Tuesday, February 12, 2013

When Farrakhan And Christine Jorgensen's Paths Crossed


Calypso louis aka The Charmer
History and historical figures sometimes have those moments where they cross paths as they play their roles on the historical stage..   Sometimes it's because they actually meet, as Malcolm X and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr did in March 1964.   Other times those historical figures may never personally meet, but their paths cross because of other factors.

When Christine Jorgensen returned to the United States sixty years ago this month, she was a major news story and people were fascinated about her and the topic of transsexuality. 

A Bronx born and Boston raised classical violinist and calypso singer with Caribbean family roots by the name of Louis Wolcott was recording hit music under the moniker 'The Charmer' back in those days.   One of his records was so popular it was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five years.

'The Charmer' was still two years away from his 1955 conversion as a member of the Nation of Islam, becoming Louis Farrakhan and giving up his music career when he released this calypso record about Christine Jorgensen entitled 'Is She Is Or Is She Ain't'

It ain't exactly complementary of our pioneering American trans woman, but this is just an example of the 'Christine mania' that was going on at the time and some of the shots she took in order to pave the way for future generations of trans people.   



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