Black History: Special Delivery!!
Black Mail Readers:
Check out the quote below from Boyce Watkins. Watkins is an African American economist, author, political analyst and commentator. A strong supporter of financial literacy and entrepreneurship, he is considered one of the founding fathers of “Financial Activism”, which has as its objective “creating social change through the use of conscientious capitalism”. The quote below by Boyce Watkins calls us to reflect on the music industry and its impact on black men. It was tweeted by Watkins on February 13, 2017
“For the last 20 years, the music industry has consistently rewarded black men for promoting music that celebrates our extinction. -Boyce Watkins
We want to hear from you Black Mail readers! Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not? Comment and let us know what you think.
February 14, 2017 at 4:44 am
Yeah he’s right. Does the same thing to women… that’s why “nigger” is the same as “pussy”… if you follow people like Arthur Jafa (cinematographer) … we can see how these have been equated as insults in a white supremacist/ institutionalized racist/mysogenist america. He calls out the same stuff as Boyce Watkins, ultimately. Industry depicts women as whores and black men as thugs… rape is profitable. Ta Nehisi Coates has equated, in his reparations article, that rape is what has and is historically happening to both women and black men in a white supremacist/ institutionalized racist/mysogenist america.
The Grammy’s are owned predominantly by white Jewish men.
They sell “Christian” values… that’s not meaning to be anti Semitic… it’s just true. There’s a on-going battle about black people getting their music ripped off. The entire radio industry was born on ripping off black Jazz by white big band etc… even the documentary film maker Ken Burns proved this in his epic series… about Jazz…
and now… (still) real talent gets scooped up and forced into an “image” of “Thug” and “Whores” and “Bling” and the music they got noticed for gets “contracted” into what the industry demands.
February 14, 2017 at 6:24 am
Thanks for your feedback. And thanks for reading. The machine is “fed” by the demand the music. There would be no supply if not for the demand. But many have been socialized passively digest the music put out by the industry.
February 14, 2017 at 9:32 pm
yeah, just on the level of radio only plays certain songs and the station owners own like between 12-15 stations so monopolize what plays… and that reach goes beyond one state, Texas owns most of oregon radio for example… how come? so a lot of musicians don’t even get heard that should… and then it’s all awarded… without real competition or dialogue from the people who make the music or critical thinking…
i like your blog. thanks for receiving me.
February 14, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Thank you for reading! I appreciate the feedback!