Don’t Play Those Funky Politics, Black Boy

Wherein Mr. West’s Brethren School Him on his Proper Place

By Roy Griffis

When I was but a lad in Nebraska, one-hit wonders released their epic paean to the seductive joys of finding one’s groove and getting down wid it.

Since our only exposure to the song was courtesy of the blown-out speakers of the AM radio in my Dad’s ’54 Chevy truck, the most we nascent deplorables could make out was the bouncy beat and the repeated admonition “Play that funky music, white boy.”

Talk about words to live by.  It wasn’t until I was older (with access to better sound systems) that I began to appreciate the crazy joy in the music.  But speaking of crazy and music, we have Kanye West, a fellow with no shortage of confidence and very debatable musical ability.