Dude---CHILL!

I get it completely….been playing for about 50 years also.

It could be worse….I double on Tuba. Talk about getting disrespected.

Maybe you need new friends? I say that in all seriousness. Other than the occasional, good natured kidding that happens between friends, I've not experienced what you're describing to the extent that it would bother me.

The banjo and blackface were the two primary iconic elements of minstrelsy that were used to comedically disparage the enslaved black people of the 19th century. That stereotype prevailed into the 20th century. To avoid the stigma of the stereotype, I think that black people largely abandoned the instrument as time progressed.

Today, I think the black stereotype has been superseded by the stereotype of a poor, uneducated, rural, Southern white banjo player. I think it’s now the hillbilly banjo player stereotype that is the basis for the disparagement of the instrument and those who play one. As such, I don’t see contemporary disrespect for the instrument as an expression of racism.

I’ve been playing 60+ years, and I have never heard cracks or snide comments about playing the banjo. Dunno why, given others’ experiences.

Oh Jeesh boo-who

I think I know what Joe means, although I've encountered this kind of sly, sniping criticism from only one person in all my 50+ years of playing. He was a guitarist of only moderate ability, but felt he was more than that. I think he felt somehow threatened by anyone whose musical ability was clearly greater than his. In fairness, I've found that we banjo players are a very focussed group. We work hard to get the notes right, we sometimes obsess about it. I suspect that players of other instruments may not share quite the same level of commitment. As a possible indicator of this, just compare the level of activity on this site with that on the Flat-picker Hangout. Far fewer posts, fewer tabs, less discussion perhaps indicating less interest, I don't know.

I play the kazoo and triangle. Not at the same time - I'm not that good. Man, I get no respect.

I spent a good few years playing in a recorder consort and it was a very conscious part of our mission to show the recorder was capable of playing more than a tuneless screech from a class of 7 year olds. Our finest hour was after one show in Sevenoaks (UK members will understand the sort of place I'm talking about - posh in a word) when a lady from the audience said to us "I never knew the recorder could play real music."
(Here's a taste of what 4 recorders can do if you've not heard top players. We were pretty good but not this good.)

youtu.be/eMRY3ZCSBP4?si=3RpC0PY3zso1BrnI

What I'm saying to the OP is not to try to fight back with words or jokes, but with your music. Make sure you're the best ambassador for the instrument that you can possibly be and have confidence in your musicianship.

Yes, interesting perspective from Harry. It’s usually guitar players who like to belittle banjo players in my experience, but it’s probably down to jealousy, because they’ve haven’t put in the same time to get good on their instrument. As a guitarist myself, I know that you can learn guitar to performance standard quite quickly, without having to understand much about music, but if you adopt the same lazy approach with banjo, mandolin or fiddle, you end being no more than someone who happens to own a banjo, mandolin, but can’t really play it to performance standard. Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh to some, but with all the information out there these days for guitar playing (Youtube teachers, etc), I’m amazed at how many guitar players never bother taking it beyond basic chord strumming, and say learn to play an actual tune.

Hi Joe,

Your post was intelligent and clear to me. There is a lot of racism in this Great Country of ours right now and you may be getting a little bit of that being thrown at you because you play banjo. I think personally that you should, if possible, try even harder to  steel yourself against these kinds of racist individuals. The next 4 years may  be a little tough on all of us who are at all fair and kind to others--I'm hoping I'm wrong.

I would try to communicate with like minded people as your self here on BHO. You might consider just a little that most people know very little about the banjo--it has always had an air of mystery attached to it....Good luck to you Joe and I totally understand your post and message....good luck to your and your banjo playing. I went to your Media page and you sound quite good to me....my best to you....Jack Baker

 

The best response? Just throw a 10th fret stanley style choke at' em.

Interesting post. My very limited experience from the UK is more in line with RB3's post above. Maybe not racism but definitely prejudices against a group, mainly homogenised in the mind of the person expressing the attitude. TBH I would think most people in the UK would not know the banjo has it's roots in Africa, but would go straight to some 'deliverance' inspired jibe. There's no cure, some people are just...searching for a polite word but coming up blank.

Unfortunately, it seems the "norm" now for some people to be sarcastic and rude and to diss others. That's a shame because it does no one any good. To me, it makes the one doing the diss a lesser person because he or she has to denigrate another person and makes me feel sad that they think they have or need to impune others.

To those type people I do my best to stay away from them. I don't need negativity, I need to be around people who are kind and friendly.
Do I let those type people bother me? No. I just feel sorry for them and go my way.

As far as jokes about banjo pickers, it's according to who's telling the jokes whether it's funny or disrespectful and I respond accordingly.

The people who spent TWO MILLION DOLLARS making the film "Deliverance" didn't help any!

They saw an odd-looking local kid, sat him on a porch swing, had someone else kneel behind him, with THEIR arms down HIS shirt sleeves, to play what is basically a scale exercise, clawhammer style..
Then, in a studio hundreds of miles away, they had one of the best SCRUGGS style players they could get, play a BLUEGRASS version of the song.

And somewhere between four million and a hundred bazillion people, all around the world, were misinformed that banjo players are ALL poor, White, and goofy looking.

What they saw and heard, although it was not real, reinforced their ignorance.

PS: Mr. Reynolds did not REALLY put an arrow into somebody's spine.
People should know that movies are not reality.

Everything isn't racism. They have been making fun of country music for generations. Dressing like hayseeds and acting ignorant (Hee Haw) hasn't helped.

Don't sweat it and give those people power over you.  Enjoy the banjo and the pleasure that it has given you and continues to give you in the past and present.  Many of those folks are ill-educated, jealous, and rude.  Probably a few more adjectives also, but not going to give them the attention they don't deserve to come up with more descriptions.

Bobby

The way I see it, old-time musicians brought this upon themselves by adopting the hillbilly stereotype and undoing decades of hard work by more serious banjo players like Frank Converse, Fred Bacon, and Parke Hunter.

"Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a banjo player."

"I'm sorry son but you can't do both."
banjered

Sounds like someone needs a nap

IMHO, nothing you said was incorrect.
"Why" the banjo/banjo players are regarded through stereotypical lenses has many answers. Racism certainly is one. So is the denigration of the Appalachian people. And much of this stems from that popular entertainment, the minstrel show., where the banjo player was often the comedy relief
As the minstrel shows faded, banjo players stayed clowns e.g. Stringbean, Grandpa Jones & Spec Rhodes...and that guy playing with Marty Stewart, Leroy Somebody.
Even somber-faced banjo pickers get painted as comedy when they play the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies.
I did not start playing banjo to get girls or please other people. I did not start playing as the entrance ramp on the road to riches. I started playing because I was enchanted by the sound of the banjo. I still am. And when the jokes begins, well, whadda gonna do. You can't cure stupid.
"All men are created equal. Except banjo players. They're way cooler."

I've heard a decent number of banjo jokes at jam sessions as well. I'm in the bluegrass world, and I think most of the jokes come from people's bad experiences with banjo players.

There's an unfortunate number of us who learn some hot licks and then play them at full volume for the whole jam session. The bluegrass banjo is very loud and some degree of restraint needs to be exercised most of the time, and some players never learn that.

You may be right about the racism aspect, but I would bet it has more to do with racism/classism against the hillbilly stereotype and not its African roots. I think a lot of people don't know about the banjo's African roots.

complete rubbish, the banjo was not invented in western australia

What ever happened to people being able to laugh at themselves and things they might do? Seems like now everyone is just waiting for a chance to be insulted so they can go on a rant or cry about it.

I've told many banjo jokes about myself and laughed at it. I wasn't insulted if someone told me a banjo joke. I wonder why others are? I play the banjo and sing and am proud of being able to do both. I don't let other people's thoughts of me and my instrument bother me. They have a right to their (very wrong) opinion.

quote:

---

Originally posted by jojo25

Hi all...I have not been active here for a long time...this post may not be suitable...but I will leave that for the mods to determine...if you have to take it down or lock it I am totally OK with that and understand

So...basic thing...I am fed up with the disrespect that banjo players get...that I get...I have over 50 yrs of experience on the banjo and banjo is pretty much all I ever play...

you know...all those banjo jokes...for yrs I tried to develop a metaphorical kevlar body armor...so no jokes could get thru and actually insult me...sometimes I would do a preemptive strike...tell a banjo joke myself

and sometimes I fight back (not physically!) and tell a joke that disses fiddlers...and man you should see the piercing dirty looks I get when I do that....

.....I can honestly say that rarely does a session pass where someone doesn't sling jive at me for being a banjo player...it seems that it is considered to be socially acceptable and that I should not get my back up about it...but I say life is too short and I refuse to take it anymore....rant over

---

Joe,

As a fellow banjo jockey I sympathize with your pain, but I take pride in finding the humor in most situations which can soften the blow. That said, anytime someone slings a bit of small minded muck in my direction for whatever ever reason, one of my standard answers is "Everyone is entitled to their option even if it is wrong, but thanks for going out on a limb and sharing your thoughts".

And of course things could always be worse,..........You could be a Accordion player.