I think taking influences is fine, as long as you acknowledge/respect them. Look at Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon et al, taking African ideas but involving African musicians. That's more a case of being inclusive, of paying dues. With lyrical material, especially sensitive matter, I think you have to be more careful, and like I say, Sinatra, a white, Italian, rich man whose family - like those of all white immigrants to America, at least historically - probably contributed to or at best tolerated or supported slavery, singing about how tough it is to be a slave/black worker, in a black voice? Nah. Bridge too far, methinks. Personally, anyway.
I know you can't realistically restrict music to one race or group, but there are limits I feel, and respect must be maintained and given. Maybe if Frankie had duetted with a black singer? I don't know. But him singing this on his own in a "black voice" is almost, to me, as bad as singing in blackface.
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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018
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