Society's Child

Janis Ian an American folk singer and writer wrote the story Society s Child The text is an narrative. The story takes place in the s on a stage where she was performing in Encino California

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excerpt from Society s Child My Autobiography, published in 2009. The story is a 1st person

when she was suddenly attacked by a mob of angry peers who were not very happy about her believed to be right at the time The story takes place in the Era. At the beginning of the story, Janis and her producer are introduced the reader, and like her, the producer Shadow Morton is an open-minded person. Which was a dangerous thing in that time, to be open minded towards interracial relationship could get someone killed back then. These were harsh times indeed. Nigger lover Nigger lover Nigger lover that is how it all started It was an elderly woman song that implied tolerance for interracial relationships. Her song went against all that was s a time when race mixing

between whites and black was wrong and disgusting according to the general population of that

break Janis emotional barrier. I finally stopped playing and started crying Not wanting the who spoke the hateful words, and then everyone else joined in. Not all joined in, but enough to audience to see me break down, I set my prized guitar on the floor and tried to calmly walk off stage As soon as I hit the wings I went running for the ladies room She could hear the crowd booing, hissing and cheers. She did not know which part of the crowd was doing the booing and which was applauding. One part of the crowd paid to see a young girl perform, while the other part paid good money just so they could bully Janis. And it worked for a while. that situation My black friends parents didn t want them dating whites My white friends Janis lived in a mixed neighborhood growing up, which would explain why she found herself in she would write about it As a means of clearing her head I never thought of it as a song about parents didn t want them dating blacks Which to her seemed stupid to her, and that is when