Now I am going to listen to the Smiths all night.

But heaven knows he's miserable now!

the whole thing about his relationship to white-identity and "heritage" politics in the UK, when he was doing the whole "Hang the DJ/because the music that he constantly plays/says nothing to me about my life." People at the time took it to refer to reggae and the people of color in the music industry during the 80s and 90s, and it was such an urgly fight.

since I think the target was empty-headed synth pop and aging glam rock that ignored the labor crises of the time and the Tory economic destruction of cities like Birmingham. Or at least this is what I've heard in interviews w/the man and Johnny Marr though who knows. Plus the UK's skinheads (and often their own white supremacist types -- not the same as their skinheads of course I know) often listen to ska and reggae themselves.

What would "Panic" have to do with anything in the 90s since the song was written in the mid 80s in the wreckage of Thatcher's anti-labor politics?

If it interests you, look into it. Many people of color were deeply disturbed by his lynching imagery. Personally I would not want to shout them down or become an example of white fragility.

It is an inspiration to be around someone who can speak for all human beings and can testify to all conversations and publications throughout the entire world. Thank you very much!

On the other hand, you could have simply looked to see if this has happened.

'"Panic" drew negative reaction from critics who construed Morrissey's lyrics to have a racist connotation, due to its targeting of the "disco" and the "DJ". "If Morrissey wants to have a go at Radio 1 and Steve Wright, then fine," wrote Paolo Hewitt in the New Musical Express. But by using those words and "all the attendant imagery that brings up for what is a predominantly white audience, he is being imprecise and offensive." Fletcher agrees that the lack of any explicit indication the song was about radio, "it could be construed as reviving the racist and homophobic 'Disco Sucks' campaign of late 1970s America."[8] Scritti Politti's Green Gartside accused the song and the band of being racist.'

This is from the Wikipedia page about the song. Are there any hard words in this paragraph that you need to explain? I'm sorry to be so harsh here, but to be commanded that this did not happen is very offensive to me.

I do not believe the song was racist in its intention nor do I believe that Morrissey and the Smiths where racist. I am simply stating that the lyric was offensive and was perceived to refer to lynching and murdering people of color.

and was quoting them

on mobile on a train

called it the most racist music in the world

And there was hoopla about THAT interpretation at the time as well.

I make no claim as to their correctness.

Oh my gosh, that was my first thought too. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Me too...

One of the first comments was somebody complaining that the headline was ambiguous because he thought that one of the Royal Family had died. Somebody else replied back that British Royals were a dime a dozen, but there was only one Prince.

And I thought, well this isn't news. But this really is news!

Useless information for today...

It's stories such as this one that tempt me to think that phrases such as "you're always playing the race card-- it cheapens the movement" or "not everything is about race" are the go-to answers of simpletons and dullards; as these simpletons and dullards conveniently ignore the consistent data given to them every single day.

This woman has been working for him for almost 2 years. Yet no one had any complaints or even noticed she is a racist? They must be shocked, shocked I tell you over this video.

No the real problem is, she was exposed to the public. I suspect that her views were part of the reason she was hired.

while working for a public office indicates we're heading in a very ugly direction...

And a great responsibility-shedding non-apology, to boot...

indicates something very different. These people are always among us but are only briefly imagining themselves empowered.

n/t