I grew up in a ghetto in Ohio, and attended school there. My fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Carmody. My older brother had had her as his fifth grade teacher, and said everyone knew that she used to be a stripper. Must have been a long time before that, because she was sort of old. Mrs. Carmody would just sit down at this piano in the classroom, when we were all reading or something, and start playing stripper music to amuse herself. I was one of two white kids. The other one was Harold. About ten years later, I read how Harold got sent to the Ohio Penitentiary for first degree murder. Just trying to set a little context here.
Anyway, there was this man, the "art guy", who would go around to the different schools within the district once a year. He had an armful of art prints, and would give a one hour lecture about the various paintings.
The day came when he spoke at my school - the black kids were mostly not really hearing him. This changed when he held up a print of Jean-François Millet's famous painting and said "This is called 'Man with a Hoe'". Instantly, all the black kids started laughing hysterically. I had no idea what was so funny, neither did Harold, nor did Mrs. Carmody. The Art guy was baffled, and said "What are you laughing at? This is one of the most famous paintings in the world!" Finally, Roy, a black guy in the class, explained in so many words to the Art guy that what he said sounded in ebonics like "Man with a prostitute." I never saw the art guy again. But I understand "The Hoe" is now in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and I will probably visit it there some day.
Anyway, there was this man, the "art guy", who would go around to the different schools within the district once a year. He had an armful of art prints, and would give a one hour lecture about the various paintings.
The day came when he spoke at my school - the black kids were mostly not really hearing him. This changed when he held up a print of Jean-François Millet's famous painting and said "This is called 'Man with a Hoe'". Instantly, all the black kids started laughing hysterically. I had no idea what was so funny, neither did Harold, nor did Mrs. Carmody. The Art guy was baffled, and said "What are you laughing at? This is one of the most famous paintings in the world!" Finally, Roy, a black guy in the class, explained in so many words to the Art guy that what he said sounded in ebonics like "Man with a prostitute." I never saw the art guy again. But I understand "The Hoe" is now in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and I will probably visit it there some day.