THE QUESTION OF #CANCELCULTURE: SEeking sustainability and productivity in a reactionary era5/21/2019  Cancel culture, or the practice of utilizing public pressure to seek accountability or repercussion for a harmful act, lives on a spectrum of productivity.It is hard for me to engage in the outrage every time someone is “cancelled.” Sometimes the outrage leads to an outcome that further represents the world most of us want to live in: Safe and just. I’m then inspired to use my talents and strengths to support the effort/cause. I’m reminded of R. Kelly’s most recent cancellation that went from a trending hashtag to protests to a documentary to court dates. Albeit, it took many many years, but it seems that his music is cancelled, his management team cancelled him, and he was forced to be held accountable in court. Then there was Nate Parker’s rape allegation scandal from 1999 that imploded on the cusp of the release of Birth of a Nation. Unlike previous moments of public outrage, this time did not feel as righteous. The hashtags and on-brand opinion pieces saturated my timeline, as a shadow loomed over survivors still living in secret or silence. What was Nate Parker’s public shaming doing for them? It seemed like everyone was yelling into the void without real focus or intention. Each new bout of public cancellation makes me question how much I can participate in the act of cancelling someone and how much it aligns with the way I want to implement change in this world. At some point I had to ask myself what do I hope to accomplish with someone being cancelled? Healing and education are a part of my mission. Where is that seen in cancel culture? Do I want them to go to jail? Do I want an apology? Do I want someone to feel shame or be shamed? Do I want justice or healing for the harmed party? What does that look like? And if I got all of these things, who would it help? How productive is my public display of outrage? Is it sustainable or necessary for me to be outraged every time someone is cancelled?I have yet to see someone get cancelled gracefully and the person who got cancelled respond in a way that pleases the general public. I have yet to see the general public "un-cancel" someone. Jussie Smollett was an interesting case in that he was cancelled by some and supported by others. The justice system investigated and seemed to make things worse and more complicated. The general public, who did the cancelling, seemed to be misinformed and exploited the issue. Did you know there are Jussie Smollett shirts for sale? With that said, cancel culture has put a spotlight on how powerful the people can be when they’ve had enough, which is a practice I can stand behind sustainably with intention. There seems to be a heightened awareness of the power of our dollar and our time. When the numbers decline, they have to reply. That’s why Georgia is scrambling right now to keep the production companies in their state after signing the “heartbeat bill”.
The number of things to cancel and be held accountable for keep rising, which is not a surprise considering the era we are living in and the physical, psychological, and political violence that we are experiencing every day. The message is clear: We need to ACT NOW and time is running out. But how I react needs to align with my mission or I am moving without purpose or focus. Hence, how WE act and mobilize sustainably is an important question worth holding space for.
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April 30: Hood River
On the edge of the river
resting between piano chords I looked at you and knew that my God's inspiration far outgrew my prayers for love on this earth April 29: Abundance Affirmation
I offer you (and me) a God
that does not treat your life like capitalism. April 28: HEAL
Hurt
Elevated Accepting Love April 27: TRAUMA
Terror
Retroactively Available Unexpectedly Making Appearances April 26: May
I was born in Tornado season for a reason
I too twirl and twist wear historical destruction like a dress and go dancing still (Fear of Black Woman Strength is my favorite song to dance to) I have no problem being a spectacle unexpected but guaranteed composing the heat of my roots with the cool of my crown forcing the horizon to change its tone I rather go to bed in the core of a thunderstorm sleep in the chaotic justice of an earth who knows all too well the balance and acceptance that comes with the crackle and rumble and fade to silence My meditation April 25: It's Time
There is a time for waves to rest
on the chest of earth breathe into her before she releases them and the time comes sankofa April 24: Unsure (Haiku)
Not sure. Faith. Unknown.
All composed delicately in my praying hands April 23: Flatbush Asylum Music Festival
In some room
Painted like white supremacy Smelling like stale memories The R&B must’ve penetrated under the airtight doors Barely recognizable at first Then the beat begins to speak and overcome the silence the constant shoes against linoleum The walkie-talkie chatter and lack of choices So close to the barred windows Yet so far Almost convinced that the concert was organized (Not for the free, the clinically sane, the unburdened, or those whose words don’t incarcerate) just for you The soulful voices take over the room As it is intentionally devoured by the night The jeers of the crowd transform into cheers for your recovery And it almost feels like a possibility to remember again What it was like to be outside, at a concert, choked by summer air in Flatbush Brooklyn April 22: Numb (Haiku)
I crave slow motion
the chance to stop and embrace everything but fear April 21:
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