Coney island Quote by Michael Kranish
““One Trump tenant disturbed by the de facto segregation was the Oklahoman Woodrow Wilson Guthrie—or Woody, as the folksinger was known. He had moved to New York City in 1940, the same year he wrote one of the nation’s most revered ballads, “This Land Is Your Land.” Ten years later, he had moved to Beach Haven, the Trump complex a few blocks from the Coney Island beachfront. Guthrie later wrote a number of verses that suggested Fred Trump was responsible for steering blacks away from the property: “I suppose / Old Man Trump knows / Just how much / Racial Hate / He stirred up / In the bloodpot of human hearts / When he drawed / That color line / Here at his / Eighteen hundred family project.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Trump Dynasty by Michael Kranish, 2016
Guthrie’s lyrics critique segregation and blame Trump for racial division.
In simple terms: Guthrie blames Trump for racism.
Key Takeaway
Recognize systemic racism in history.
Themes
racism
history
music
politics
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- political activism
- education programs
Key Concepts
civil rights
songwriting
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does music influence social change?
- What responsibilities do artists have?
A Different Perspective
Artistic criticism may oversimplify complex causes.
