Black & White 1972 (4/14/20)

In 1954, Earl Robinson and David Arkin (father of actor Alan Arkin) wrote a song about one of the hottest topics of the day: The US Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education, which outlawed the racial segregation of public schools.

The lyrics began like this:

“Their robes were black, their heads were white,

The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight,

Nine judges all set down their names,

To end the years and years of shame.”

Pete Seeger released it first, in 1956...followed by Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1957.

Cut to 1971: Two reggae groups, The Maytones from Jamaica and Greyhound from the UK both recorded the song.

When Three Dog Night heard the Greyhound version, they covered it themselves...and after 18 years, Earl and David's song was a finally hit: #1 on the Adult Contemporary AND Hot 100 charts in both the US and Canada! It also went to #1 in New Zealand.

NOTE: In an effort to make the song more universal, NONE of the versions listed above included the original opening lyrics.

From 1972, here's today's “Great Song of the '70s!”