Image By: Richard Elzey

For some it may already sound like a recipe for disaster when Brad Paisley and LL Cool J are collaborating on a new song, but when the title is “Accidental Racist” there is sure to be some controversy.

This new country-rap amalgamation starts out with Paisley singing about the time he wore a confederate flag tee-shirt into Starbucks and assuring his black barista,

“I hope you understand when I put on that t-shirt the only thing I meant to say is I’m a Skynyrd fan.”  

Paisley, who is actually from West Virginia and not the deep south, professes his frustrations about being “Proud of where I’m from but not everything we’ve done.” 

It seems LL Cool J and Brad Paisley are unaware of the continued systemic racism in this country as they believe we’re simply ”Fightin’ over yesterday”.  Though their intentions are admirable “Accidental Racist” is filled with stereotypes, as LL Cool J tells Paisley

“If you don’t judge the gold chains, I’ll forget the iron chains.”

As you can imagine, comedians have been getting their fair share of enjoyment out of this ridiculous song. Cast members on Saturday Night Live did a sketch about it on Weekend Update and last night Stephen Colbert debuted a gay-marriage themed parody:  “Oopsie Daisy Homophone”.  

All in all, though one can appreciate the attempt to unify America,  it’s hard to understand what these artists are trying to accomplish when LL Cool J finishes the song exclaiming, “RIP Robert E. Lee”.

Are we really living in a post-racial society, or do these music icons need to get a clue?