RZA photo via Mallory Zuckerman
If you've ever enjoyed the charming tinkle of the ice cream truck's music as it drives down your street on a hot summer day, chances are those memories are inexorably tied with the long history of racism in the United States. Oh well! "Turkey In The Straw," the song commonly associated with ice cream trucks, was heard frequently at minstrel shows and recorded with racist lyrics. After a social media campaign spread awareness of the song's origins, ice cream company Good Humor hired Wu-Tang producer RZA to create a new jingle. It's out now, and you can hear it below.
"We wanted to make a melody that includes all communities," RZA said, "that's good for every driver, every kid." The new jingle is available for free to all Good Humor trucks — the drivers themselves decide whether or not they will play RZA's composition — and will be added to all industry-standard ice cream truck music boxes.
