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LOL. lemme do you a favor and explain the power dynamic. white people, by virtue of the settler colonialism that created this society in which ska was born? always have the upper hand when it comes to accessing Black art forms. https://twitter.com/skatunenetwork/status/1338151536367689729
because white ppl’s acknowledgement of Black art forms is largely viewed and respected as validation, there’s never a neutral or equally beneficial relationship. it’s not possible by virtue of antiblackness, which capitalism needs in order to function. @Skatunenetwork
which is why, @Skatunenetwork, I worded my tweet the way I did. consistently — with reggae, ska, jazz, baile funk, reggaeton, gospel, blues, r&b AND MORE — Black music gets “discovered” by white ppl who can’t wait to take it far and wide. that is not inherently GOOD.
a ska band of white people is likely to be viewed as more valid than ANY Black ska band. by WHITE fans. the way folkd will reference toots hibberts (may he rest in eternal peace) and THEIR OWN FANS will skip a laundry list of Black artists cuz ewww Black ppl? antiblackness.
now. @Skatunenetwork, plenty Black artists’ desire for their music to grow and be appreciated exists *within* the inherently antiblack music industry. being picked up by a white person/ a record label is considered a win because capitalism is a ladder. indies are low on it.
the music grows but at what cost? at what cost to the artform or the maker of it? Black folks’ labor is CONSISTENTLY EXPLOITED BY VIRTUE OF A WORK MODEL ORIGINATED IN CHATTEL SLAVERY. it’s a plantation system again. plenty Black artists discuss this. @Skatunenetwork
all the white ppl kissing your ass for validating white ska have zero space to speak to this. so don’t call them over here. understand that you’re not even having the same conversation I am.
also, @Skatunenetwork, if you know any Black music history *outside of ska*, you know that the steamroller of white validation destroys Black artists’ lives and careers. your tweets suggest you don’t know and haven’t taken the time to find out. I’m done here. bless up.
