There have been decades of discomfort over the song, so a discussion about it is long overdue. “The Eyes of Texas” can be traced back to Lee and was performed at minstrel shows in the early 20th century. University of Texas' school song,‘The Eyes of Texas,’ was originally a satirical song performed at campus minstrel shows featuring white students in blackface. "The Eyes of Texas" may be closing for good. The ‘racist’ song ‘The Eyes of Texas’ tearing college football powerhouse Texas apart. Their final ask was for UT's school song, "The Eyes of Texas", be replaced with a new song that doesn't have "racist undertones." All members receive 3 free listings a month. "Levee Song" was a popular choice for college minstrel shows. Texas safety Caden Sterns appears in a YouTube video titled “The Eyes of Texas is racist.” Speaking of minstrel shows, Sterns says in the video, “That right there alone is not OK. Few would say those lyrics are racist, but UT Professor Dr. Edmond Gordan explained the nodes of racism won't be found in the "The Eyes of Texas" lyrics but in the song’s past. “The Eyes of Texas” is nearly as old as the University of Texas itself. By Katie Balevic Student Government debated on Tuesday about whether to continue singing the University’s fight song “The Eyes of Texas” at its weekly meetings, amidst student and faculty criticisms that the song has a racist history. “Students, as students will do, decided to make fun of that and created a satirical song that have words that were appropriate to the University of Texas,” Gordon said in a recent interview. Aaron was actually the one who first told me about the racist history behind "The Eyes of Texas." The decision came after students said in a survey that they refused to play the song, The Daily Texas reported. “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” is another song with questionable origins. The University of Texas at Austin announced Monday it would be keeping “The Eyes Of Texas” as the alma mater despite racist origins. A reckoning with the racist past of “The Eyes of Texas” has been gaining momentum in recent years, though. ... and The Eyes of Texas' inclusive spirit song uniting generations of Texas fans of all races for decades far outweighs its satirical origin mocking the UT president. The University of Texas band plans to boycott today's football game against Baylor. © 2020 NEWS CENTER Maine. The songs racist lyrics were removed as time went on. The announcement was made as part of a larger plan to create “a more diverse and welcoming campus” in a letter to … "The Eyes of Texas" is the school spirit song of the University of Texas at Austin.It is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad. Gordan said the "The Eyes of Texas" is a satirical rendition of Confederate commander Robert E. Lee’s saying “the eyes of the south are upon you,” which was made popular on the UT campus by former university president William Lambdin Prather. Article continues below advertisement "The Eyes of Texas" is but one issue that football players have raised with school leaders since the death of George Floyd. University of Texas athletes want traditional ‘Eyes of Texas’ song replaced due to racist history UT has previously attempted to address racist policies in its history Though the song was initially to mock the president's overused phase, the students' minstrel song became revered. Replacing "The Eyes of Texas" as the school's alma mater with "a new song without racist undertones" while lifting the requirement for players to sing the song after games With multiple band members refusing to play “The Eyes of Texas” due to the song’s ties to blackface and minstrel shows, the University of Texas Longhorn band won’t play the song this weekend due to a lack of “necessary instrumentation,” according to The Daily Texan. Last month, a group of Texas athletes, mainly football players, said they would not participate in functions beyond games and practices if a list of changes was not addressed. The phrase stuck, with the kids often poking fun at Prather for using the phrase during every address he gave. The University of Texas at Austin announced Monday it would be keeping “The Eyes Of Texas” as the alma mater despite racist origins. the eyes of Texas are upon you, all the live long day, the eyes of Texas are upon you, be careful what you say. Get me a bottle Get me a smoke I gotta kick back Gotta let it all go. NFL. Sinclair was also a member of the Varsity Minstrel Show, a type of performance that typified post-Reconstruction racism. In the past, Gordan said members would put on blackface and perform a sort of a minstrel show each year for their schoolmates. A challenge to the hallowed school song is quite another. “The Eyes of Texas” was first performed by a UT student named John Sinclair in 1903. It's so expected that the athletes partake in singing the song that it's noticeable and chastiable if they don't. Minstrel shows of the time consisted of comedic skits, dancing, ... "The Eyes of Texas" debuted May 12, 1903, at the Hancock Opera House on West Sixth Street. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. Performed by a quartet of blackface students, accompanied by Sinclair on … I would like to paraphrase that utterance and say to you, 'Forward, young men and women of the University, the eyes of Texas are upon you!'". Over time, though the roots of the song were forgotten, "The Eyes of Texas" remained, with it being played at all UT occasions, including at the beginning and end of football games. All Rights Reserved. The song, which was written in 1903, is played before and after every UT sporting event. UT students know "The Eyes of Texas", particularly if they're sports fans. HOUSTON — "The Eyes of Texas," a University of Texas song meant to inspire school pride, is facing renewed criticism after student-athletes requested it be replaced due to its racial undertones. One such way in which they teased the president was by writing a song using the phrase. It was introduced by the performers talking in caricatured Black dialect about how the president is "gwine make a speech" and "gwine tell it: 'the eyes of Texas are upon you!'". However, some historians argue "I’ve been Working on the Railroad" was a folk song created by either black or Irish labors long before then. Get unlimited listings for just $10 a year! Their final ask was for UT's school song, "The Eyes of Texas", be replaced with a new song that doesn't have "racist undertones." And out of the engine Came the flame with a name It burned up my mind It made me insane. Skip Navigation. Gordan said "The Eyes of Texas" was originally a satirical song once performed at minstrel shows, which are comedic variety shows featuring white performers in blackface. ‘The Eyes of Texas’ is rooted in racism If you don’t know “The Eyes” and its origins, you’re not alone. 4 months ago. The Texas Cowboys school spirit association was a key social group on the UT campus for decades. They also asked for an outreach program for inner cities be created and that modules be added to freshman year curriculum to teach on the history of racism on campus and provide racial injustice awareness. The song, which was written in 1903, is played before and after every UT sporting event. Prather himself loved it, with it even being played at his memorial service. If you don’t know “The Eyes” and its origins, you’re not alone. Princeton students created the song in 1894 to insult black railroad and levee workers. In addition to renaming several school buildings, and outreach programs, the athletes asked that the school replace "The Eyes of Texas" with "a new song without racist undertones." The students also requested the renaming of campus buildings, replacing statues and the establishment of outreach program. And that was also precisely how "The Eyes of Texas" was performed as well. “The Eyes of Texas” has long been criticized for its connection to minstrel shows with characters in blackface in the early 1900s. The eyes of Texas refers to a ln incident where white students would pluck out the eyes of minorities Back in the newly formed state of Texas. Which is a hard pill to swallow when you look at the racist history behind the song. Removal of the song and a requirement that all athletes sing it at sporting events was outlined in a list of requests from current Longhorn athletes to make the school to make the school more inclusive. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. With multiple band members refusing to play “The Eyes of Texas” due to the song’s ties to blackface and minstrel shows, the University of Texas Longhorn band won’t play the song this weekend due to a lack of “necessary instrumentation,” according to The Daily Texan. "The officer in charge gave this command: 'Forward, men of Texas, for the eyes of General Lee are upon you!' The school song of the University of Texas is under scrutiny – and it didn't just begin last week with social media posts by football players or a petition signed by thousands in the community. Click here for all the info. “The Eyes of Texas” can be traced back to Lee and was performed at minstrel shows in the early 20th century. I put on my boots And I got down to work Yeah I sang her a song And I got down to work. Replacing "The Eyes of Texas" as the school's alma mater with "a new song without racist undertones" while lifting the requirement for players to sing the song after games "The Eyes of Texas" debuted May 12, 1903, at the Hancock Opera House on West Sixth Street. In the post, the athletes ask that certain buildings, such as James Hogg Auditorium, be renamed and that more diverse statues be added to the campus, created by artists that are people of color. If you are looking for ways to donate your time or money to Black Lives Matter and other antiracist organizations, we have created a list of resources to get you started. Few would say those lyrics are racist, but UT Professor Dr. Edmond Gordan explained the nodes of racism won't be found in the "The Eyes of Texas" lyrics but in the song’s past. UT Professor Dr. Edmond Gordan explains the nodes of racism aren’t in the ‘The Eyes of Texas’ lyrics but in the song’s past. University of Texas' school song,‘The Eyes of Texas,’ was originally a satirical song performed at campus minstrel shows featuring white students in blackface. What's more, the song, which was composed by John Lang Sinclair, was put to the tune of "Levee Song" — which you might know better as "I've Been Working On the Railroad". ✊ “What starts here changes the world” #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/pimHqdhFSs. Acho continued on the controversial, ‘The Eyes of Texas’ song: ‘Most black players hated singing that song. If you don’t know “The Eyes” and its origins, you’re not alone. If you don’t bow down to PC and offer up more cash, we will call you racist … ‘The Eyes of Texas’ is rooted in racism. The song the Longhorn band usually plays, Eyes OF Texas, has racist roots that are fracturing the campus. 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Lee say while Prather was a student at Washington College in Virginia. Texas players stand for The Eyes of Texas after a win in November. Essentially, what this means is that student athletes are expected to sing this song in order to continue playing and stay in good standing with the college and with the team's fans. “Those are the words of the song, and they put it to the tune of a well-known song, which was ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’”. Or, it’s just a song for cripes sake Oct 21, 2020 #4 "Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University sing the song at Longhorn sports games, before the fireworks and other events. In 1903, the song was performed at the annual Varsity Minstrel Show, with the performers donning blackface. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Few would say those lyrics are racist, but UT Professor Dr. Edmond Gordan explained the nodes of racism won't be found in the "The Eyes of Texas" lyrics but in the song’s past. I put on my boots And I got down to work Yeah I sang her a song And I got down to work. The University of Texas made headlines earlier this week after the Longhorn marching band decided not to play its fight song “The Eyes of Texas” at a football game against Baylor University. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. ‘The Eyes of Texas’ is rooted in racism. Or, it’s just a song for cripes sake Oct 21, 2020 #4 In June 12, Brennan Eagles posted a statement on Twitter on behalf of the University of Texas Longhorns student athletes, demanding that their college not just make statements in support of Black Lives Matters, but to actually do work to make changes to racist systems. The eyes of Texas Are upon you. "The Eyes of Texas" may be closing for good. About the Eyes of Texas, from an article: Eyes of Texas came from a line used by a UT president. Specifically in regards to athletics, they asked that there be more diversity in their Hall of Fame, that the athletics department donate .05 percent of their yearly earnings to Black organizations, and that an area of the stadium be named for the first Black football player at the University of Texas (UT). AUSTIN, Texas -- Losing football games is one thing at the University of Texas. HOUSTON — "The Eyes of Texas," a University of Texas song meant to inspire school pride, is facing renewed criticism after student-athletes requested it be replaced due to its racial undertones. Although it was once better known as "I Been Wukkin’ on de Railroad" as it was generally sung in caricatured Black dialect. 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The announcement was made as part of a larger plan to create “a more diverse and welcoming campus” in a letter to students by UT Interim President Jay Hartzell. But what exactly about "The Eyes of Texas" is offensive and racist ? "The Eyes of Texas" is the school spirit song of the University of Texas at Austin.It is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad. The school song was written in 1903 and is played before and after every UT sporting event. "Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University sing the song at Longhorn sports games, before the fireworks and other events. “The Eyes of Texas” has long been criticized for its connection to minstrel shows with characters in blackface in the early 1900s. UT Professor Dr. Edmond Gordan explains the nodes of racism aren’t in the ‘The Eyes of Texas’ lyrics but in the song’s past. Texas safety Caden Sterns appears in a YouTube video titled “The Eyes of Texas is racist.” Speaking of minstrel shows, Sterns says in the video, “That right there alone is not OK. There have been decades of discomfort over the song, so a discussion about it is long overdue. But what exactly about "The Eyes of Texas" is offensive and racist? The athletes know that not singing it can have consequences. University says 'Eyes of Texas' will remain school song despite Black athletes' protest The song has been criticized for its connection to minstrel shows with characters in blackface in the 1900s Texas’ Black athletes want ‘The Eyes of Texas’ replaced because of the song’s racist undertones. Racist Depictions. Despite vocal opposition and the song's racist origins, Texas leadership has been pushing for players to continue to stand unified for "The Eyes of Texas." The University of Texas band plans to boycott today's football game against Baylor. It was typical for minstrel shows to include white actors covered in black makeup and to act as plantation slaves, usually making them appear unintelligent, lustful, and mean. It’s a melody all UT athletes are required to sing and has become a time-honored tradition. University of Texas football players and other athletes are pushing for the school to replace 'The Eyes of Texas' as its official song because it originated in black-faced minstrel shows in 1903. The school song of the University of Texas is under scrutiny – and it didn't just begin last week with social media posts by football players or a petition signed by thousands in the community. They asked for building name changes and the removal of statues that honored men who participated in the Confederacy or espoused racist beliefs. We were on the sidelines of a UT football game and the whole thing felt disingenuous. Gordan said "The Eyes of Texas" was originally a satirical song once performed at minstrel shows, which are comedic variety shows featuring white performers in blackface. December 13, 2020 9:53pm ... Texas players stand for The Eyes of Texas after a win in November. We were required to. "The Eyes of Texas" gets its name from a quote by William Lambdin Prather, who was president of UT from 1899 to 1905, and who happened to be a very big Robert E. Lee fan. Get me a bottle Get me a smoke I gotta kick back Gotta let it all go. "On one occasion during the Civil War, it fell to the lot of a Texas troop to be reviewed by General Robert E. Lee," Prather said while addressing the UT students for the first time. The song the Longhorn band usually plays, Eyes OF Texas, has racist roots that are fracturing the campus. Performed by a quartet of blackface students, accompanied by Sinclair on … What’s wrong with the song? 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