Jason Aldean sparked a debate in the country last July 2023 when the music video for his equally controversial song "Try That In A Small Town" hit YouTube.
According to many, Aldean's music video contained imagery and representation that seemed to contain racist undertones.
Jason Aldean 'Try That In A Small Town' Music Video Explained
Primarily, the "Try That In A Small Town" music video was tagged as racist by many people online because of the video's setting.
A huge part of the music video was shot in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Colombia, Tennesee. For those who do not know, the Maury Courthouse was a well-known historical spot in the town where a black teenager was lynched in 1927. (via NBC News)
Reports said that an 18-year-old Henry Choate was accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl. Although not proven, he was jailed. However, a mob, hundreds, of angry white people kidnapped Chaote from his cell. He was tied at the back of a car and was dragged across town. Eventually, he was tragically and inhumanely hanged in front of the Maury County Courthouse.
Up until today, the tragic anti-Black history that the building had is still being told today - which makes Aldean's motives in shooting the video there questionable for some.
Additionally, in the music video, video clips of the Black Lives Matter protests and riots were interposed along with the lyrics - "Well, try that in a small town. See how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own."
In the past, Aldean has dismissed and denied that neither the song nor the music video had racist undertones.
"In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous," Aldean wrote in a statement at the time.
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Jason Aldean Says 'Try That In A Small Town' Music Video Was Not Racist
Speaking to CBS Mornings, Jason Aldean continues to argue that "Try That In A Small Town" did not contain any racist undertones. (via Variety)
According to Aldean, because there were people of all colors doing stuff in the video, it erases the fact that it's directed to one particular race already.
"That's what I don't understand. You know, there was white people in there. There was Black people. I mean, this video did not shine light on one specific group and say, that's the problem. So anybody that saw that in the video, then you weren't looking hard enough in the video is all I can tell you," he explained.
Watch the music video below.
