why do people think Elvis Presley was racist?

Answer 1

i'm gonna answer w/some facts!
Jet examined the issue and in its August 1, 1957 edition, the African American magazine concluded that: "To Elvis, people are people regardless of race, color or creed."

The Sweet Inspirations originally comprised of: Cissy Houston, (mother of superstar Whitney) Sylvia Shernwell, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown.
As told by
Myrna Smith a member of the sweeet inspirations (a african american woman that once toured &performed w/elvis)

Q : The first performances outside was the Houston Astrodome. There was a story behind that.

A : Well, Elvis -- the Rodeo didn't want us to come. There was a message sent to leave the black girls, they didn't need the black girls. And so Elvis responded with, "Well if they don't come, I don't come." But he was really upset about it. There was one person in particular who had sent the message. So when we got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around and she was his daughter. So Elvis always made sure he got even. I'm sure he said, "And I want your daughter to drive them." But, when it was happening we didn't know. We learned that later.


Q : Where did you meet Elvis?

A : Well, we were starting rehearsals July of 1969 and we were all on the stage at what was then called the International and Elvis hadn't arrived yet, nor his entourage. And we're sitting there waiting for him to come in and all of a sudden he walks onto the stage, walks right over to us and plants a kiss on each one of us. That's how we met him. "He had on a chocolate colored suit. He had a tan, and he looked absolutely gorgeous. He walked over to us and introduced himself - like we didn't know who he was: 'Hi, I'm Elvis Presley.' (Cissy literally fell off her stool.) From then on, whenever he'd see us, it was always a kiss." He had so much energy. His voice was a lot more remarkable than it ever came off on record ... He was just a much better singer than could ever be captured...Some great singers' voices are just too big. Elvis' was like that."

well do you think if elvis was racsist would he kiss a african american woman let alone four of them plus stick up for them!!!!!
I rest my case!!!

Answer 2

Just because he was from the South and so many of his fans and especially their parents only excepted Elvis because he was a white singin the black music they loved and yes that's racist. But I have never heard that he was racist. Actually his song "The Ghetto" should tell anyone this man was probably not a racist and probably even somewhat thoughtful and liberal as opposed to the conventional wisdom of him being conservative.

Answer 3

I couldn't care less if he was or wasn't a racist.

The real question should be "Why do a lot of people believe that Elvis Presley had talent?"

The songs he mumbled his way through originated from the Black culture in the South. So he wasn't 'original' like his fans reckon.
He was quoted from an interview when he said that 'niggers were only good to shine his shoes' or something like that.

Sounds like a racist to me.

Answer 4

Elvis was a racist. Back in June of 1957, while in Boston (or during an interview with Edward R. Murrow on CBS), he uttered the now-infamous declaration, “The only thing niggers can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes.” Pretty indefensible, right? This one sentence confirms the deeply-rooted belief that Elvis was a cynical racist who “stole” everything he knew from the black man, became an international celebrity, and laughed a nasty laugh all the way to the bank. That quote makes me hate Elvis, and everything he did.
Elvis Presley ain’t got no soul
Jimi Hendrix is rock and roll
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But everything they did the stole
Elvis Presley ain’t got no soul
Bo Diddley is rock and roll
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But we send they punk *** home.
--Mos Def, “Rock and Roll"


Me personally...I don't care if he was or wasn't.

Answer 5

Most assuredly, Elvis was NOT racist. For starters, folks back then--during his early childhood era--had NO time to be racist; folks back then had mere survival on their minds. Sometimes, that meant BOTH races had to work together for that single purpose---and they did.

His trademark blend of music came directly from the roadhouses and "honky-tonks" owned/operated and catered to blacks--NOT whites.

The other recipe of Elvis' music came from the gospel churches with a predominant WHITE congregation...however, the "King" of Rock n' Roll was known to sing some "high-spirited" gospel songs, heard mainly in black populated churches.

Bottom line: had Elvis truly been racist, even with his God given voice of song, he'd NEVER really reach his historic
level of success in music as he's done.

Answer 6

He loved hanging with the Hawaiians. My mom met him and said he was a very nice fellow at the Kapaa Resort in Kauai, Hawaii and said that Elvis could play a mean Ukelele. She would have gotten an autograph of his, if the stupid girl next to her didn't steal her pen.

Answer 7

i would think the only reason people who think this is because he took a lot of black music that was not be broadcasted nation-wide, due to poor black labels, and made like it was his own...many people feel like credit should be given where it is due and Elvis took a lot of it when he didnt deserve it.

Answer 8

I don't think he was racist. He was brought up in Tupelo MS and Memphis TN. Both areas have a large black population. He was depicted in his early days to have gone to the black night clubs and to have played music with the black men. That's how he got his unique sound. He put elements of black music (jazz & blues in particular) into his music. I think he had as much respect for some of his black friends as he did his Momma. So if someone's thinking he was racist maybe they should reconsider.

Answer 9

because his al white gang group the memphis mafia was down with allaince to the Tennesse chapter KKK group and he was a paying member etc.........

Answer 10

because he was white