On this date in 1957, newspapers across the country reported on Louis Armstrong's recent remarks during an appearance at Grand Forks Central High School, where he expressed outrage over the crisis at Little Rock High School. Armstrong said he wouldn’t travel to Russia if the US government asked him to, saying: “The people over there ask me what's wrong with my country; what am I supposed to say?” He added, “The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell.” After expressing his frustration with Arkansas Governor Faubus and President Eisenhower, he remarked, “It's getting almost so bad a colored man hasn't got any country.”
The news spread rapidly, reaching as far as Budapest and Australia. The State Department got flustered and embarrassed.
Armstrong's road manager attempted to retract Armstrong's statements, but Armstrong responded, “I wouldn't take back a thing I've said. … What I've said is me. … I have a right to get sore and say something about it. … Do you dig me when I say I still have a right to blow my top over injustice?”
Armstrong faced backlash, including a boycott by southern disc jockeys led by radio station WBKH of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Sammy Davis Jr. and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell also criticized him.
As Armstrong faced backlash, black entertainers like Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, and Jackie Robinson, who had the ear of the President Nixon, came to Armstrong’s support. Newspaper companies such as the Minneapolis Spokesman and Pittsburgh Courier also praised Armstrong’s stance against inequality.
On September 24, 1957, President Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act, federalized the Arkansas National Guard, and sent the 101st Airborne Division to integrate Little Rock Central High School. Columnist Drew Pearson credited Louis Armstrong with changing the president's mind. The following day, Armstrong exclaimed, “The President, he's the greatest. Ike and Lincoln, Hallelujah!”
What happens in North Dakota does not always stay in North Dakota—it can sometimes have a profound effect on the world. A Grand Forks Herald reporter listened to a jazz legend who didn't only blow his horn – he blew his top.
Dakota Datebook by Andrew Alexis Varvel
References:
- “Hot Trumpeter Burned Up: 'No Guts,' Satchmo Says of Ike On Race Controversy in South” (Associated Press article), Honolulu Star Bulletin, 18 September 1957, page 1, bottom.
- Larry Lubenow, “Satchmo Blasts School Discord”, Grand Forks Herald, 18 September 1957, page 1, columns 6-7.
- https://dippermouth.blogspot.com/2017/09/louis-armstrong-and-little-rock-60.html
- “Satchmo Remarks Big News”; Grand Forks Herald; 19 September 1957; page 1, column 7; page 8, column 3.
- “Blasts Ike, Cancels Russian Trip: Satchmo Won't Say No More”, Boston Daily Globe, 19 September 1957, page 6.
- “'SATCHMO' IN BITTER BLOW AT PRESIDENT”, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 September 1957, page 3, columns 3-5.
- “U.S. Officials Silent on Louis Armstrong Attack”, The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 19 September 1957, page 4, columns 5-7.
- “Hope Satchmo Will Make Russian Tour”, Hammond Times (Hammond, IN), 20 September 1957, page A2.
- “Musician Arrives Here From Sioux Falls: Armstrong Rests As Manager Says Integration Note Ended”, Fargo Forum, 20 September 1957, page 1, columns 4-8.
- “3,200 Hear Louis Armstrong Jazz Concert: Reporter Gets More Bars On Integration”, Fargo Forum, 21 September 1957, page 1, columns 6-8.
- “Satchmo's Discs To Be Discarded”, Miami Herald, 22 September 1957, page 11B, column 1.
- “Radio Station Bans Records”, The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 23 September 1957, page 4, column 6.
- “REPORT DIXIE BOYCOTT OF 'SATCHMO,' OTHER ARTISTS”, Miami Herald, 5 October 1957, page 11, column 3.
- “Armstrong Discs 'Out' At Southern Station” (Associated Press article), Fargo Forum, 21 September 1957, page 1, column 7.
- “Report Few Dixie Disc Jockeys Plan 'Satchmo' Boycott”, Minneapolis Spokesman, 4 October 1957, page 6, column 4.
- “'Talk Cheap' In Integration Battle, Sammy Davis Jr. Maintains Here”, The Gazette (Montreal), 21 September 1957, page 4, columns 3-5.
- Carroll L. Peery, “Thinks Running Debate Regrettable” (letter to the editor), Minneapolis Spokesman, 3 December 1957, page 2, column 3.
- Charles J. Harris, “Re: Satchmo's Sound On Little Rock, Ark.” (letter to the editor), Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 30 November 1957, page 36, column 1.
- George Bonds Jr., “Re: Satchmo's Sound On Little Rock, Ark.” (letter to the editor), Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 30 November 1957, page 36, column 1.
- “Ike A 'Nitwit' In Handling Racial Issues – Eartha Kitt”, The Gazette (Montreal), 21 September 1957, page 4, columns 3-4.
- “From Philadelphia, singer Lena Horne commented, 'Personally, I think people of all colors should be concerned about what is happening in the South. I, too, would decline to appear in Russia if I were asked by the government because I would fear embarrassing questions by the press, especially the Soviet press.'” – Pittsburgh Courier, 9/28/1957
- “Miss Kitt Joins Louis In Blast At Ike: Eartha, Lena Agree With 'Satchmo'”; Pittsburgh Courier; 28 September 1957; page 3, columns 3-5; page 14, columns 1-2.
- “EARTHA KITT, ROBINSON BLAST IKE: Top Negroes Blast Satchmo”, Independent (Long Beach, CA); 20 September 1957; page A1, columns 4-7; page A3, columns 5-6.
- “'SATCHMO' TELLS OFF U.S., IKE AND FAUBUS”, Minneapolis Spokesman, 20 September 1957, page 1.
- “'I Won't Take Back A Thing I've Said': 'Satchmo Tells Off Ike, U.S.: Armstrong Blasts Bias In America: Turns Down Paid Trip To Russia!”, Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 28 September 1957, page 3.
- “Satchmo Flips His Wig” (editorial), Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 28 September 1957, page 8, column 1.
- Evelyn Cunningham, “Give 'Satchmo' The Springarn Medal” (opinion), Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 28 September 1957, page 11, column 1.
- Evelyn Cunningham, “HE'S No. 1 IN MY BOOK” (opinion), Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA), 5 October 1957, page 6, column 1.
- “Faubus Ordered Into Court: Washington”, The Hammond Times (Hammond, IN), 20 September 1957, page 2, column 1.
- “IKE FEDERALIZES GUARDSMEN”, Grand Forks Herald, 24 September 1957, pages 1 & 10.
- “TWO INJURED IN LITTLE ROCK”, Grand Forks Herald, 25 September 1957, page 1.
- Drew Pearson, “'Satchmo' Stiffened Ike On Little Rock” (syndicated column), Rapid City Journal, 7 October 1957, page 9, column 3-5.
- “Satchmo Happy After Ike Talk”, Grand Forks Herald, 24 October 1957, page 10, column 1.
- “NEGROES AT SCHOOL AGAIN”, Manchester Guardian (Manchester, UK), 27 September 1957, page 1, column 5.
- “New York Is Now Smaller Than Tokyo: Rochester, Minn.”, Deadwood Pioneer-Times (Deadwood, SD), page 1, column 1.
- Izzy Rowe; “Blows New Tune: Ike Wins Satchmo's Applause”; Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, PA); 5 October 1957; page 3, column 1; page 6, column 4.
- “Satchmo: 'Ike The Most Since Lincoln”, The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI), 7 October 1957, page 1.
- “Argentina Applauds Armstrong's Opener”, Rapid City Journal, 31 October 1957, page 1, column 2.
