Thanks to this season's presenting sponsor, Kohler. They design innovative

sinks and faucets for people who do their best work in the kitchen. Sound has the power to impact our emotions. The sounds of waves crashing on a shore might soothe.

A fire alarm is designed to alert, even panic,

and depending on the time of day or night.

The sound of a baby might bring on feelings of joy or exhaustion.

But the sound of an ice cream truck, well, for me that unmistakable sound of jingle, jangle melody has the ability to cut through the hot summer funk

and pull me back in time. A time of diving into sofa cushions, looking for change, running

outside barefoot and tearing that crinkly wrapper off of a fudcical drumstick,

or maybe if I was feeling patriotic, a firecracker.

Again, that's the power of sound. And the sounds of ice cream truck music

should be one of the sweetest in the world. In 2014, Theodore R Johnson the 3rd published an article for NPR's Code Switch.

While researching racial stereotypes, he came across an album released by Columbia Records in 1916 that contained

a song with an unspeakable offensive title. Johnson listened to the lyrics, which depicted disgusting caricatures of black people,

all set to a familiar tune.

It was the same melody used in Turkey in the Straw, a song synonymous with ice cream truck music.

Johnson wrote, It's not new knowledge that matters of race permeate the depths of our history

and infiltrate the most innocent of experiences, even the simple pleasure of ice cream.

However, when the reach of race even the simple pleasure of ice cream.

However, when the reach of racism robs me of fond memories from my childhood, it feels intensely personal again.

That article blew up online. personal again.

That article blew up online and a passionate debate began.

Did Turkey and the Straw still belong in the ice cream truck cannon after this connection

...