arising in seattle, wa during early june 2006, the allegorical nature of "mr. bojangles," star of many 1930s shirley temple films as well as subject for a protest song from the 1960s, alludes to the subconscious desire even the most free man has to give his pride away in order to dance a little bit.
to bojangle (v.): to dance about life with the same sadness and glib irony as bojangles himself did.
to bojangle (v.): to dance about life with the same sadness and glib irony as bojangles himself did.
the allegory of bojangles was potent on the dance floor.
by witn June 23, 2006
When Jimi Hendricks, Janise Joplin, and Jim Morrison died in the same year all at 27 I said oh bojangles.
by Dan Hazzy May 30, 2009
1. (n) Teh EWzors reamed Maylen Bojangles with t3h pencil he tried to yoink.
2. You're so fucking Maylen Bojangles
2. You're so fucking Maylen Bojangles
by gr00vn t0nes October 31, 2003
You have a tiddly bojangle, jerome
by mom darriott July 27, 2010
Are you kidding me what the Bojangle Fartknocker
by The World Of Coke May 19, 2010
Did you see that new video on the internet of Stratman making Mr. Bojangles. It was disturbing in like four different ways
by natetieckisstillgay March 5, 2010
A racially insensitive term used to describe a Black person, usually a man, who performs (in a variety of ways) for a White audience essentially on command. The pop culture use of the name is originally in reference to William "Bill Bojangles" Robinson.
Despite White American appropriation of the nickname and term, Mr. Bojangles was a nickname given to historical tap dancer William "Bill Bojangles" Robinson (1878 - 1949) when he lived in Richmond, VA.
The nickname increased in popularity during the Shirley Temple era, especially after The Little Colonel was released in 1935, preceding Jerry Jeff Walker's reference in 1968 by 33 years.
With the exception of Walker stating the man he referred to in his song supposedly being White, the reference is still eerily familiar. Bill Robinson depicted a tap dancing Black servant who sang and danced to entertain a White audience.
The racial undertone speaks to the latter.
King For A Day was written by two White men, Edwin Moran and A. Dorian Otvos, and released in 1934, featuring even Black face characters.
A hyphenated form was never used to identify or differentiate Bill Robinson from the song by Jerry Jeff Walker.
Despite White American appropriation of the nickname and term, Mr. Bojangles was a nickname given to historical tap dancer William "Bill Bojangles" Robinson (1878 - 1949) when he lived in Richmond, VA.
The nickname increased in popularity during the Shirley Temple era, especially after The Little Colonel was released in 1935, preceding Jerry Jeff Walker's reference in 1968 by 33 years.
With the exception of Walker stating the man he referred to in his song supposedly being White, the reference is still eerily familiar. Bill Robinson depicted a tap dancing Black servant who sang and danced to entertain a White audience.
The racial undertone speaks to the latter.
King For A Day was written by two White men, Edwin Moran and A. Dorian Otvos, and released in 1934, featuring even Black face characters.
A hyphenated form was never used to identify or differentiate Bill Robinson from the song by Jerry Jeff Walker.
If you aren't Black and you think it okay call a person, especially a Black person, "Bojangles," you're an appropriating racist. Bill Robinson, a Jim Crow era singer, dancer, and actor, is Mr. Bojangles.
by JimmuCrackorn November 21, 2017