the country is in us not on us.
a few thoughts on country roots + reads & vibes for your weekend.
Happy Friday, friend!
This has been a wild week for me. I’m glad to be able to connect with you again. So let’s not waste any more time, and jump right in.
thoughts at large.
Beyoncè has the number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 Country Songs chart and she’s the first Black woman to accomplish this. “Texas Hold’em” is a fun song, definitely line dance-ready, and it has been cool to watch people dance to it on TikTok. What hasn’t been cool, is how many people have been insinuating that Beyonce is cosplaying as a country artist. The underlying connotation is that she doesn’t belong, or shouldn’t be making country music because it isn’t her “culture.” And that’s where I have to pause folks. ✋
Much like me, Beyonce grew up in Houston, Texas. And while she is a few years older than me, we likely had similar experiences. In elementary school, we had to learn square dances and line dances as a part of our P.E. credits. We had to do do-si-dos to Achey Breaky Heart for a grade. Country is an integral part of Texas culture, and we are Texans.
Today is Go Texan Day, which is the unofficial start of Rodeo Season. There are kids all over the city today wearing Western wear to school - boots, hats, belt buckles, and Wranglers - because that’s just what we do. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest annual event that we have here in the city. And while there are a month’s worth of concerts and a carnival that goes along with it - there are rodeo events every night - including bull riding, calf roping, and my favorite event - mutton bustin’ - where they put a kindergartener on the back of a sheep to see how long they can hold on before falling off.
The concept is insane but it’s fun.
In Houston, it’s not unusual to see someone riding a horse along the side of whatever county road you may be on. Now that it is Rodeo season, you’ll likely see a few trail rides taking over those roads. As Texans, we grew up with country culture interwoven into our everyday lives. It’s in us, not on us.
There’s also a racial aspect to this. You and I both know that modern Country music is the last great white frontier. Country, although stolen from Black artists, has been gatekept for years. Attention broke down the history in a video on Instagram. It’s worth the watch so click below:
It’s Black History Month. Why are we still having conversations about where Black people do and do not belong? We are a part of the foundation that American culture was built on, and it’s time for everyone to not only be okay with that but to embrace it as well.
Yeehaw, y’all.
need you to know.
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Judge rules Texas school’s hair length policies do not violate CROWN Act
reads + vibes.
A Different World Cast to Reunite for 10-City HBCU Tour, Over 35 Years Since the Show's Premiere
Two Howard University students have formed the first figure skating team at an HBCU.
Porsha Williams Files for Divorce from Simon Guobadia After 15 Months of Marriage
Wendy Williams diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia
VICE Management Kills Vice.Com, Set to Lay Off Hundreds of Employees
Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa, starring Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes, is available now on Netflix. Watch the trailer below:
That’s all for this week, friend.
I hope you have a great weekend. Get out and do something you love.
