Sweet Georgia Brown

I thank Bobbi Gorman for all she did in coordinating having Mr. Lawrence Walker come to St. Barnabas last Saturday to share his documentary “Sweet Georgia Brown.”  It was wonderful to share this forgotten chapter of American history with our community.  The great work of our Ministry for Racial Diversity continues to inspire me, and I also thank Pauline Devonish and Leon Merriweather for their continuous efforts to engage us in ethnic and cultural awareness.

As my mind sometimes does, I’ve gotten caught up in the title for this documentary.  It reminded me of the theme music that the Harlem Globetrotters use, which seemed odd.  What connection did black women serving in the military in World War II have with a team of fun-loving basketball players, other than the color of their skin?  And then when I heard the music in the documentary, I was convinced it was a completely different song. 

The HG theme that I recalled was an upbeat, whistling tune that is “bouncy,” which seems appropriate for a basketball team. The song in the documentary was almost hauntingly slow, even mysterious.  I believe the version that is used is sung by Anita O’Day and, at first, her soulful voice is only accompanied by a drum.  She sings the words:

She just got here yesterday, Things are hot here now they say,
There's a new gal in town.
Gals are jealous, there's no doubt. All the guys just rave about
Sweet, Sweet Georgia Brown.
And ever since she came, the colored [or common] folks all claim, say;

These are the original lyrics that I found on the Internet.  Most of the versions that I have listened to (from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald to the Beatles!) do not use the word “colored” as the connotation of that word now detracts from the song, but it also makes the song “racially neutral,” so it could refer to any woman rather than only a woman of color, as this line illustrates, “This colored [or pretty] maiden's prayer is answered anywhere”.

Sweet Georgia Brown was originally composed in 1925 at the dawn of the jazz age and is usually recorded in an upbeat tempo. Legend has it (from Wikipedia) that:

“Ben Bernie came up with the concept for the song's lyrics – although he is not the accredited lyricist – after meeting Dr. George Thaddeus Brown in New York City: Dr. Brown, a longtime member of the State House of Representatives for Georgia, told Bernie about Dr. Brown's daughter Georgia Brown and how subsequent to the baby girl's birth on August 11, 1911 the Georgia General Assembly had issued a declaration that she was to be named Georgia after the state, an anecdote which would be directly referenced by the song's lyric: "Georgia claimed her – Georgia named her."

My initial brain tease was correct, the same song the Harlem Globetrotters use is the song in the documentary.  Wow! The song’s lyrics are a little strange, but it is about a woman who is greatly admired by her peers, even though she has “two left feet.” 

The more I think about it, the more this song connects to the story of Major Charity Adams Earley – more than to a basketball team!  In the face of systematic racism, she offered herself in service to her country that did not see her as equal.  With grace and fortitude, she demonstrated that leadership ability has more to do with character than the color of one’s skin. 

Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) As Christians, we are to love first and foremost.  It is a lesson we as a people are still struggling to learn and execute well. 

My head-trip with this song offered one final insight.  Georgia Brown is called “sweet.”  I’ll take that word as a complement, that it describes a person’s whose nature is thoughtful, caring – loving – toward others, almost as an extension of herself, as that is a reflection of Christ.

In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+