

If you’re a GenXer or Millennial, you’ve more than likely heard of India Arie. I’ve always liked her music. Her voice is nothing short of angelic.
Yesterday, she got both cheers and jeers from the black community when she seemingly called out both Janelle Monae and Megan Thee Stallion for twerking on stage at the recent Essence awards.
Here’s the original Instagram post, if you want to view it there. Or you can see it here on Twitter (top left corner):
YIKES! India Arie defintely wasn’t feeling Megan Thee Stallion ‘s Hot Girl Bootcamp at #EssenceFest or #JanelleMonae ‘s participation 👀👀👀
— NOIR ONLINE (@noironlineorg_) July 5, 2023
( 🎥: @essencefest | @gettyimages ) pic.twitter.com/5eTsTQApmh
This is what India Arie said, just in case you didn’t catch her comment in the thread:
The issue is what is CONTEXT. Humanity does EVERYTHING. But does EVERYTHING BELONG IN A STAGE. No. is everything for KIDS? No. is everything for EVERY BODY? NO. so when we as a culture make something like this main stream ~ it shows a lack of discretion a d discernment. To those in the comments who laugh at anyone who wants these things for out culture you certainly have that right. Just as many folks have the right to want our MAINSTREAM International export – out Music – to show us in a respectful light. Id like to go on the record saying : this wont age well and thats my issue. i LOVE Janelle AND Meg the way i love us all ~ AND i dont like this moment. Dont bother debating me lol idc and I DO this. for 25 yrs i’ve done THIS. so. read ponder or dont. ✌🏾👋🏾
She’s not wrong, y’all. I understand where she’s going here. It’s about overall culture rot. And it’s not just happening at the Essence awards. It’s everywhere. In everything. It’s refreshing to see people like India Arie speaking out about hypersexualization in every aspect of our world, frankly.
But I guess saying this stuff out loud makes me a “boomer” like her?
India.Arie Dragged After Blasting Janelle Monáe and Megan Thee Stallion
— Dr.LyndaBarnes (@MrsBarnesII) July 5, 2023
India.Arie doesn’t like the fact Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monáe show off a lot of skin during their performances — but that criticism has the Internet ripping her as a boomer. The veteran neo-sou… pic.twitter.com/riXmK2ejsc
Sigh.
The moral of this story is that the more ass you show these days, the more clicks you get. The more popular you get. The more monaaaaaay you get. Just ask the Kartrashians.
Just in case you’ve never listened to India Arie’s music, this is my favorite song of hers. You’re welcome.
1 Comment
Quite frankly, I don’t care for any ‘urban’ music or culture. I used to give it a kind of begrudging respect, but I think that was wrong-headed and counterproductive: that sort of culture is a major problem within the black community; c.f. Thomas Sowell’s extensive comments on the topic.