My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song

This book traces the history of an American song, passed down through generations that juxtaposes reality with ideals about American living and Kentucky’s statehood. The song “My Old Kentucky Home,” written by a white man (Stephen Foster) about a Black man sold downriver, was performed for decades by white men in blackface.

Author Emily Bingham explores the song, explaining how it was always a song about slavery, with the real Kentucky home inhabited by the enslaved and victims of violence. Bingham explores the song’s history and permutations, its influence on American life, and its reassessment in the 21st century. Like many cultural celebrations that are held dear in parts of the nation today, this book explores the polemic of American cultural artifacts.

(This remainder book contain a sharpie mark on the edge and shows signs of shelfwear.)