I, too, am America.
a few thoughts on the balance of Black patriotism + reads & vibes for your weekend.
Hello friend, we’ve made it to another Friday!
I don’t know about you, but that gets me so excited. Let’s jump in, shall we?
“Can we reclaim the American Flag?”
This was the question I asked out loud to no one as I found myself scrolling through the Twitter discourse around the cover imagery for Beyoncé’s forthcoming album, “Cowboy Carter” this week.
I ask, because, like many Black Americans, I have a weird, and slightly contentious relationship with patriotism. For example: I will cheer for my favorite athletes when they represent us at the Olympics, but will do everything in my power to distance myself from being associated with the atrocities committed under our flag. There’s always a delicate dance between being grateful to live in a country that has afforded me freedoms I’m privileged to have, and being frustrated, disappointed by, and angry at the fact that the foundation of that same country is built on anti-Blackness. It’s hard to love something that hasn’t always loved you back.
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost, almost all of the time — and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you. But it's what's happening all around you and all of the time in the face of the most extraordinary and criminal indifference, indifference of most white people in this country, and their ignorance. Now, since this is so, it's a great temptation to simplify the issues under the illusion that if you simplify them enough, people will recognize them. I think this illusion is very dangerous because, in fact, it isn't the way it works. A complex thing can't be made simple. You simply have to try to deal with it in all its complexity and hope to get that complexity across.” - James Baldwin, 1961
That same complexity that Baldwin discussed manifests itself in the identity issues at play here, especially for those of us who are Black Americans who descended from enslaved people.
We constantly have to contend with the fact that the American flag which our ancestors literally helped to construct and fought for our freedoms under, has become a representation of an imperialist regime - and not just in the history books. We’re currently living through an American-funded genocide, one of many examples of the misguided use of the power that we, as a country wield.
Can we honor those whose labor laid the foundation for what we now stand on, celebrate our accomplishments and work to avoid being erased while simultaneously seeking recognition and reparation for the pain levied against us in the process?
Can we be proud to be American and not agree with every move our country makes? Can we reclaim our positions in the stolen art forms that have become synonymous with Americana while still being critical of the country we call home?
Beyoncé’s emergence into country music has brought many of these questions to the forefront of the conversation. Now, some of the Black artists who had previously been hidden are getting some much-deserved spotlight. Black Rodeo culture, which is prevalent across The South and particularly in Texas where Beyoncé and I grew up, is now a part of mainstream conversation. Vogue Magazine actually sent a photographer out to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to capture the fashion. Times are changing, because I recall a time not too long ago when southern Black fashion, and culture in general, was looked down upon.
While mainstream culture would have you believe, through Hollywood westerns, that all of the great Cowboys were white, I never had to look too far to see that that couldn’t be true. From trail riders and the Buffalo Soldiers museum, to the Black rodeo that ran every year a few miles away from my childhood home… I was able to witness firsthand just how we could be a part of creating our own history in the rodeo space.
Beyoncé’s album cover depicts her as a Rodeo Queen, an integral role in rodeo culture. The rodeo queen is an ambassador for her community, the face of the rodeo, and one of her chief responsibilities is riding around the arena with the flag to signal the beginning of rodeo festivities. The flag is also strategically cut off. Are you following the symbolism?
When she released the album cover, it was accompanied by an uncharacteristically long Instagram caption explaining her new era. It was this quote though, that told the deeper story that ties into this conversation:
This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed... and it was very clear that I wasn't. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history. The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me.
Beyoncé is working through her cultural reclamation through her music - which she should feel free to do without shame. There were plenty of people, however, who did not agree with her aligning herself with the flag at all.
When I think about the conversation around the flag’s symbolism, it reminds me of a similar conversation that has been had around the word 'n*gga.’ Despite being steeped in a violent and racist history, the word has been reclaimed by many Black people as a term of endearment. Simultaneously, for others, the word’s history is too painful to ignore. And therein lies my point.
Black people are not a monolith.
It is equally okay for Black people to distance themselves from the flag, as it is for Black people to embrace it. The feelings on both sides are justified for the reasons I’ve outlined above and more. The problem arises when one side tries to assert themselves as correct. There is no right answer here.
America, with all of its good and its bad, is my country of birth. It’s my home. How I embrace it or choose not to, is up to me. And as they often do, my opinions on this may evolve as I grow. But for now, I’m embracing the complexities and leaving the tough questions open-ended.
The Hill: NY attorney general takes step toward seizing Trump assets [Read]
AP News: Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market [Read]
Fox Miami: Florida homeless to be banned from sleeping in public spaces under DeSantis-backed law [Read]
CBS News: Why Texas' SB4 immigration law is undergoing legal whiplash [Read]
Mississippi Today: College financial aid program designed to exclude Mississippi’s poorest students has helped children of millionaires [Read]
Capital B: The Fight to Protect One of America’s Last Historic Black Communities [Read]
Baltimore Banner: Baltimore’s new $1 billion jail will be most expensive state-funded project in history [Read]
New York Times: Surgeons Transplant Pig Kidney Into a Patient, a Medical Milestone [Read]
The NBA is planning on shutting down their G-League Ignite team which served as a bridge option for high-performing players not interested in attending college. [Learn more]
In their NCAA Tournament debut, the Grambling State men’s basketball team pulled off a victory over Montana State. This is going to lead to a big payday for the SWAC. ESPN has the details. [Read more.]
Slam ran a great cover story on Caitlyn Clark [Check it out.]
Is being liked more important than being good at your job? Writer Jasmine Browley dives deep into this topic for ESSENCE, using Amanda Seales’ recent revelations about being blackballed from Black Hollywood as a case study. [Read here.]
Eater Houston ran a great story about Black culture at The Houston Rodeo. [Check it out]
Quavo is launching a program to award $100K for gun violence prevention in Atlanta. Billboard has the details. [Read more]
‘Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told’ is now streaming on Hulu. Apparently, some people’s pastors have been recognized in the doc. All I can do is shake my head.
The Netflix film, Shirley, starring Regina King, is available now. Watch it this weekend and let’s chat about it early next week.
This week, Megan Thee Stallion released her official Hot Girl Summer Tour dates and tourmate - Glorilla. Tickets are on sale now, and if you’re interested in going without having to purchase from the resale market, I’d suggest getting on that right now.
Speaking of Glorilla, she recently got the chance to visit The White House and meet President Biden and Vice President Harris. She spoke about the experience on CNN yesterday which birthed this quote:
“At the end of the day, the day gotta end.” Let’s say a prayer for election season, but also…Yeah, Glo! Her mixtape, “EhhThang EhhThang” drops on April 5th.
🚨The boys are rapping again!🚨 Kendrick Lamar is featured on Future & Metro Boomin’s new album “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” - He dropped a verse on “Like That” - in which he took a shot at Drake & J. Cole for linking up (they just wrapped a tour together) and said they aren’t the big 3 in rap - it’s just him. I need them to get in the booth! Album here: Spotify | Apple
The Update Weekly playlist has brand-new music from Tyla, SiR, Jade Novah, Big Sean and more. Grab it here: Spotify | Apple
Do you like Sade, Cleo Sol, Thee Sacred Souls, Solange, Little Simz, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and/or Kendrick Lamar? If so, I think you’ll really enjoy this Soulection playlist. It’s free.[Grab it here.]
That’s all for this week, fam. Have a lovely weekend. If something in this week’s letter resonated with you, leave me a comment or reply to the email. I’ll see you next week!
