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I

RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by
his stage name RZA is an American rapper,
actor, filmmaker and record producer.

A Malevolent Melody Operation Meltdown

Good Humour trucks used bells According to the city, New York ice
to announce themselves. The clanging cream trucks have gone to great lengths
of the bells became ubiquitous with the to avoid violations ranging from run-
taste of ice cream. As imitator trucks ning red lights, blocking pedestrians
and companies were made, other crosswalks, and parking near fire hy-
trucks used melodies to let people drants. The city says between 2009 and
know they were arriving, and they had 2017, a small group of individuals in-
ice cream treats to sell. curred 22,000 summonses for those
Often these melodies would be various violations. The owners avoided
harmful blackface minstrel songs. responsibility by creating “shell” com-
Minstrel songs propelled racist stereo- panies to avoid the city’s Department
types, and celebrated the mockery of of Finance’s enforcement efforts.
Black people for white entertainment.
Like many of the melodies used, How They Work
the melody “Turkey in the Straw” had
harmful racial connotations. With no Much has changed since the days
way of separating the melody from its of vendors peddling ice cold treats with
racist history, the ice cream company their pushcarts, yet there are many ice
Good Humour marked its 100th anni- cream trucks on the streets of New
versary last year by teaming up RZA York today. Customers still approach
on the new song and educating people the side of the truck with money in
about why ice cream truck drivers hand to make their orders. Though,
should no longer use the song “Turkey today social media sites such as Insta-
in the Straw.” gram or GPS locators can let consumers
Minstrel songs propelled racist stereotypes, pact racism has on America, particularly know where the ice cream truck is
It’s important to recognise the im-
likely to be. Would summertime be the
and celebrated the mockery of Black people for seemingly wholesome businesses. If same without the ice cream trucks of

for white entertainment. a jingle has a history in racism, then New York driving around the streets?
hearing it today would still act as a re-
For many, it wouldn’t. The various
minder of the harmful ways Black people branded trucks are iconic, and serve
have been treated in the past. nostalgia as well as delicious ice cream.

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