In the 1960’s the great Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck was confronted by southern U.S. universities about his Black bass player Gene Wright. He was told that if he wanted the tour he would have to replace Wright with a white bass player. Brubeck cancelled 23 of 25 dates of the tour leaving $40,000 (in those years) on the table.
This is not talking about it, but being about it.
Within Electronic Music i see everyone scrambling to amplify “Black” artists for PR, but how many of you did it when it mattered? It’s easy now with the complete shutdown of performance gigs. But how many prominent DJ’s turned down festivals that had a 97% White line-ups? Who spoke up? All while going on to play the music of Black artists who you laud as hero’s, or “inspirations…”. Stepping on stages you knew many of us had no chance in hell ever reaching. New Artists could not even get on Agency rosters.
Some tried to address the inequities, and you know who you are. The vast majority was business as usual. Especially 2015 thru19 when the EU went festival crazy. Wiping out the mid-tear (many of which Black artists sat) club opportunities. All in the middle of unprecedented prosperity, and fee hikes. Where where the op-ed”s, panels, opinion pieces? There were none.
For those looking for the way forward look to Brubeck’s example. He stood up when it mattered. He sacrificed for what he believed! That is the 1st brick laid in the building of a better world. We have to give up something to get something. That is if a better world is something you are actually seeking in the 1st place.
A ^