting off the works of Black artists, while others argue that he helped advance racial equality and supported Black artists and causes.

Elvis grew up in a poor, predominantly Black neighbourhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was heavily influenced by Black music and culture from a young age. He regularly attended Black churches, where he was influenced by gospel music and slave spirituals, and listened to Black secular music, especially the blues. He was also friends with several Black musicians, including blues singer and songwriter B.B. King.

Elvis has been accused of cultural appropriation and profiting off the works of Black artists without giving them proper credit. For example, his cover of "Hound Dog", originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton, sold millions of records and eclipsed Thornton's version. Thornton herself felt embittered by Elvis's success and barely made any money from the song. Similarly, his covers of songs by Little Richard, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and other Black artists helped him become a wealthy and famous international star, while the original artists labored in relative obscurity.

However, some have argued that Elvis supported Black artists and causes. B.B. King, for instance, defended Elvis from accusations of cultural theft, arguing that music is owned by the whole universe and that Elvis had simply interpreted the music he grew up with. Little Richard also credited Elvis with helping introduce rock music to white audiences, which benefited some Black artists.

Elvis also attended the 1956 Goodwill Revue in Memphis, a benefit concert for the city's deprived children organised by the WDIA radio station, which predominantly featured Black artists such as B.B. King. Although his contract prevented him from performing, he showed his support from the wings and greeted the crowd with a trademark rebellious twist of his hip.

In addition, there is evidence that Elvis donated money to the NAACP and other civil rights organisations, publicly lauded Black musicians, and treated the Black people he encountered with respect.

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