This was so good. I'm saving it. If I still taught, I'd make my students read it. I taught a music appreciation course, and --since I knew I'd be retiring soon--asked my students (all Black) if they minded my changing the syllabus from what the antiquated text included , so we could learn real music appreciation. They were all game, so I re-wroet it to a 25 page history of music in America. Bottom line: Black people created music way back then, and continue to create new genres today. I could see the faces light up as I lectured about the history and played (thanks Youtube) old snippets from the early days of spirituals, jazz, blues and country, etc. I had them choose a song and research its history and how many people had covered it over the years, and the last week of class, they became the instructor and told the class about something they had been encouraged to research regarding music. It was awesome. My parting words on that last day were these: white people will try to re-write music history (and take credit for inventing various genres), but now you know better! Don't let them steal that from you, too. Jung was right: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” As a white person, I can no longer tolerate the lies and, "I think I should just stay out of this; it isn't my fight" bullshit. White people invented "race" so they could become racists. White people have to end it. This IS my fight!
You turned “music appreciation” into American history with the right credits on the liner notes and the result was faces lighting up, students teaching back, truth doing what truth does. That’s the heartbeat of my Lennon post: love the art, name the lineage, pay the debt. Your Jung pull is the assignment for white folks now to make the unconscious conscious so it stops running the room. Please know I’m stealing your model (with attribution): listen, trace the roots, show who got paid and who didn’t, then hand the mic to the students. You’re right: this is your fight and you’re fighting it the right way. Thank you.
"One doesn't become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Another light came on in this disorienting darkness. Only by seeking and confronting the source of all our shadows can we be truly free. Especially true for us White folk.
Damn, man. I've been a writer for a long time. I'm in awe of your skills. The last few essays I've read here are better than anything I've written over my entire career. Respect.
This was so good. I'm saving it. If I still taught, I'd make my students read it. I taught a music appreciation course, and --since I knew I'd be retiring soon--asked my students (all Black) if they minded my changing the syllabus from what the antiquated text included , so we could learn real music appreciation. They were all game, so I re-wroet it to a 25 page history of music in America. Bottom line: Black people created music way back then, and continue to create new genres today. I could see the faces light up as I lectured about the history and played (thanks Youtube) old snippets from the early days of spirituals, jazz, blues and country, etc. I had them choose a song and research its history and how many people had covered it over the years, and the last week of class, they became the instructor and told the class about something they had been encouraged to research regarding music. It was awesome. My parting words on that last day were these: white people will try to re-write music history (and take credit for inventing various genres), but now you know better! Don't let them steal that from you, too. Jung was right: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” As a white person, I can no longer tolerate the lies and, "I think I should just stay out of this; it isn't my fight" bullshit. White people invented "race" so they could become racists. White people have to end it. This IS my fight!
Debra, this is very beautiful and brave work.
You turned “music appreciation” into American history with the right credits on the liner notes and the result was faces lighting up, students teaching back, truth doing what truth does. That’s the heartbeat of my Lennon post: love the art, name the lineage, pay the debt. Your Jung pull is the assignment for white folks now to make the unconscious conscious so it stops running the room. Please know I’m stealing your model (with attribution): listen, trace the roots, show who got paid and who didn’t, then hand the mic to the students. You’re right: this is your fight and you’re fighting it the right way. Thank you.
"One doesn't become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Another light came on in this disorienting darkness. Only by seeking and confronting the source of all our shadows can we be truly free. Especially true for us White folk.
Love it. Lennon, Jung, Miles. Not just the pictures, but the words and sentiments. Thank you, X.
Damn, man. I've been a writer for a long time. I'm in awe of your skills. The last few essays I've read here are better than anything I've written over my entire career. Respect.