Gaga and Race

[Thotiana 872]

Gaga’s biggest musical project addresses many issues including racial ones. I just don’t think she needs to put it in the music anymore when Born This Way is there. Angel Down also happened during one of the craziest year in America’s history. 2016. But instead, she should use her voice (which she does) as one of the most powerful woman in Hollywood to call out injustices. Especially at the hands of our so called leaders.

[Zander 14,910]

Nobody wants her, a privilege white women, to preach or speak about the racial injustices poc face. Yes, there’s no doubt she’s an ally but If anything (and I make this assumption with me being white) that for instance the black community would want representation from an actual black person speaking out about the issues.

[LilyLark 10,104]

1 hour ago, Runway said:

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

Yeah, this. I don't want to get overly specific because this is the internet, but I am a woc so I sort of get what the OP is saying...but I disagree with OP except for the idea that some racism can creep into discussions about Bey occasionally by some posters on GGD.

And I know d*mn well what you wrote is exactly what would happen to Gaga. I remember a journalist or two mildly dragging her about Angel Down for that reason (they (wrongly, imo) thought it was white savior-ish), which is why I suspect she didn't speak out more about it. Gaga is also an upper-class white woman, and she would likely make a misstep, like Alyssa or John  Cusack, and in this day and age that could be career damaging and frankly I don't think Gaga is "needed" in that way that she should have to take that risk.

She's mentioned BLM, she's spoken out sometimes, and it's enough imo and expecting Gaga to also be more of a messenger, especially when she did a lot to end DADT, is unfair. And people don't necessarily want another upper class white woman as a messenger, too. Gaga also has a lot of POC in her music videos, her team, etc. so it's not like she's working only with lily white folks. The only suggestion I think Gaga could do is perhaps work with more women and poc producers, but so could other popgirls.

I don't think we need, or even should expect, entertainment figures to be paragons of social justice to be honest. It's nice when some are, but it's setting unreasonable expectations to want them all to be that way. Look at politicians and activists.

 

[SHALLOW 16,418]

I don't see why she should do that.

She's not black. She would look very insincere and it would feel like she tried to exploit other races.

 

[JustAnother 5,113]

2 hours ago, Wigless said:

That poll... Do you want her career to end? If BLM didn’t appreciate Angel Down, what is the point of going more specific to her message of loving all people again? 

They literally trashed her for making that song or ignored it. So messed up. Gaga keeps trying to give her voice and no one seems to take it. 

[LordEnigma 11,313]

I think we all know she is a very open-minded individual. It might be a good thing for her to mention racism in LGBTQ culture or highlight POC from the LGBTQ community that are trailblazers. Since her main focus is on LGBTQ issues in general, I think she would be praised for doing so.

[JustAnother 5,113]

I ****ing love how this thread turned the other way after the OP showed their intentions. If you don’t care about our opinions then don’t make the thread asking our opinion. /close

[LilyLark 10,104]

4 minutes ago, Zander said:

Nobody wants her, a privilege white women, to preach or speak about the racial injustices poc face. Yes, there’s no doubt she’s an ally but If anything (and I make this assumption with me being white) that for instance the black community would want representation from an actual black person speaking out about the issues.

I'm not white (not going to get more specific, because..the internet) but this is it. She's enough of an ally, she would likely be seen as overstepping by a lot if she did more—and she was by some people about Angel Down. It would be different if she was a politician or only an activist, but she's not.

I'm not trying to offend the OP, but I'm wondering if they are really young—like 18-22. Because I feel like most over 25 people wouldn't even expect this from Gaga.

[Born To Slay 10,996]

I’m good tbh. I don’t really feel that’s necessary. 

[LilyLark 10,104]

41 minutes ago, Alexander Levi said:

I think we all know she is a very open-minded individual. It might be a good thing for her to mention racism in LGBTQ culture or highlight POC from the LGBTQ community that are trailblazers. Since her main focus is on LGBTQ issues in general, I think she would be praised for doing so.

Yeah, a comment on this would be good but I don't expect (or need) it from her. But OP seems to want Gaga to be way more active, and frankly some of the GP would see it as insincere even if she was sincere.

[AJRocketMan 2,684]

1 hour ago, Gov Hooka said:

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.  

Are you yourself PoC? And yeah I agree white people should help advocate, but they always get dragged through the mud for trying. 🤔 Even “Angel Down”, a song that was pretty universal for something that was about Trayvon Martin, was criticized a few times and was once even unfavorably compared to Jewel. 🙄

But I think the reason why Gaga speaks way more about LGBT issues than race is because she herself is queer (Bisexual), so her advocacy is far more personal in that regard. And to me the reason why Gaga isn’t criticized for her lack of advocacy for PoC issues the way Beyoncé was for LGBT issues is because Beyoncé won a GLAAD award while Gaga hasn’t been recognized for anything regarding race, so the silence is justified imo.

[Supersonic 49,376]

3 hours ago, Dominic said:

Why are you asking for opinions and then calling people white twinks and stupid when you misinterpret them? Sounds like you dont want a respectful debate but you just wish to argue.  

To be fair... the orginal post was a very well formulated thought about a serious issue that the poster (obviously) has put a lot of effort into. I can see why he reacted so negatively to somebody who seemingly didn't put a lot of thought into his post AND aimed to derail the thread.

[PartySick 160,497]

6 hours ago, Gov Hooka said:

in what way do white people have no room to speak about race? they have every NECESSITY to do so because they are the ones who instituted a racist structure. You're subtly advocating for putting the work of undoing racism on those who are oppressed by it. it should be the moral obligation for all white people to talk about it and continue fighting against it - cue MLK.

 

I'm not saying that, people here and on Twitter and sites like them say that.

"White gays, y'all have no idea do just keep your mouths SHUT".

Gaga's a white gay...well, euro-white half-gay  and I'd rather not be labelled a racist for defending one of her non-problematic but still world ending (to the sjw's) statements.

[Mr S 8,673]

Didn't she already try something with race and an African American responded something like "what does a privileged white woman know about ..."? So no I don't think she should follow Beyonce's route. She would get dragged. She should stick to female empowerment and equality. If she does get into race, then it should be more subtle and ambiguous.

While we are on this subject, I do think monsters need to tone down the racism. Not necessarily on this site, but on twitter and ATRL. I know they are not really racist and are more just getting involved in stan wars but it's still not cool. They seem to think that a lot of black people are homophobic and while I don't disagree that a large group are, instead of retaliating with racists remarks, just call them out on their homophobia. We should be the bigger people.

[LordEnigma 11,313]

4 hours ago, LilyLark said:

Yeah, a comment on this would be good but I don't expect (or need) it from her. But OP seems to want Gaga to be way more active, and frankly some of the GP would see it as insincere even if she was sincere.

When she mentioned that jazz came from black culture - I think that’s all she needs to do. Shows she understands and has studied jazz.