There has been a lot of chatter over the last few days surrounding the Ed Sheeran x Macklemore situation where Macklemore who is very outspoken made a statement about Free Palestine and equality for everyone during his performance and was then fired from continuing the tour. Not fired by the tour headliner but fired by a billionaire with ties to Epstein, a billionaire who led the way to blacklist Colin Kaepernick, a billionaire who owns the New England Patriots and a billionaire who pretty much calls the shots when it comes to happenings within the NFL. This is also the same billionaire who has a full data center in Gillette Stadium that monitors social media presence in regards to hate crimes and anti s******* against a group of people. Not all groups, just a certain group. This is also the same billionaire that who “partnered with” the United Negro Fund and a Jewish organization to have unity meetings across the country which I find disturbing because everyone wants to use Black people in their cause yet Black people benefit the least from all of the fighting that we’ve done to get ahead. Not overwhelmingly but a sizable amount of comments that I’m seeing online is that music isn’t political and should be left out of entertainment. Here’s a news flash for you, music has always been political and especially Black music which is the foundation of just about every music genre.
But this isn’t about Sheeran, Macklemore and Kraft, this is something that has been on my mind for some years now and has really become a topic amongst quite a few people that I know especially during the last election as well as the previous that *rump won. During both elections, I saw a lot of anti blackness from DJ’s and record collectors within the scene that was very vocal and pro-republican and very anti Black and anti Kamala Harris. 100% of the DJ’s and record collectors that I witnessed were not Black, they were white and brown and very vocal about not voting for a Black woman as well as being vocal about deporting immigrants. Here’s where I have a problem with that…. You are playing and collecting Black music from the 60’s and 70’s was very much pro equal rights, pro fighting against the system and 100% Black focused yet many of you for years have been silently anti Black. How do you vote for a system or someone that is obviously against the people who created that music, yet enjoy the fruits of their labor? I’ve seen and known both Northern Soul DJs as well as some who play “sweet soul” that don’t like Black people when around their own people but will rub elbows in public when playing the music with those whose lineage is that. But this is the age old story, love the music and culture but not the people who created the culture. It seems that so many people hear the music but aren’t listening to the message which is loud and clear but unlike it being cultural for Black people, it’s entertainment for others. Now this isn’t a golden rule and the percentage of people that fit that category is rather small but does exist and for the most part, I have found that DJ’s in those scenes are good people. But the anti-blackness and the misogyny against woman in the Northern Soul scene is really baffling to me in every way. Without Black music and culture, no groups would have music to play or be entertained by and that includes House, Techno and Jazz also.
The music that Black people created has always been music that was made to bring people together and I have had the pleasure of being around some great people globally, have built amazing friendships with good humans from all walks of life and all with a mutual understand and respect for one another culturally, politically and socially. The world is a large place, yet seems so small especially with social media and at the same time, the world is burning and those in financial positions and ties to the powers (and countries) to be are not your friends. In fact, they love the uneducated and stupid to do the work for them. When Black people said that we’re sitting this one out, that’s exactly what we meant. Drag yourselves through the mud, fight amongst yourselves calling ICE on people that look like you (and those that don’t) but leave us, our music, our people and our culture out of it.
Peace, Love and Unity (amongst those who share the same vision)