Here are exerts from an article by Marie Loveland
 
 
Trump’s Dad Was So Racist, Woody Guthrie Wrote A Song About It
In 1950, Woody Guthrie signed a lease for an apartment in Brooklyn; his landlord was Fred C. Trump
By Mariel Loveland
 
In 2015, future President Donald Trump issued a seemingly innocuous-but increasingly portentous when put into context-statement: “My legacy has roots in my father’s legacy.” But it might be more than business acumen that has trickled down from the top of the gold-encrusted Trump family tree. Trump’s dad Fred had an unexpected occupant in one of his New York properties in the early 1950s: American singer-songwriter and social justice warrior Woody Guthrie. And guess what? Guthrie was no fan of “Old Man Trump.”
 
While contemporary musicians like Adele, Miley Cyrus, and Waka Flocka Flame have all taken to social media in order to criticize Donald Trump’s ideals, this was merely round two of musicians coming for the Trumps. Over 60 years ago, Guthrie was feverishly penning tunes lambasting Fred Trump for racist behavior. “Old Man Trump,” Guthrie’s song about Fred, exposed a dark world where the landlord and rumored KKK affiliate profited from an apartment complex that housed only white families. It included the scathing lines, “I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate/He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts/When he drawed that color line.”

FRED TRUMP ARRESTED AT KKK RALLY
 
In May of 1927, a 21-year-old Fred Trump was arrested in the melee surrounding a Klan rally in Jamaica, Queens. A New York Times article from the incident describes the scene as “1,000 Klansmen and 100 policemen [staging] a free-for-all.” For his part, Donald Trump vehemently denied that his father was ever arrested at a Klan rally, and he urged New York Times reporter Jason Horowitz to drop the subject in an interview, stating, “It shouldn’t be written because it never happened, number one. And number two, there was nobody charged.”
 
Trump did get one thing right: his father was never charged. Out of the seven people arrested, Trump’s father was the only one who got off completely free. According to a clipping from the now defunct Daily Star, four of those arrested were expected to go to court, and two were paroled. One, Fred Trump, was not held on charges. However, this doesn’t negate his standing as a member of the Klan. According to newspaper clip obtained by VICE, all the people arrested were wearing Klan attire, which VICE contends likely would have included Fred Trump.

Guthrie’s lyrics went as follows:
 
I suppose
Old Man Trump knows
Just how much
Racial Hate
he stirred up
In the bloodpot of human hearts
When he drawed
That color line
Here at his
Eighteen hundred family project.

This will be a very simple blog. I am sure many of you have seen this video, and I sure have seen if more than I care to admit. I was just so inspired that its never to late to chase your dreams, whatever they may be.
 
Also I guess the subtext here is never judge a book by the cover!

Now strictly speaking, I will broaden the topic a wee bit to include a few more songs, but I was inspired by the music of yesteryear's. I found the 1920’s era, both romantic, musical and more than that a common thread between both France and the USA as many musicians traveled back and forth between the two countries.
 
For me a poetic time, and a period very romanticized, by many including of course myself.
 
This blog is very much about music, and carries a few small subtexts, both “Then and now” as well as inclusion. Ironic that from Prohibition came more integration of races and the sexes. All I can say is music itself is a great uniter of the human spirit!
 
I added one song at the end, bring both the past and present together!

From Wiki
 
A speakeasy is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the Prohibition era (1920–1933, longer in some states). During that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States.[1]
 
Speakeasies largely disappeared after Prohibition was ended in 1933, and the term is now used to describe some retro style bars.
 
Speakeasies were numerous and popular during the Prohibition years. Some of them were operated by people who were part of organized crime. Even though police and agents of the Bureau of Prohibition would often raid them and arrest their owners and patrons, they were so profitable that they continued to flourish. The speakeasy soon became one of the biggest parts of American culture during this time. Several changes happened as speakeasies formed; one was with integration. With "black and tans", people of all races, black or white, would gather together and even mingle. People would mix together and have few or no problems.
 
Another change that occurred was more participation from women. Many businesses would set up their speakeasies to attract women to get more profits.Women also began to insert themselves into the business of speakeasies. Texas Guinan, a former screen and stage actress, opened many speakeasies during Prohibition such as the 300 Club and the El Fey. Guinan greeted customers with "Hey Suckers" and admitted she'd be nothing without Prohibition. Her two biggest competitors were Helen Morgan and Belle Livingston.

Often we think of some poems as lyrical, or the form is lyrical even thought they are never put to music. Then it occurred to me, what about songs that are really poetry?

To see the above video you may be asked to view it direct from YouTube, this is safe to do so!

If anyone has a song that instills the same emotions and thoughts, feel free to contact me, I would love to extend this concept!

Psychological thrillers are not my favorite genre; however in this case, I shall recommend two books I thoroughly enjoyed. One is by a Canadian author and takes place in Ontario Canada, the other is by both John Philpin and Patricia Sierra.
 
THE PRETTIEST OF FEATHERS delves into the deep and dark mind of a psychotic killer. What is interesting is the dance between his latest victim and himself, one bent on killing and the other seemingly wanting to be killed. I will say no more, not to spoil the read!
 
I will add however the start of the story takes place in a bookshop, and poetry plays a role!
 
THE KILLING CIRCLE. Is another thriller based on a writing group. (by Andrew Pyper) Now as most interactions between writers and poets is via the internet, I am sure many could relate to this one. Oh how much fun it would be …. If only……………. Ah if only one could keep a secret! J
 
Now I have shared these good reads with a few poets on the PoetrySoup, so it will be interesting if this should maybe inspire a poem or two. I most surely think it will.
 
As Halloween is just around the corner, I thought what a fitting post!

It has been a while since I have posted a blog! Yes there is a reason for this. It has not been for lack of ideas or topics, simply because with current events, most of my ideas have been focused on American Politics, aka Humpty Dumpty and his wall, and of course the ongoing suffering in the world, mainly the war in Syria, and Russia’s indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, children and civilian areas! See I can’t stop myself!!!
 
Now this would be easy to do, however being mainly a poetry site, I thought as relevant as the topics may be, at times it can be a little over the top for a poetry site, even these are topics I often write about. So…
 
How about something more uplifting, less serious and none the less not without meaning, not to mention very entertaining!
 
I love music, I play classical guitar, and love when I hear truly talented voices and musicians! However what I truly love in life and music is diversity, and so this music video provides all that.

I might also add a small side note! The strength of her voice for some reason reminds me the strength of another woman’s poetry, Eileen Manassian. I find that poetry, art, music, culture so intertwined and beautiful, and I love when form or poet or artist or singer, reminds me of another. This is often the muse required for creating yet more original words!!!!! 
 
Enjoy!!!!!

She truly has the voice of an Angel. Whats so inspiring is that she truly was able to go somewhere over the rainbow, after escaping an abusive relationship from her husband, her while she was pregnant viciously attacked her in hospital and broke her jaw. While watching the video, just look at her children in the audience, that says it all!