Gaga and Race

[Fresco 1,688]

I think Gaga already leads by example with regard to race. If you look at her stage performers, you see people of color in the dancers and band. This is subconsciously more important than to step into the current politics of race.   

[On a political note, I would prefer any welfare program to be colorblind and instead use verifiable financial data scaled for geographic residence, instead of having programs for any particular skin color or ethnic family tree. Reparations no.]

 

[Diamond heart99 5,262]

Lady Gaga is so ahead of her time in being progressive that she doesn’t talk about race because she knows the last thing pop culture needs is another white savior.

That being said, she’s always been inclusive, so I don’t see the point of this thread, unless you need her to be another Alyssa Milano. 

[River 118,178]

I actually think that poc artists are not speaking about racism enough, the finger should be pointed at them and not to a white girl that no matter what she would say she would look as the bad privileged white girl.

Gaga did more than enough when she wrote btw and she risks her career for that.

honestly, it's so easy to flash with the "I'm strong poc person, look what I achieved" while the majority can barely pay for food or get a scholarship because they don't have the same opportunities as white people.

So sorry, Gaga shouldn't be involved, there are enough artists who lives inside the poc communities and knows what's going on, that can and actually must speak about it in their music, but they choose different shallow subjects to speak about.

[Diamond heart99 5,262]

Once last thought on this, your pop girls don’t have to be everything for everyone. The pressure is exhausting. 

People want so much, for her to go back to being extremely provocative, to become a Vegan, to dye her hair dark, now she needs to be a spokes person for racial issues?

When does it end?

[Harris Walz 2024 1,451]

I think it would be cool to let the race thing go for just a minute.

[HorusRa2 5,005]

20 minutes ago, Gov Hooka said:

your rationale for why I made the thread is spot on lol.

I think for people to come together and have these conversations, the conversations shouldn't be ignored either nor should people be afraid of discomfort.  If white people spoke up more about race even when it's not appropriate or when it's not the right way to say something, they can become better allies. You shouldn't be afraid to offer an opinion on race because you want comfort. Maybe the way you or Gaga or anyone thinks about a particular issue silently to themselves is wrong and if by not saying your opinion on something, you don't get that chance to have it challenged.  The whole point of being an ally to a community is to speak up and advocate to members of your own community. Gaga could make a difference if she tried is all I'm saying. It's especially pertinent since the LGBTQ community is grappling with a noticeable racial divide and tension, particularly in our spaces.  

I can understand what you’re saying even though I think it’s just the difference between what people feel comfortable doing. I prefer Gaga to have the right view/values when it comes to the conversation than her to feel obligated to have a conversation that she’s not comfortable having. It can come off as inauthentic when it’s either lack of knowledge or just being uncomfortable with the subject. Not saying it’s ok to ignore racism but that this kind of issue is something people have to address in their own time and not due to social constraints.  

 

[doppelganger 3,952]

If by race you mean America-centric "black/white" narrative, no. She needs songs that connect universally. 

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

13 minutes ago, River said:

I actually think that poc artists are not speaking about racism enough, the finger should be pointed at them and not to a white girl that no matter what she would say she would look as the bad privileged white girl.

Gaga did more than enough when she wrote btw and she risks her career for that.

honestly, it's so easy to flash with the "I'm strong poc person, look what I achieved" while the majority can barely pay for food or get a scholarship because they don't have the same opportunities as white people.

So sorry, Gaga shouldn't be involved, there are enough artists who lives inside the poc communities and knows what's going on, that can and actually must speak about it in their music, but they choose different shallow subjects to speak about.

honestly this. She doesn't need to speak up about it through her work but I still think she could at least mention it more than complete silence. We RARELY here about it from her compared to the level of attention she gives other subjects. She could stand to at least advocate for something. that being said, i recently found out that she let the BLM movement table and do petition signups at some of her joanne world tour concerts in the US, particularly in Florida, to help increase support for the bill that would ultimately let formerly incarcerated people in Florida vote.

but also, it's not poc's jobs to always advocate for issues that have affected them too. They should not bear the brunt especially when it's not their fault. Expecting all poc artists to do it lets white artists who ignore racism and still benefit from it off the hook.  

[Diamond heart99 5,262]

I know I said I was done but...another thing.

Racism is a live and well, anyone who doesn’t think so is being purposely obtuse. That being said, race is completely made up, by shitty people in history who assigned meanings to humans based on where they came from and how they looked.

So yeah color blindness, not a solution, but perhaps there is something to saying “not today m*ther f*cker” to these labels. 

Based on things LG has said before (her thing with the Dalai Lama comes to mind) I think that’s kind of where she stands as well. 

[LuvitLevit 639]

I remember Gaga speaking up about race at a concert during the JWT, and speaking from a perspective of not knowing what POC go through. To me, my respect for her multiplied tremendously as she was being honest in saying that that was not her expertise.  She has openly supported BLM movement, and spoke about it in Born This Way (even my old pastor pointed that out in a positive light).  I believe she is very cautious, sensitive, and aware about speaking on race.  She's not one of those always screaming about it, because she doesn't need to be.  I'm a POC, and from my perspective, she's done a good deal of promotion toward POC, especially compared to some others who believe doing anything "urban" is considered promoting the POC experience.

[Serial Chiller 8,044]

She should care about it but not use that as her artistic subject. She’s already done enough as a white woman - Born This way, Angel Down - those are not inherently racial themed but it speaks of equality and calling out injustice. 

She can’t relate to PoC struggle cause she isn’t one. Let’s leave it at that. 

[DC 25,164]

I really don’t care tbh. There’s not a whole lot of racism being thrown around these days and I want to hear songs that make me happy.

(As Speechless plays in the background)

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

1 hour ago, AllThingsGaga said:

I think it would be cool to let the race thing go for just a minute.

if only people actually affected by that "race thing" and its legacy let it go for just a minute.  

[Runway 27,876]

No, the general consensus among the GP is that white artists talking about race come off as insincere and have a white savior complex ...

[Siena 6,282]

Honestly I feel that in general paying too much attention to race just helps to enforce stereotypes and divides us as people further. It puts people into boxes and categories that are unecessary. So no I don’t think she needs to focus more on race.