F*ck Resilience (This Black-Ass Life)
Welcome to the 98th installment of This Black-Ass Life! This week, DaBaby showed his whole ass and then a bunch of cishet Black people, especially men, tripped over themselves to show their asses alongside him. Do better or get lost!
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I. The Facts
A brief round-up of last week’s fuckery:
As y’all have most assuredly seen, DaBaby decided to bring out the man who shot his frequent music collaborator to one of her records, spew homophobia and spread dangerous, stigmatizing misinformation about HIV.
Then, we had Damon Young’s words reinforced for us in the aftermath. A reminder: Straight Black Men Are the White People of Black People.
A man who should be more concerned about criminal sexual assault charges he’s facing, T.I., claimed the LGBTQIA+ community was bullying DaBaby. Rounding out DaBaby’s defense are Boosie and Tory Lanez.
Imagine thinking you’re right and T.I., Boosie and Tory Lanez are the people who back you up. We simply would never speak again.
Instead of focusing on finding a new beat or rap flow for the first time in years, DaBaby decided to quadruple down with another weak music video.
We’re sure there’s more, but it’s exhausting googling these people and their thoughts.
Unrelated but related: Michael Che decided to show his whole ass encouraging vitriol toward a twenty-four-year-old Black woman. He has sucked. Does suck. Will continue to suck.
Why does it matter?
Black people, especially Black people with intersecting identities, are often celebrated for our resilience and strength in the face of it all. Well, kindly, fuck that. This shit hurts our feelings! It’s just plain mean. It was awful to witness stigmatization of and violence against Black women, Black Queer people, Black people living with HIV at Rolling Loud and then, the stunningly worse aftermath!
There is a direct line between the acceptance of violence against one of the biggest rappers out, Meg, and the hatred and violence Black women experience in everyday life.
There is a direct line between people attempting to compare DaBaby and Lil Nas X, in an attempt to defend DaDummy, and the hatred and violence Black LGBTQIA+ people experience in everyday life.
There is a direct line between talking about those living with STIs as “dirty” and the stigmatization especially Black people experience as they work to access care and support.
We fight white supremacy at work, at school and on the street just minding our business. That skinfolk are this determined to parrot white supremacisst ideology just cuts deep.
What can my Black ass do?
Take a breath. It’s okay for this to hurt.
Cishet Black people, check yourselves and those around you.
Cishet Black women, if your man sounds anything remotely like DaBastard or offers any bullshit defense of this kind of behavior, break up with him.
ll. Other Things
Why do they have to tell us when they don’t shower?
Shout out to Black women who are leading the charge on reclaiming power and care for self.
Read this article from February about the Black women-led movement to demand better pay and resources from retailers and fast food restaurants.
LOVE to Naomi, Sha'Carri and Simone.
We loved While We Were Dating! Jasmyn Guillory has done it again. One of her BEST! #BlackLove #BlackRomance
The master race, everybody.
Reminder that the British ain't shit colonizers owe us.
Tuskegee Airmen still doing the work at 101.
The Olympics has been a mess, but go Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Mitu):
Everything about INDUSTRY BABY brings joy.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) look forward to finishing the best book of poetry I’ve ever read: Black Girl, Call Home.
I (Mitu) look forward to more Normani. I’m ready.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Parent
My parents and I (Jumoke) were considering a vacation - prior to Delta showing up and showing out - and this is a casual morning text I received while we were planning it.
Stay Black, thrive and be careful of storms! We'll hit your inbox next on August 16.