NAACP Demands Apology Over ‘Try That In A Small Town’
The Columbia Daily Herald reported that “Try That In A Small Town” was allegedly played during a video montage honoring CHS players over the years that was shown right before a football game that took place on September 29. Local NAACP representatives in Maury County have since sent a letter to CHS principal Michael Steele as well as to other school leaders demanding that they apologize for using this song, which the left has outrageously claimed is “pro-lynching.”
“This song has already been banned on several media outlets and social platforms across the nation,” Maury NAACP President Terry Hannah wrote in the letter. “We want to go on record that as an organization we have received numerous complaints and calls voicing major concerns.”
“We are troubled and very concerned that the special programming at the pre-game included former players from multiple classes of football players in the history of the school were present and this song choice was very insensitive and a divisive display that they and their families were exposed to,” the letter continued. “The disturbed looks on many attendees’ faces visually expressed their disgust. Over the past couple of days, complaints and negative comments turned into a full week of disbelief.”
The letter went on to demand a meeting in which the way this song was chosen would be discussed. The NAACP also wants to use this meeting to educate the community on why exactly they are so offended by this song.
“As a local organization that supports all people and inclusiveness, we cannot help but wonder what the intent of the choice of this song that has already caused major division and chaos across multiple communities, states and regions in America,” the letter stated. “We are requesting a meeting with you and several leadership representatives of our local organization to provide an opportunity to ask your reasoning in an amicable and professional setting.”
Related: Jason Aldean Won’t Back Down From His Hit Song ‘Try That In A Small Town’
NAACP President Says Apology Needs To Be Public
Steele and other school officials declined to comment when contacted by the press. Hannah, however, was all too eager to talk to the media.
“We asked him to have a meeting with us, but he chose not to meet with a committee of people, which I didn’t care for,” Hannah said. “We plan to reach out again and have him meet with us.”
“It was played on a night they were honoring the all-black high school football team, along with past players of the local Columbia Central High School, of which I was one of the athletes also,” he continued. “When we were out on the field and the song was playing, we were like, ‘What’s going on?’”
Hannah went on to say that a private apology from Steele will not be enough, as it needs to be public.
“It’s not about apologizing to us and our organization, but to do a public apology because he did it in a public setting,” Hannah stated. “That’s really what we want. It’s not asking much, and with him being the school principal he could do it during another football game. He did it at the game, and so why can’t he make the apology at a game? We’re definitely not through with it and are still awake on all of this.”
‘Try That In A Small Town’
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” Aldean said of the song back in July, according to CBS News. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.”
“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far,” he continued, going on to say that the song is about “the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief.”
It’s quite frankly ridiculous that the NAACP is demanding that a school apologize for playing a hit song that has resonated with millions of Americans all over the country in recent months. We can only hope that Columbia Central High School and its principal stay strong on this issue, because no apology is needed or warranted.
Let’s show the NAACP that this kind of woke nonsense does not fly in a small town!