Being unapologetically black means a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, it means what it says; I am a person of dark complexion and I and the people that look like me have and are going through a struggle that should and will be recognized. My problem with this term is two fold; one, it’s casual use in the media and secondly, its ever growing link to industry elites.

By now, unless your cable, internet and Metro phone has been cut off have seen, heard or read about Beyonce’s so called “powerful” halftime performance. She has been toted by fans and the media mostly, as being rebellious and nontraditional in her performance due to having a supporting cast of chicks in scantly dressed clothes, black berets and afros, (while the queen herself, had hair longer than the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby, dyed…blonde non the less; if that’s not being unapologetically black, I don’t know what is). Her performance has set off a frenzy generated, stimulated and maintained by the media as being unapologetically black. It’s gone as far as SNL performing a skit about the whole charade.

Boogie people all over the Continental United States went nuts over it and rallied to her aid with comments like;

“If you hate her for her performance, then you hate all women of color”

“Beyoncé is a musician who writes about what she wants to and what affects her..”

and my favorite

“Everything that we’re doing as far as the Black Lives Matter movement, it is to speak out and fight against unnecessary, unlawful deaths of our people by people who are supposed to be put in a position of authority to protect and serve our people, so if you are against that, then to me, that is un-American.”

Last night during the Grammy’s another “unapologetically black” moment happened. Kendrick Lamar performed “The Blacker The Berry“ with his band locked up in jail cells; with a follow up song with some people I’m assuming are supposed to be African (they had to be African, none of them had on clothes and they all had drums dancing around a large fire). He finally ended his montage with a silhouette of Africa with the word Compton in it.

While I appreciate the lyrics in “The Blacker The Berry”, I’m looking at the overarching theme. You’re at the Grammy’s and you think that saying your black with a big nose and nappy hair is a catalyst for a movement or even controversial? How long have performers been saying that in front of an all white audience? Let me help you, since  slavery. They can clearly see who and what you are, they’re making you perform in front of them, sir! Stating attributes that can plainly be seen doesn’t make your conscious.

While the lyrics don’t bother me, in fact I applaud them, what bothers me is the fact that some boogie person has been programed by the media to respond to a few black socialites and think what they conveyed in a song is a legitimate protest that can lead to change or even the benefit of  people. Boogie people are rarely conscious to anything real. They go with the flow, if its a hot button topic then they’ll choose the side most relevant to the group, other than that you, can forget it. That same boogie person is going to come across more boogie people and before you know it being unapologetically black will hold the same connotation as Pharrell’s “The New Black” comment.

I know everyone can’t come out and be as militant as others and they use their platforms in the best way possible, but whenever it’s being pushed in your face like its something, be aware that it’s not. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.