Hip hop icon RZA has released a new ice cream truck jingle in partnership with Good Humor in hopes of replacing the iconic “Turkey in the Straw” tune that first gained popularity in American minstrel shows.
“Do you remember that ice cream?” RZA asks in a promotional video posted on the Good Humor website. “We have found out that it has racist roots.”
“Turkey in the Straw” originated from British and Irish folk songs and was a popular scene among fiddle players from the early 1800s. However, in the 19th century, the song was adopted in minstrel shows, which relied on racist tropes and were performed by mostly white people wearing Blackface. Many people were unaware of “Turkey in the Straw” racist history until public policy scientist Theodore R. Johnson wrote a viral NPR piece that revealed his legacy in 2014.
“The first and natural tendency, of course, is to assume that the song from the ice truck just pays homage to ‘Turkey in the Straw,’ but the melody reached the nation only after it was applied by traveling Blackface. minstrel shows, “Johnson wrote. “There is simply no difference from the song from the decades that was used almost exclusively for new ways of mocking and profiting black people.”
Good Humor agrees with Johnson’s assessment of the song, and writes in a statement that the melody “surpassed memories of his racist iterations”, which is why the company has partnered with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA to create a ice-jingle again to free such luggage.
“Good Humor has not owned ice cream cones since the 1970s, nor have we produced ‘Turkey in the Straw’ or other jingles,” the company wrote. “As a leader in the industry, and the inventor of the original ice truck, however, we want to be part of the solution to this problem, especially since we work closely with so many ice truck drivers across the country.”
The new jingle can be heard in a video posted to RZA and Good Humor’s social media accounts and will be made available to trucks nationwide, according to Good Humor, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
“We wanted to create a melody that encompasses all communities – that’s good for every driver, every child,” RZA added. “And I’m proud to say, for the first time in a long time, a new ice truck jingle will be made available to trucks across the country forever.”
