After casual banter with my friend about a certain white anarchist who’s casually racist, yet performs activism, was I reminded of the tune of “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. I actually don’t know much about the source of that song. So I took my ass to the source.
“Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, and Hooterville Junction
Will no longer be so damn relevant
And women will not care if Dick finally got down with Jane
On Search for Tomorrow
Because black people will be in the street looking for a brighter day
The revolution will not be televised
…The revolution will be LIVE.”
Gil Scott-Heron
The line Beverly Hillbillies caught my attention. It is a wonderful play on words.
My middle name is Don’t Get Me Wrong, because don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate white people. Shout out to the white girls who are about this shit. Shoutout to the LA-raised white boys who see their brothers and sisters of color. Shoutout to the European bitches who are down for the cause. Let me just preface myself with that.
H o w e v e r
I can really tell when revolutionary aesthetics employed as a Instagram Post or a #vibe versus real, resilient, reactionary tactic. Because, why did revolution have to match your feed. Why did revolution have to cater to your pale imagery. Why did revolution have to be your make-a-statement-moment and not a life philosophy.
Visual language is very much important. I learned much about the political graphics made for the Chicano Moratorium, Yellow Peril Supports Black Power and things along the same lines as a young adult. And that’s fabulous. It’s fucking incredible. I would attach images here but I’m lazy, so you can go look it up.
Language speaks, so does art.
But do so carefully, because…
THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE AESTHETICIZED!
SQW
shari wei 