THIRTEEN ORIGINAL SCREAMING NIGGERS
Home base unknown
JoJo and the Thirteen Screaming Niggers were an outrageously named band that folks just HAD to go hear and see perform. Crowds were not disappointed This band ROCKED!!!
The band played mostly university fraternity dances and private parties. Considering their name, colleges and universities would hardly sanction an official performance by this band. Yet crowds LOVED them.
They performed in the 60s, a time of unrest, political upheaval and racial injustice. The civil rights movement and anti-Viet Nam protests were peaking. Yet people from both sides of the political spectrum could unite for a night of fun and dancing and put their differences aside.
The band was a novelty, but their music and showmanship was fantastic. Considering the times, there were obviously snide remarks and racial slurs about the band. However when the band performed there was no face to face name calling, knifings, or shootings. At the band breaks and after their performance, the predominately white crowd would mix and mingle with black band members. They were united in the brotherhood of "soul music" and race did not matter. On THIS night, all were brothers.
Black musicians gained respect from thier white brotheren. Hand shakes and hugs were not uncommon. This was a precusor to modern day race relations where the color of one's skin did not matter. The important thing was a love of sweet soul music. Today's generation could learn a lot from the children of the 60s.
Valdosta State Colleve, circa 1967
Valdosta State College, circa 1967
Valdosta State College, circa 1967
Robert Cagle in foreground, freshman from Waycross, Ga. Robert played in the popular Our Gang from Waycross
Valdosta State College, circa 1967
In foreground, John Stovall of Waycross, Ga and his soon to be bride Pam ? of Tifton, Ga
Above pictures courtesy of Valdosta State University archives.