Reform
“If a black man tells you that Dixie is offensive to him, and you continue singing Dixie, you are intentionally insulting him. An intentional insult to a black man is racism, and no amount of rationalizing will change that.” --Name withheld from letter to the editor "Continued Singing of Dixie Constitutes Intentional Insult" |
The reform was to continue not playing the song. Eldon Janzen started a new Razorback fight song called “The Swing March” that is still played today. In 1971 Sanford Tollette IV became the first black drum major at the university and in the Southwest Conference. The fact that he was a black drum major was a visual reform on the football field, and it ensured that Dixie would not be played. |
“I knew Sanford was going to try out. I think the students were a lot more apprehensive about it than I was in hearing what was said and done after the fact. But it was a simple matter. I don’t remember who else was trying out, but it was really obvious that Sanford was the best prepared. And he had the stature and the dignity and the persona of leadership that you want to put in front of the band. So it was a simple decision. He was the best.”
--Eldon Janzen
Click Here to Hear Shortened Version:
Source: Razorback Marching Band
Interview with Band Director Eldon Janzen on the Swing March"Called the Swing March, and it was from a movie called How Daddy Won the War written by a well-known composer Henry Mancini--Moon River Henri Mancini and all that stuff. And we took the last part of it which you will hear at every pregame performance of the Razorback football team today, and we inserted a tag on the end of it with a bit of a drum cadence and a Go Hogs Go chant in it." --Eldon Janzen |
Interview with Sanford Tollette on trying out for drum major"Was to make a difference in terms of equality, so trying out for the drum major was me deep inside continuing that effort to say, 'Hey, you know, we’re going to represent. We’re going to show that we are as good as and if not, better than.' So, the motivation was just proving my self-worth to myself and others." --Sanford Tollette |
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Copyright Zoe Tollette and Samantha Fish 2012