Woman Is the Nigger of the World explained

Woman Is the Nigger of the World
Cover:Witnotw.jpg
Caption:Front cover of the song
Type:single
Artist:John Lennon and Yoko Ono as Plastic Ono Band
Album:Some Time in New York City
B-Side:"Sisters, O Sisters" (Yoko Ono)
Recorded:November 1971 – March 1972
Studio:Record Plant East, New York City
Genre:
Label:Apple
Producer:
Prev Title:Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Prev Year:1971
Next Title:Mind Games
Next Year:1973

"Woman Is the Nigger of the World" is a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Elephant's Memory from their 1972 album Some Time in New York City. The song was produced by Lennon, Ono and Phil Spector. Released as the only single from the album in the United States, the song sparked controversy at the time due to the use of the word nigger in the title, and many radio stations refused to play the song as a result.

Composition

The phrase "woman is the nigger of the world" was coined by Yoko Ono in an interview on December 12, 1968, then released on Nova magazine in 1969 and quoted on the magazine's cover, with Ono making the claim that women were the most oppressed group in the world.[3] Literary analysts note that the phrase owes much to Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God,[4] in which the protagonist Janie Crawford's grandmother says "De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see."[5] [6] John and Yoko wrote the song in the summer of 1969. Lennon was originally against the statement Yoko made, but when he saw the cover of Nova, it changed his mind. Recording for the song began on February 13, 1972, and ended on March 8 of that year.[7]

In a summer 1972 interview on The Dick Cavett Show, Lennon said that Irish revolutionary James Connolly was an inspiration for the song. Lennon cited Connolly's statement that "the female worker is the slave of the slave" in explaining the pro-feminist inspiration behind the song.[8]

Release and reception

Due to its use of the racial epithet nigger and what was criticized as an inappropriate comparison of sexism to racism against black Americans, most radio stations in the United States declined to play the record.[9] [10] It was released in the U.S. on 24 April 1972[11] and peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, based primarily on sales, making it Lennon's lowest-charting U.S. single in his lifetime.[12] The song also charted at number 93 on the Cash Box Top 100.[13]

The National Organization for Women (NOW) awarded Lennon and Ono a "Positive Image of Women" citation for the song's "strong pro-feminist statement" in August 1972.[14] Cash Box described the song as the "most powerful epic to come out of the women's movement so far."[15]

In the 1 June 1972 issue of Jet magazine, Apple Records ran an ad for the song with a purported quote from Congressman Ron Dellums, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, claiming that he "agreed" with Lennon and Ono that "women are the niggers of the world."[16] In the 15 June issue, Dellums wrote a letter in response rejecting that he had "agreed" with Lennon and Ono. He clarified that "In a white male-dominated society that sees the role of women as bed-partners, broom pushers, bottle washers, typists and cooks, women are niggers in THIS society."[17]

Critique

Record World said that "with hard rock backing and expert guitar work from Elephant's Memory, John and Yoko deliver the message suggested by the title" and called it "strong stuff, musically and lyrically."[18] The A.V. Club praised the messaging of the song, stating that it "makes a valid point, and one that’s revolutionary for the time".[19] Classic Rock critic Rob Hughes rated it as Lennon's 9th best political song,[20] and Rolling Stone listed the song as one of Lennon's 20 most underrated songs. Conversely, however, Todd Mealy, an author, critiqued the song, and Lennon's defence of the song, as demonstrating "a lack of nuanced and empathetic knowledge" about the past oppression of African-descended people.[21] Ta-Nehisi Coates used the song in a more broader context of race relations, questioning whether Lennon and Ono "really had an understanding of what it meant to be a nigger".[22] Far Out Magazine opined that the song was "blunt, unambiguous, and not memorable enough to truly mean anything".[23]

Response to criticism

Through radio and television interviews, Lennon described his use of the term nigger as referring to any oppressed person. Apple Records placed an advertisement for the single in the 6 May issue of Billboard magazine featuring a recent statement, unrelated to the song, by prominent black Congressman Ron Dellums to demonstrate the broader use of the term. Lennon also referred to Dellums's statement during an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show, where he and Ono performed the song with the band Elephant's Memory. Because of the controversial title, ABC asked Cavett to apologise to the audience in advance for the song's content; otherwise the performance would not have been shown.[11] Cavett disliked giving the statement, saying in the 2010 documentary LENNONYC:

I had John and Yoko on, and the suits said: "We're gonna write a little insert just before the song for you to say." I said, "You are going to censor my guests after I get them on the show? This is ludicrous." So they wrote this thing, and I went in and taped it in order to retain the song. About 600 protests did come in. None of them about the song! All of them about, quote: "that mealy-mouthed statement you forced Dick to say before the show. Don't you believe we're grown up..." Oh, God. It was wonderful in that sense; it gave me hope for the republic.[24]

Lennon also visited the offices of Ebony and Jet magazines with comedian/activist Dick Gregory and appeared in a cover story, "Ex-Beatle Tells How Black Stars Changed His Life", in the 26 October 1972 issue of Jet.[25]

Lennon defended the song, stating: "I know it was political with a capital P, but that was what I had in my bag at the time, and I wasn't just going to throw them away because they were political," before going on to say he still liked the song.[26]

John and Yoko would continue to defend the song in multiple 1980 interviews including John Lennon's last interview on December 8, 1980.[27] Yoko would continue expressing support for the song, admitting its controversial nature in a 2015 interview.[28]

Reissues

An edited version of the song was included on the 1975 compilation album Shaved Fish. The song was reissued as the B-side to "Stand by Me" on 4 April 1977.[29] The song is absent from the Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes box set,[30] but does appear on the John Lennon Signature Box.[31]

In popular culture

An episode of the television series Better Things, written by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., named "Woman is the Something of the Something", features characters discussing the saying "woman is the nigger of the world".[32]

Chart performance

Chart (1972)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[33] 9
Italy (Musica e dischi)[34] 12
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)[35] 38
US Cash Box Top 100[36] 93

Personnel

Personnel on the single and Some Time in New York City recording are:[37] [38] [39]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Fricke . David . 2010-12-10 . 20 Underappreciated John Lennon Solo Songs . 2024-04-02 . Rolling Stone . en-US . Lennon set his soapbox vocal and underground-wire-service lyrics to a hearty retro blast of American Fifties R&B. . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003172833/https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/20-underappreciated-john-lennon-solo-songs-234008/ . live .
  2. Book: Blaney, John . John Lennon: Listen to This Book . 2005 . John Blaney . 978-0-9544528-1-0 . 103 . en . Lennon's feminist anthem was inspired by something she [Ono] said in a Nova magazine interview in 1969. . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402133814/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZuCZR7MiDA0C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA103&dq=woman+is+the+nigger+of+the+world&hl=en#v=onepage&q=woman%20is%20the%20nigger%20of%20the%20world&f=false . live .
  3. Book: Perlman, Allison . Public Interests: Media Advocacy and Struggles Over U.S. Television . May 2016 . . 978-0-8135-7232-1 . 75 . en . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402133654/https://books.google.com/books?id=WpzeDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&dq=%22Woman+Is+the+Nigger+of+the+World%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=au_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnu9aSwaKFAxXeXEEAHcF8D5Y4ChDoAXoECAQQAw#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false . live .
  4. Book: Chang, Jeff . Who We Be: A Cultural History of Race in Post-Civil Rights America . New York . 2014 . . 85 . 978-0-312571-29-0.
  5. Book: Hurston. Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1986. Virago Press. London. 9780860685241. 19.
  6. Book: Rees, Nigel . Mark My Words: Great Quotations and the Stories Behind Them . New York . 2002 . . 418 . 0-760735-32-8 .
  7. Book: Doggett, Peter . The Art And Music Of John Lennon . 2009-12-17 . Omnibus Press . 978-0-85712-126-4 . en . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402133654/https://books.google.com/books?id=16h6ju_-5dYC&pg=PT306&dq=%22Woman+Is+the+Nigger+of+the+World%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=au_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnu9aSwaKFAxXeXEEAHcF8D5Y4ChDoAXoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false . live .
  8. Television interview, 11 May 1972. The Dick Cavett Show: John and Yoko collection [video recording] DVD, 2005. .
  9. Hilburn, Robert. "New Disc Controversy" Los Angeles Times 22 April 1972: B6
  10. Web site: Kahn . Jamie . 2022-04-24 . The John Lennon track that radio stations refused to play . 2024-04-02 . . en-US . 24 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124184006/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-john-lennon-track-that-radio-stations-refused-to-play/ . live .
  11. Book: Miles, Barry . Badman, Keith . The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 . 2001 . Music Sales Group . London . 978-0-7119-8307-6 . reprint.
  12. Duston, Anne. "Lennon, Ono 45 Controversial" Billboard 17 June 1972: 65
  13. Book: Blaney, John. John Lennon: Listen to This Book. 2005. Paper Jukebox. [S.l.]. 978-0-9544528-1-0. illustrated. 326.
  14. Johnston, Laurie. "Women's Group to Observe Rights Day Here Today" New York Times 25 August 1972: 40
  15. Web site: CashBox Record Reviews. May 6, 1972. 18. 2021-12-11. Cash Box. 13 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220313060124/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-05-06.pdf. live.
  16. Jet . Jet . 1 June 1972 . 7 February 2023 . 61 . 42 . 10 . 0021-5996 . Johnson Publishing Company . en . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207034742/https://books.google.com/books?id=pbEDAAAAMBAJ . live .
  17. Dellums . Ronald V. . Rep. Dellums Objects to Quote in Record Ad . Jet . 15 June 1972 . 7 February 2023 . Johnson Publishing Company . en . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207034735/https://books.google.com/books?id=mrEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4 . live .
  18. Record World. May 5, 1972. 2023-04-01. Hits of the Week. 1. 22 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230222174717/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-05-05.pdf. live.
  19. Web site: 2013-10-11 . Woman is the what of the world? 8 image-altering John Lennon songs . 2024-04-02 . The A.V. Club . en . 22 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922121709/https://www.avclub.com/woman-is-the-what-of-the-world-8-image-altering-john-l-1798241337 . live .
  20. Web site: John Lennon's 10 best political songs. Hughes, Rob. December 8, 2021. Louder Sound. Classic Rock. 2022-06-19. 8 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211208075907/https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-best-john-lennon-political-songs. live.
  21. Book: Mealy, Todd M. . The N-Word in Music: An American History . 2022-05-03 . . 978-1-4766-8706-3 . 107 . en . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402133816/https://books.google.com/books?id=EGduEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107&dq=%22Woman+Is+the+Nigger+of+the+World%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=au_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnu9aSwaKFAxXeXEEAHcF8D5Y4ChDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false . live .
  22. Web site: Coates . Ta-Nehisi . 2011-11-15 . Shirley Chisholm, Cont. . subscription . 2024-04-02 . . en . Did Yoko Ono and John Lennon really have a deep understanding of what it meant to a "nigger?" Were they even interested? Or were they just looking to wedge an entire people into their need for a symbol? . 26 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326124845/https://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2011/11/shirley-chisholm-cont/248498/ . live .
  23. Web site: Golsen . Tyler . 2022-06-12 . John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'Some Time in NYC' turns 50 . 2024-04-02 . Far Out Magazine . en-US . 24 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124184015/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/a-polarising-political-mess-john-lennon-and-yoko-onos-some-time-in-new-york-city-turns-50/ . live .
  24. 2010 documentary LennoNYC
  25. Web site: 2020-10-08 . Happy Birthday, John Lennon: Re-examining a flawed icon . 2024-04-02 . . en-US . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702004125/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/happy-birthday-john-lennon-re-examining-a-flawed-icon/ . live .
  26. Book: White, Richard . Come Together: Lennon and McCartney in the Seventies: Lennon and McCartney In The Seventies . 2016-06-30 . Omnibus Press . 978-1-78323-859-0 . 24 . en . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402133655/https://books.google.com/books?id=6QjKDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&dq=%22Woman+Is+the+Nigger+of+the+World%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=au_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnu9aSwaKFAxXeXEEAHcF8D5Y4ChDoAXoECAgQAw#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false . live .
  27. News: Wiener . Jon . 2010-12-08 . Lennon's Last Interview: 'The Sixties Showed Us the Possibility' . subscription . 2024-04-02 . en-US . 0027-8378 . "I’m more feminist now than I was when I sang ‘Woman Is the Nigger of the World,’" he said. "Isn’t it time we destroyed the macho ethic?… Where has it gotten us all of these thousands of years?" . 27 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327072712/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/lennons-last-interview-sixties-showed-us-possibility/ . live .
  28. Web site: Charlton . Lauretta . 2015-10-02 . Yoko Ono on How to Change the World, Her Most Controversial Work, and John Lennon's 75th Birthday . 2024-04-02 . . en . Oh yeah, that was very controversial. What John and I were really trying to say was, “Okay, women are not treated well.” That’s what it meant, you know? And it’s a very interesting thing.  . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003062607/https://www.vulture.com/2015/09/yoko-ono-interview-john-lennon-75-modern-sky.html . live .
  29. Book: Blaney, John. John Lennon: Listen to This Book. 2005. Paper Jukebox. [S.l.]. 978-0-9544528-1-0. illustrated. 168. 1973 to 1975: The Lost Weekend Starts Here.
  30. Web site: Borack . John M. . 2021-05-03 . John Lennon's 'Gimme Some Truth' Box - The Ultimate or No? . 2024-04-02 . Goldmine Magazine

    Record Collector & Music Memorabilia

    . en . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402091807/https://www.goldminemag.com/reviews/john-lennons-gimme-some-truth-box-the-ultimate-or-no . live .
  31. Web site: Gaar . Gillian . 16 June 2015 . John Lennon: Lennon Box Set . 2024-04-02 . . en-US . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402101050/https://www.pastemagazine.com/article/john-lennon-lennon-box-set-review . live .
  32. News: Felsenthal . Julia . 30 September 2016 . Pamela Adlon on Better Things's Most Meta Episode Yet . . 1 October 2016 . 2 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161002030227/http://www.vogue.com/13486482/better-things-pamela-adlon-interview/ . live .
  33. 28 September 1972. Hitlisten. Ekstra Bladet. 34.
  34. Spinetoli, John Joseph. Artisti In Classifica: I Singoli: 1960-1999. Milano: Musica e dischi, 2000
  35. Book: Okamoto, Satoshi. Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010. Oricon Entertainment. 2011. 978-4-87131-088-8. Roppongi, Tokyo. ja.
  36. Web site: Top 100 1972-06-03 . . 5 January 2015 . dmy . 4 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130304070658/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19720603.html . live .
  37. Book: Lennon and McCartney: together alone : a critical discography of their solo work. Blaney, J.. 60–62. 2007. Jawbone Press. 978-1-906002-02-2.
  38. Web site: 2010-08-03. Woman Is The N—r Of The World. 2020-07-23. The Beatles Bible. en-GB. 14 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200814030734/https://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/woman-is-the-nigger-of-the-world/. live.
  39. Book: Pieper, Jörg . The Solo Beatles Film & TV Chronicle 1971-1980 . 2009-05-17 . Lulu.com. 978-1-4092-8301-0 . 84 . en . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402024033/https://books.google.com/books?id=neDkDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA84&dq=%22Woman+Is+the+Nigger+of+the+World%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=au_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiP1dmru6KFAxUXXUEAHVyAAAIQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Woman%20Is%20the%20Nigger%20of%20the%20World%22%20-wikipedia&f=false . live .

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