"...give me time give us a kiss...tell me your own politik..."
2016 was a banner year. It was an election year poised to end like any other. Almost every analyst predicted Hillary Clinton was going to win the Presidency. She did all that was expected of her according to the standards set forth by other democrat campaigns. Now I know many can point to failures as to why she lost but if you look at every other election year...you can see it was "textbook". It was basic and as "system" as one could get. So what happened? Donald J Trump happened. This man broke every single establishment rule and won big. He had consultants that he rarely listened to. He spoke off the cuff and said things no other politician could ever get away with. Instead of being shunned by his style...he was lauded due to his ability to remain "authentic" in almost every situation. Love him or hate him...he chose to be himself. He has since governed using the same brash authenticity that got him into office. Conditioning many to accept something profoundly important: Maybe doing things differently ain't so bad after all...
Fast forward to 2018. An interesting time in broadcasting to say the least. Television had become littered with shows advancing "accepted" progressive thought. Great storytelling was replaced by mediocre plotlines with just enough room for a "lesson" in "tolerance" thrown in here and there. Award shows meant to celebrate the arts were now telethons for progressive causes. Where every celebrity got the chance to pontificate their elevated viewpoints. Speaking down to the "lessers" that dared vote against a "system" designed to glorify their virtue signaled status. So what happened? Roseanne Barr happened. A show that was born in the 80's had decided to reveal what life was like today outside the progressive mindset the "system" was regularly feeding the masses. Not that the progressive mindset did not exist but unlike other shows...every mindset was evenly represented. We got to see what it was like when all these mindsets had to co-exist among people that loved each other. Where fights had more to do with real life issues and less to do with climate change or racial divides. Showing us that what we have in common has the ability through love to outdo the outrage that stems from political differences. What shocked everyone the day after the first show aired was the record viewership it received. Lesson learned: Maybe doing things differently ain't so bad after all...
Now come on up to about 2 weeks ago (this post is written in May 2018). A well known triple A-list rapper named Kanye West decided he would come out of Twitter seclusion and post something revolutionary. He simply tweeted: "I like the way Candace Owens thinks". Revolutionary? I guess you'd have to know who Candace Owens is before you'd agree. Folks, Candace Owens is pretty young to the conservative movement speaking scene and as such...her passion is at its peak. People that are awakened from slumber have an unparalleled energy to awaken others with a zeal that can become infectious. Except...there was a bit more to her than just conservatism. Actually, a lot more. You see Candace is a young black woman with a passion to not only awaken others but primarily...to awaken her race to free thought. A race that has had their identity stolen from them by those in political power desiring subservience above all else resulting in an oft taken advantage of secure "voting block". Going so far as to constantly pick at the 400 year old wound of slavery; never allowing it to heal so that every mention of it could produce a rage directed at their political opponents. Never mentioning how essential they were as free folk in creating this beautiful place called America; only ever mentioning the scourge of slavery to create a hatred for a land their ancestors helped build. Now that you understand this...you can now see how she can be seen as a danger to the "system". A system that has silently festered for generations. So here comes this little pebble called Candace gettin tossed into an ocean of influence by a man that has been seeking this very freedom as an artist and as a man...revived to continue on his quest. So again...why is this so revolutionary? Well, this man's arm was long enough to reach over 27 million souls in an instant creating a tidal wave that didn't just sweep over political lands. No...that wave swept over cultural lands as well. Lands that have been purposely left barren for years. Creating a much needed conversation within the black community that has been long overdue. Kanye's message is meant to reveal a truth. A truth that proclaims manipulated rage doesn't have to reign in the hearts of men. That when we see each other for who we actually are as opposed to how we are represented by political players...we can find so much more beauty to love. That we can let go of media manufactured prejudices...allowing us to freely love each other in depth. So in this case, like the others...maybe doing things differently...ain't so bad after all.
Now, one can say Kanye's message of love was informed by Candace's message of independence and Candace's message of independence might have been informed by Roseanne's message of "the real". Yeah...one can say that but I won't. I just thought it would make for a really cool close but in retrospect...it would suck. Truth is all these souls did and are currently doing something no one's really ever been able to do within the system successfully: Be exactly who they are...as loud as they can. While tearing up the system from the inside out. Acts that have made every cog in these systems lash out in hatred and rage...knowing their time is up. So what's next? Whatever it is...I'm ready for it. We are truly living in "interesting times". Much love...
~Moses Apollo Apolinaris
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