Scott Joplin probably influenced Arthur Pryor who influenced John Philip Sousa who influenced me. I follow two things in the news (besides obits): one, missing airplanes and two, acts of racism against African Americans. After the Ferguson, MO protests for the police killing of Michael Brown I became an advocate of Black Lives Matter and I vowed for a whole year to support black artists every month. One month I bought music by black artists (easy), one month I bought movies directed by black artists (again easy), and one month I bought comic books by black artists (hard), but after six months I fizzed out like a limp dick politician. Then came the racist killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and my rage was rekindled, and then Breonna Taylor in Kentucky where I want to college, and after George Floyd my commitment to Black Lives Matter was retripled.
A week ago I canceled my TIDAL music subscription and I started supporting black artists directly on Patreon. This is small lima beans in the bigger picture of fighting racism and police brutality but it does help the four people I have picked individually feel support or buy a coffee. Most importantly, it’s something I can do ongoing until I purposefully stop it ... and it's all I can afford—know I made a one time donation to People’s Breakfast Oakland too before you call me cheap, which I am, but not when it comes to my black brothers and sisters.
This is a long way to say, we can't fizz out. The struggle is real and ongoing. Stay in the streets. Stay on their heels. Stay in their ears. Stay in their rear view mirrors. Or as @casualafro put it on Twitter:
"if you’re a white ally who’s feeling burnt out, can i suggest getting over it <3"
Keep supporting Black Lives Matter even if it’s the weekend. Protest. March. Donate. Support black leaders. Sing about it. I choose to support black artists who can influence others like I was influenced by the fathers of ragtime. It’s crumbs. Comically crummy. What do you choose?
-Samson
A fan contacted me and asked if I would include a link to her side hustle that is helping small black-owned businesses. Okay. Here is the link to her guide.
