 A Reflection...
I once made a comment on social media about my conflict with February consistently being my busiest month of the year. I had 2 consecuutive years where I played 20+ college shows in one month (maybe about 5 or so the rest of the year). Those two years left an imprint on me, an unsettled feeling that has never left. “Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Joy. Appreciate the fact that 40% of your income comes from a month with the least amount of days. Don't get annoyed with the fact that these campuses are only booking you b/c it's Black History Month. You're black.”
We live in a country of contradictions. We spend so much time putting laws into place - bills that are thousands of pages long, fine print that explains the terms of agreement, detailed instructions on how to file a claim if you've been unjustly treated... We love our laws. We love our order. We love all the things we've written down to prove that we are just and fair. We especially love our political correctness.
But I'm gonna use a word nobody likes to talk about: Sin. We exist in a country that doesn't believe it's real, that doesn't care to acknowledge evil unless it's being done by someone else somewhere else. And usually that someone else is a non white person in a non-white neighborhood or country.
Consider Enron's accounting fraud that later led to its bankruptcy; or the economic crash of 2008 also caused by fraudulent, mismanagement, and blatant disregard for integrity. Men touting degrees from America’s finest institutions. Men with so much responsibility yet holding so little respect for those they were responsible for….given generously brief prison sentences while ruining the lives of so many.
Here's the thing friends, it's not that we don't know what's right, it’s that we don't care enough. The problem isn't that our laws are flawed (even though they are). The problem is that, even with our laws and even though we wear our political correctness like a badge of honor, we care only to the degree that it won't be an inconvenience or mess with our comfort…or even worse our narratives. This is our problem.
I've been pretty unsettled with the social media dialogue this past week. The black community desperately wants the white community to speak up, to carry the load, to become an ally. White friend makes a post on social media. Black friend comments and says "thanks for saying that. It means a whole lot to me." White friend probably feels a little less guilty knowing they've proved their allegiance and solidarity, thus proving that 'nobody is racist'.
Black Lives Matter signs are everywhere in more yards than they were in a week ago. Random people I haven't heard from in ages are reaching out to me to ask me how I'm doing, what I need, if I'm okay, how I feel. If I need to talk it out. I appreciate it, I really do. And I don’t have any doubts that these people care - especially the friends I talk to regularly.
So then what’s the problem?
We live in an era where we think we've done something because we've made a post, changed our profile picture, or gone 'dark for a day'. We think we've made a difference because we've succumbed to the peer pressure and did what our favorite famous person told us to do. The powers that be say you've made a difference because you wrote a few sentences expressing anger even though maybe you just felt bullied to do it because if you didn't people might start to think you’re 'some kind of racist'. Please leave all political correctness at the door.
A few years ago i was partnering closely with a nonprofit organization that was (and is still) doing amazing work around the world. (I hope you’re still tracking with me. I’ll tie this all together soon). This group’s focus was hunger. My role as an artist advocate was to ask my fans to support the children and families who benefited from their work by sponsoring a child through a monthly commitment. After 4 years of partnering with said organization, I could not shake the feeling in me that something was wrong. Something just didn't feel right. How could I go on stage every weekend, asking people to give money to end world hunger, while watching the same people eat only half the food on their plates. This is something that has always troubled me, but it struck a new nerve. Given that we live in a country that throws away 40% of it's food each day, I could not reconcile my nightly appeals from the stage to 'end world hunger' knowing full well that we already have enough food and resources in the world to do just that....and knowing that there are specific laws that are strategically put in place to prevent food equity. Was I helping the cause or was I helping people (myself included) massage their egos - giving them a reason to feel better about solving the problem we were actually responsible for creating...or ignoring. Ignoring...hmmm. What does any of this have to do with George Floyd? Here we are in 2020 talking about the greatest contradiction of all time...
LIVE STREAMS + MUSIC THINGS:
Facebook Live Stream: Thur, June 4 @ 3pm Eastern
A note for the audiophiles...
For those of you who prefer digital and physical copies of music, Bandcamp is once again waiving its artist fees this Friday (June 5) in support of the music community.
Thank you all for reading the above. I value your presence in my life and your support.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. I would love to talk.
Phone, video. whatever!
Act justly. Love mercy. Kneel humbly.
Praying for our country and it's beautiful, brilliant future.
We can do better!
Joy
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