Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

First topic message reminder :

12 days since England played Italy and with just 10 hours to go until the first Six Nations match of Week 4, I think we have pretty conclusively discussed the major issues:

• Italy and their fox tactic and why it is the best/worst thing to ever happen to rugby and means they definitely shouldn't/should be relegated immediately
  
• How quickly and in what direction Howley should **** off
  
• Whether Wayne Barnes is secretly a terminator sent back in time to wreck Ireland's chances in various rugby games
  
• Who should start hooker for England
  
• How many tournaments between 2005 and 2010 would it have taken Scotland to match the 7 tries they scored in 3 games so far
  
• Something about France

One thing that's come to my attention this morning that I thinks merit discussion is England's use of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as their official song. Started off by the fans, it has been officially adopted by England Rugby and even their corporate partners. More information can be found here in this NYT article.

The argument goes that the song is about the release of death for a mistreated slave, and to sing it in a sporting context trivialises the suffering of the African-American slaves.

No doubt it has established itself as a big part of watching and supporting England, but that doesn't change the song's actual meaning and its links with the slave trade.

You can argue, as some have, that at £100 a ticket fans are free to sing what they want in the crowd. But whether they should is another issue and whether England Rugby should be encouraging it and profiting from it is another issue again.

So a Friday question: Is "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" at the rugby a harmless bit of fun, or is it a horrible cultural appropriation that trivialise the suffering of the millions of black American slaves?

Obviously this is a serious debate that will require everyone to be mature and respectful of others. If you don't think you can manage it, please log on to Twitter and engage Matt Dawson with your opinion on Italy's approach to rucking.

Brought a tear to my eye today hearing it at HQ.

For the right reasons I hope, TightHead?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:For the right reasons I hope, TightHead?

Which are what?

You need to read the OP and check your privilege.

I just luvs a good sing song.

And poorer the taste the better right?

English black humour at its finest

By the way, congratulations to England for equaling the tier one record for consecutive wins, one more game huh?

ebop wrote:And poorer the taste the better right?

English black humour at its finest

By the way, congratulations to England for equaling the tier one record for consecutive wins, one more game huh?

Ireland, hurting and at home. ouch.