For those who think that it's just a bunch of backwoods rednecks upset about the Morgan Wallen fallout, I want y'all to take a good look at the artists who liked an IG post written by the girlfriend of the CEO of Big Loud, who feels that "he does not deserve this" https://twitter.com/cathstay/status/1357859690621915138

And like, the issue is not that Kiyah Marie is saying she's "not giving up on him." The issue is the insensitivity that comes with saying it now, in this way. Posting this publicly when both Wallen and the industry still have so much work left to do is just wildly irresponsible.

When I get calls from other Black folk in country music—ppl who are struggling & exhausted & ready to give up—I am always encouraging, always saying, Yes! What you're doing matters! It will make a difference! Keep speaking up!

But y'all. Seeing this just brought me to my knees.

Morgan Wallen's n-word is the perfect opportunity for this industry to do long overdue work, to uproot the culture that normalizes this behavior all the time, even when it's not caught on camera.

Instead, the story has become about Wallen himself—his rebuke & his redemption

And in the process of defending him and publicly supporting him, there is ZERO defense or support for the people most harmed by his behavior and, more importantly, country music's longstanding culture of racism.

I want to say that I am surprised to see so many (influential) ppl who care more about one man forced to deal w/ the consequences of his own actions than they do an entire group of ppl forced to deal with the *unjustified* consequences of racism...

but this is country music.

So I'mma end by saying what I always say—about the CMAs or the Opry or whatever entity is inflicting further harm upon the backs of ppl who've already carried too much—CALL YOUR PEOPLE.

Real talk. Call these ppl. Call em out, call em in. I don't care. Just call.

All these white women watched Mickey cry her eyes out all summer long; they've heard her share her stories about fighting racism in this industry. And NOW THIS?

It's unacceptable. Period. And there is absolutely NO WAY we can get better like this.

One last thing: Black ppl are not a monolith. Do not, I beg you, view Rakiyah's words as representative of our entire community.