“no one sells liberation like Beyonce” - Beautifully written. I agree wholeheartedly, there’s so much blurriness between politics, activism, and aesthetics. It’s interesting to see how the ones who do *true activism* usually get silenced, aren’t as fun to ‘brand,’ and definitely dont get as much attention. It’s a difficult pill to swallow—but it makes me wonder, are they not different ways to change the system, sometimes being “IN” it is what changes it. But how long can you should you be part of the *system* until you finally make your millions and can take the mask off? It’s not black and white I guess. If nothing, one thing has become clear as day to me in 2023 & 2024: we are not as free as we think and aesthetically act like, but we’re more free than we were.
“But how long can/should you be party of the system until you finally make your millions and can take the mask off?” YES. Plus, your ability to be part of the system and make millions almost certainly requires that you internalize the mores that make the system work. So by the time you’ve made your millions, how likely are you to even be able to take the mask off, let alone want to?
My only hope is that Beyonce entering the country genre somehow helps other black country musicians. I took a trip to Nashville a couple years ago and they really like to put Darius Rucker on all their signage as this token black man in country.
“no one sells liberation like Beyonce” - Beautifully written. I agree wholeheartedly, there’s so much blurriness between politics, activism, and aesthetics. It’s interesting to see how the ones who do *true activism* usually get silenced, aren’t as fun to ‘brand,’ and definitely dont get as much attention. It’s a difficult pill to swallow—but it makes me wonder, are they not different ways to change the system, sometimes being “IN” it is what changes it. But how long can you should you be part of the *system* until you finally make your millions and can take the mask off? It’s not black and white I guess. If nothing, one thing has become clear as day to me in 2023 & 2024: we are not as free as we think and aesthetically act like, but we’re more free than we were.
“But how long can/should you be party of the system until you finally make your millions and can take the mask off?” YES. Plus, your ability to be part of the system and make millions almost certainly requires that you internalize the mores that make the system work. So by the time you’ve made your millions, how likely are you to even be able to take the mask off, let alone want to?
That last part is the *million dollar* question 💭
My only hope is that Beyonce entering the country genre somehow helps other black country musicians. I took a trip to Nashville a couple years ago and they really like to put Darius Rucker on all their signage as this token black man in country.
Beautifully written and argued! Thank you!