Elvis Presley was NOT a racist

[BrokeAZZPimp]

I keep hearing Elvis Presley name brought up by the “anti-Eminem” and “anti-white people living on the same Earth and breathing the same air we do” crowds.

Here is the REAL info on “The King” instead of unsophisticated – lame brain – conspiracy brotha – urban myth – everyone and everything is out to get poor little victim weak and helpless black me – that is vomited out of the barge basement anti-white / Jew / Asian “Black Power” crowd and the sh!t-for-brains Nation of Islam and Yahweh Ben Yahweh cult member type people.

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How did the man dubbed "the King of Rock 'n' Roll" become viewed as an object of contempt -- indeed, as a racist -- by many African Americans?

This view is not based simply on his use of black music, but on an infamous alleged statement, dating back almost 50 years, that he apparently never made: "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes."

Elvis Presley is reputed to have uttered those words, either in Boston or on a CBS news show, in 1957, at the very height of his initial burst of fame. Word of the remark -- in some versions using much stronger language -- stung the black community, which had largely embraced the former truck driver from Memphis.

On their 1989 hit "Fight the Power," political rappers Public Enemy called Presley a "straight-up racist." And in May, hip-hop-soul diva Mary J. Blige faced a torrent of criticism after singing "Blue Suede Shoes" during a Presley medley on VH1's "Divas Live" special. "I prayed about it (performing the song) because I know Elvis was a racist," Blige said. "But that was just a song VH1 asked me to sing. It meant nothing to me. I didn't wear an Elvis flag. I didn't represent Elvis that day. I was just doing my job."

"I never said anything like that," Presley told black-oriented magazine Jet in 1957. "And people who know me know I wouldn't have said it."

After an investigation, Jet agreed there was nothing to the rumour.

Black performers from the time discount the story as well. "I would never think that Elvis Presley was a racist," says R&B veteran Darlene Love, who sang background for him as part of the Blossoms.

"The rumour has persisted because Elvis is a symbol of so many social and musical inequities that are legitimately resented," says Elvis biographer Peter Guralnick.

Few of Presley's black contemporaries bear ill will toward him, largely because he was so vocally supportive of black artists. Some African Americans even credit Presley for expanding the audience for black music.

So there you have it, there is NO evidence Elvis being racist other than coping "black music". Do racists donate money to the NAACP? Did racists support the Civil Rights Movement? Elvis did all these things. There's not one shred of documentation, not one hint in any Elvis documentary, biography, or archive, not one accusation while Elvis still was living that I can find indicating he was a racist, uttered racist comments, or did racist acts.

Also check this out:

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/presley.htm

It’s from this cool website that debunks a lot of urban legends.

This also:

http://www.broward.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/3877638.htm

And this:

http://www.ryanpelton.com/estory/august0115.html

[Trauma-san]

Believe it or not, I made a similar post a few years back here!  One of the greatest misconceptions of the 20th century was that Elvis Presley was a racist.  100% unfounded, he was a really sweet guy, would never have anything bad to say about anything, or anybody.  As a matter of fact, don't just find me a bad quote Elvis said about Blacks; find me a negative quote about ANYTHING from Elvis.  He loved everything, and everybody.  

[T-Dogg]

I don't think I've ever heard anybody call Elvis actually racist. Culture stealer I've heard a lot, that's what some *cough*Benzino*cough* say Eminem is and thus call him the rap Elvis. Never considered Elvis to be neither a culture stealer or racist ever myself, just an excellent artist. Same with Eminem.

[Trauma-san]

^ I wish everybody thought like you, lol, but I've heard it many, many times from black people that Elvis was a racist, and they always quote that quote, that he never even said.  His group of friends, bodyguards, and backup musicians were called "The Memphis Mafia" and all of them have basically made a living since his death, giving interviews and writing books.  They always ask the Memphis Mafia if he was a racist, and they basically laugh at it.  This is a kid who sang gospel songs in his shows, even though they didn't make any money, until the day he died.  This is the same kid who on his first television appearance, sang his mom's favorite Gospel song on T.V., because he said he promised her he would.  

I saw an interview the other day, the guy said that he was backstage in Las Vegas with Elvis, and his wife called up and was sick.  So, the guy had to leave to go see his wife at home.  Elvis saw him leaving everybody (they were all backstage) and was like "Hey! Where are you going?" the guy told him what happened, and Elvis insisted on driving over to the guy's house to see if there was anything they could do for her.  And that's for one of his backup singers. I'm telling you, this guy didn't have the ability to hate or be rude or prejudiced against anyone.