His approach has attracted plenty of scorn, but it’s also made him one of hip-hop’s most popular acts: a beacon for rap fans, not all of them old, who worry that the music no longer says anything. Alternately stern and compassionate, he’s counseled younger artists on the perils of fame and scolded them for emphasizing form over content. Cole’s career, the earnest and principled rapper from North Carolina has portrayed youth as a burden, a liability, a condition to be overcome on the path to experience. Maybe you’ll understand where that “tone” is coming from.For much of J. So get uncomfortable and listen, not to debate or ridicule or offer advice, just listen. Make yourself uncomfortable, listen to these women regardless of how you perceive their “tone” because the content of the conversation is more important than the preservation of your ego. If you know that you aren’t doing enough, then do more. Nothing truly productive comes from conversing anymore because we are past the point of speaking. Black Women have not been coddled or given a patient hand to hold throughout history so why is it that we’re always expected to grant them to others during a fight for our lives?įuck is the point of you preaching your message to those that already believe what you believe?”Ĭole’s right – preaching to the people who already agree is doing nothing to further the movement, but neither is having conversations with the opposing side trying to debate and prove your humanity, and discussions with those who haven’t done the proper personal research are obsolete as well. Nobody coddled the women who birthed this nation and movement. Just don’t expect for the rest of the movement to sit and wait for you. It’s easy to forget that Radicalism, like everything else in life, is a journey and not everyone is moving at the same pace all the time, which is okay. To that point, understand that the right to not partake in intellectual labor does not grant you the space to turn your nose up at someone who may need to read a passage or two from Bell Hooks.Īnd the frustration that fills her words seems to come from the fact that most people don’t see / Just ’cause you woke and I’m not, that shit ain’t no reason to talk like you better than me / How you gon’ lead, when you attackin’ the very same niggas that really do need the shit that you sayin’? / Instead of conveying you holier, come help get us up to speed” So no, nobody needs to treat anyone like children, per Coles’ advice.
As grown adults, we are not responsible for the education of any other grown adult, especially when it comes to an experience that you also personally identify with. Since radicalism is almost directly tied to your level of personal research and education, it’s easy to come off “holier than thou” to those who may not be on the same level as you yet. There is a level of elitism when it comes to Social Advocacy. Later in the verse he touches on the fact that someone being more “woke” than you doesn’t make them any better – which is valid. The “tone” he’s speaking of sounds more condescending rather than angry.
It’s the language behind the tone line that tripped many people up. Touching on how angry she is at the state of the world does nothing to prove his point because anyone with their eyes open would be angry. I personally resonate with the visual of the “Angry Black Girl” talking her shit on Twitter – I feel like most of us do. I believe that this “woman” is a placeholder for all Black Women.
Now I ain’t no dummy to think I’m above criticism / So when I see something that’s valid, I listen / But shit, it’s something about the queen tone that’s bothering’ me” As Cole reads through her page trying to gain understanding about where she’s coming from he finds that she has valid points but to him it’s not what she’s saying but how she’s saying it that turns him off. In the beginning of the track Cole begins speaking about a Black woman who he sees is mad at everything around her. In light of the very recent attacks on Black women that have been circulating, it seems as though jumping to NoNames defense was a knee jerk reaction, even with no proof of attack.
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