Modern Usage
The use of the phrase in modern American politics has generated controversy at times. In 2008, then New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo said of then Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama (who was running against Hillary Clinton, the candidate Cuomo supported): "You can't shuck and jive at a press conference." Cuomo received criticism from some for his use of the phrase, with Roland Martin of CNN stating that "“Shucking and jiving” have long been words used as a negative assessment of African Americans, along the lines of a “foot shufflin’ Negro.”" Conservative commentator Debbie Schlussel stated that "in that context it was probably meant as a racist dig" and she continued to state " But just ‘cuz Clintonistas used it that way, doesn’t mean the phrase is inherently bigoted." Similarly, on October 25, 2012, former Republican Party Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin generated controversy when she stated "President Obama's shuck and jive shtick with these Benghazi lies must end".
At the 2008 ESPY Awards, Justin Timberlake used the phrase to describe the play of African-American basketball player Paul Pierce. This segment was cut out of the broadcast by ESPN due to "the phrase's racial overtones". Obama White House Press Secretary Jay Carney used the phrase in reference to himself when he forget his notebook during a press conference in September 2011 and those remarks received little attention.
Read more about this topic: Shuckin' And Jivin'
Famous quotes containing the words modern and/or usage:
“The public history of modern art is the story of conventional people not knowing what they are dealing with.”
—Robert Motherwell (1915–1991)
“...Often the accurate answer to a usage question begins, “It depends.” And what it depends on most often is where you are, who you are, who your listeners or readers are, and what your purpose in speaking or writing is.”
—Kenneth G. Wilson (b. 1923)