Gaga and Race

[HorusRa2 5,005]

She doesn’t have to speak out about race in the context you’re referring to. Not everyone uses their platform to discuss race && other times, POC get vicious when a white person DOES talk about race. So, I would argue she decides not to use her platform that way and leaves that to the Beyoncé’s of the world. 

 

It it doesn’t mean that she’s racist or doesn’t care about racial issues, but it does mean she doesn’t use her platform specifically for that. 

[VOLANTIS 16,406]

I would have prefered if she actually promoted 'Angel Down' the way she did telling Joanne's story. She could have very sensibly spread that message but she had songs like Angel Down and Come to Mama about acceptance and love but never spoke on it. 

[weed 73,835]

there's only so much she can say in her music as a white woman imo. Putting it in her music would mean she's making money off of it, and maybe that won't look tasteful in itself / 'white woman using POC struggles to sell a record'? To speak out in general more, yes, but in her music idk.

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

2 minutes ago, Lippoutou said:

Thank you for calming down... of course I was speaking ideally. I mean if a "black twink" as you said and really just everybody started to give less importance to race it surely would diminish the way we let it affect things. Yes that's ideal but if people worked on it together instead of coming for something who's white simply replying in a topic about racism it would help. 

okay. right. white fragility. the feelings of white people matter in discussions about race... 

if you were speaking ideally then what's the point. We don't live in the ideal world. Then you're just stating the obvious.  

[gag 22,449]

I respect Gaga's politics but she's shown that her knowledge on racism is quite surface level. It would end up like Katy's fake woke phase. People of colour aren't looking for race commentary from an upperclass white women, they're just not. Something like Angel Down is the furthest she should go IMO, an album cut that's heartfelt and shows compassion towards the cause. Plus, she would run into SO many opportunities to fail to articulate her intentions (and thereby get dragged).

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

3 minutes ago, HorusRa2 said:

She doesn’t have to speak out about race in the context you’re referring to. Not everyone uses their platform to discuss race && other times, POC get vicious when a white person DOES talk about race. So, I would argue she decides not to use her platform that way and leaves that to the Beyoncé’s of the world. 

 

It it doesn’t mean that she’s racist or doesn’t care about racial issues, but it does mean she doesn’t use her platform specifically for that. 

but would it kill her to at least speak up more about it. It's a little disconcerting that someone as "socially progressive" as her doesn't speak up enough about race.

[McYves 1,612]

I just want good music. If Gaga releases another pop masterpiece (musically and vocally) I don't really give a **** about the lyrics or the visuals, if she adresses important issues it's OK, if not, it's also OK. To me it's all about the music.

And by the way I don't like Beyoncé and maybe I never will and that's not because of her race. I love Janelle Monáe, for example. It's all about music.

[Reginald 13,841]

Something that I've always deeply admired about Gaga is how diverse her collaborators are. Queen of inclusion

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

5 minutes ago, gag said:

I respect Gaga's politics but she's shown that her knowledge on racism is quite surface level. It would end up like Katy's fake woke phase. People of colour aren't looking for race commentary from an upperclass white women, they're just not. Something like Angel Down is the furthest she should go IMO, an album cut that's heartfelt and shows compassion towards the cause. Plus, she would run into SO many opportunities to fail to articulate her intentions (and thereby get dragged).

with that in mind, i suppose you're right. it wouldn't work out well considering she doesn't know much about it and clearly isn't impacted by it. I also just remembered that tragic tweet where she said america was never like this or something like that lol...  

[HorusRa2 5,005]

1 minute ago, Gov Hooka said:

but would it kill her to at least speak up more about it. It's a little disconcerting that someone as "socially progressive" as her doesn't speak up enough about race.

Who decides what is enough? I think what you’re taking issue with is that she’s not saying anything about something you are very passionate about. And it doesn’t sit well with you because you’re passionate about Gaga. 

Again, I point out that some (not all POC) do not appreciate when white people start talking like they understand what POC go through. White people can be empathetic in terms of listening to others experiences, but it’s just a fine line when you get to the speaking out portion. 

I also would say that (at least for me) there are only some things I feel comfortable saying about race when addressing POC in that I do not want to speak for their experiences or think I know their perspective. I think the best thing white people can do is to listen to POC, give them the opportunity to tell their truth and react positively on the go-forward. Meanwhile, the government and activists need to come together to determine what is going to happen in terms of reparations. Meanwhile, there is going to always be a form or racism in this country. It’s just a fact. That doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t mean things will not progress. But there’s always going to be a vocal minority that live in hatred. 

[Lippoutou 4,569]

15 minutes ago, Gov Hooka said:

okay. right. white fragility. the feelings of white people matter in discussions about race... 

if you were speaking ideally then what's the point. We don't live in the ideal world. Then you're just stating the obvious.  

Wtf ? You think a random person quoting me nonsense on the internet will trigger any feeling in me ? 

Trust me being aggressive and blaming people of being white when you bring up the subject of racism to discuss it won't do anything beneficial. Anyway by definition something ideal is something we should tend to. It think we should tend to colour blindness as you called it. Whether you think what I said is relevant or not your I no longer feel like arguing with you, have a good day.

[LaLa 19,655]

As others have said, this isn't really her area of expertise and I would hate for her to come off as 'fake-woke', even though I'm sure her heart would be in the right place.

I think the best thing she can do is continue to support and elevate artists of colour in telling their own stories and getting their own music heard.  

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

1 minute ago, Lippoutou said:

Wtf ? You think a random person quoting me nonsense on the internet will trigger any feeling in me ? 

Trust me being aggressive and blamimg people of being white when you bring up the subject of racism to discuss it won't do anything beneficial. Anyway by definition something ideal is something we should tend to. It think we should tend to colour blindness as you called it. Whether you think what I said is relevant or not your I no longer feel like arguing with you, have a good day.

didn't blame you for being white. you said something so blatantly obvious that in the context of your racial identity, it was just stupid. so i read you for it.

and yes sure you can believe in something ideal but to get to the ideal situation, you can't live and think in the real world like you are in the ideal world. Living and thinking with colorblindness in a racist world just perpetuates racism and doesn't solve it.

enjoy your day  

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

7 minutes ago, HorusRa2 said:

Who decides what is enough? I think what you’re taking issue with is that she’s not saying anything about something you are very passionate about. And it doesn’t sit well with you because you’re passionate about Gaga. 

Again, I point out that some (not all POC) do not appreciate when white people start talking like they understand what POC go through. White people can be empathetic in terms of listening to others experiences, but it’s just a fine line when you get to the speaking out portion. 

I also would say that (at least for me) there are only some things I feel comfortable saying about race when addressing POC in that I do not want to speak for their experiences or think I know their perspective. I think the best thing white people can do is to listen to POC, give them the opportunity to tell their truth and react positively on the go-forward. Meanwhile, the government and activists need to come together to determine what is going to happen in terms of reparations. Meanwhile, there is going to always be a form or racism in this country. It’s just a fact. That doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t mean things will not progress. But there’s always going to be a vocal minority that live in hatred. 

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.  

[freebit 6,240]

Honestly, no one wants to hear a white person sing about racial issues, not even white people themselves. I think most would rather hear someone from an actual marginalized group give their voice to these issues.