President Agent Orange
As a close relative and I watched the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, I was expecting a typical awards show. I planned on sinking into my couch and watching singers perform and celebrities present the awards. I did not expect to engage in a heated argument with my family due to a powerful, politically-charged performance. But that’s what happened.
Rap and hip hop collective, A Tribe Called Quest, gave an outstanding performance aimed directly at President Donald Trump. Busta Rhymes joined the performance and insulted Trump by referring to him as President Agent Orange.
“I wanna thank President Agent Orange for perpetuating all the evil that you’ve been perpetuating throughout the United States,” Rhymes roared.
I was thrilled at Rhymes’ lines. My relative, however, was noticeably disgusted with the performance. She claimed that the rap group was blatantly disrespecting the President of the United States. But here’s an important question to consider: Does Trump deserve our respect?
Trump has shocked me in more ways than I thought possible. He has insulted nearly every minority that makes up America and has degraded women for decades. Trump’s inherent racism, sexism and discrimination cannot be ignored anymore.
My relative claimed that celebrities and musicians have no business sharing their political beliefs with their followers. In my opinion, while politics may not be their expertise or forte, those in the national spotlight need to raise their voices to denounce Trump.
A Tribe Called Quest promised to represent the people prior to performing their hit song, “We the People.” The chorus echoed some of Trump’s controversial policies: “All you black folks, you must go/All you Mexicans, you must go.”
My family member believes that since Trump won the election, his protestors need to withdraw their complaints. The Office of the President, she claims, always deserves respect.
While I can see her point, I cannot abandon my beliefs in the midst of turmoil. We have the right to protest policies and people whom we do not support.
It is more important now than ever to stand up for what is right: acceptance, diversity, equality and justice.
A Tribe Called Quest continued to protest Trump’s policies by breaking through a wall on stage.
This rap and hip hop band was sharing an important message that many citizens tend to forget: we’re all Americans. Whites are not the only Americans. Men are not the only Americans. Christians are not the only Americans. America is a melting pot for all races, genders and religions.
Sure, white, Protestant males may have come to America first, but that does not make them the only Americans now. Besides, if we’re talking about who came to America first, the Native Americans were here before y’all anyways.
There were probably many more people besides my family who viewed A Tribe Called Quest’s performance as politically charged, inappropriate and “over the top” due to its direct attack on Trump.
However, when the leader of the free world is a racist, sexist bigot, the people cannot sit still. The people, celebrities included, need to raise their voice, share their message and work towards justice. At the end of A Tribe Called Quest’s performance, the band and a diverse group of cast members, including Muslims, Arabs, and African Americans, raised their fist in support of Black power. This performance gave me hope. It gave me hope that we shall overcome.
