What’s good, good people. This is your girl Anna DeShawn, Founder/CEO of E3 Radio. E3 is your #1 stop for queer radio done right. I’m a Chicago born digital media artist & social entrepreneur who’s riding media into its next era by using online radio streams to take up space for Black+Brown Queer folks. This podcast is place for me to share my thoughts & dreams as a Black Queer woman in America. You’re tuned in to episode 5 of Anna’s Got A Word titled Pride is a Protest even in 2019.
The drop you heard when you first tuned in was produced as part of a Pride series for E3 Radio. I thought it was so fitting to use that for this edition of #AnnasGotAWord. I’ve been prepping for today’s protest against Progress Bar but even bigger than that the pervasive racism in Boystown. It’s so apropo that the year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall we find ourselves organizing a protest at the beginning of Pride month. I don’t believe in accidents and this is no accident. It’s almost like the ancestors are calling us to wake everybody up again.
Now let me catch you up in case you’re not aware. On Wednesday, May 29th an email was leaked to the media from Progress Bar outlining their plans to ban rap music. Let me read it to you.
*******
We are changin up our format. Our goal is to promote a positive, happy, energectic, upbeat and most importantly… a FUN vibe. Think DJ AM for 2019 – a super open format POP/DANCE focused atmosphere. We have implemented a NO RAP rule effective immediately.
This is not a suggestion!! If you play RAP you will not be asked back.
Anything vulgar, aggressive or considered mumble rap (including certain Cardi B tracks and newer Nicki Minaj) is off limits. If you are unsure if a song qualifies, assume it does and choose something else. Think KISSFM/B96 opposed to WGCI.
If someone is pressuring you for a song just let them know its the new rule. There will be added security there to help with this transition and one specificically posted next ot the DJ booth.
*******
Now if thats not some racist sheeeetttt. This is what Chicago racism looks like. You know when you learned about racism you were taught about racisim in the south vs. racism in the north. Southern racism is very Black & White, no pun intended. Thats your water fountain. This is my water fountain. Northern racism looks like expressways built to detour access. It looks like gentrification without sustainable plans to support those who built those communities. Northern racisim looks like this email. It will never say we don’t want Black people here. They wouldn’t dare say that cause thats racist. But when you know your history and understand whats written its so obvious its sickening. POP/Dance is mostly white. KISS & B96 are mostly white. Rap is not. WGCI is not.
A collection of LGBTQ organizations here in Chicago are organizing a protest today against this type of racist tactics in Boystown. Lighthouse, The Caucus, and Affinity. I finished my speech last night so I figured I’d share it with you all because it encompasses exactly how I feel.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
I always like to start there because it puts me in the right spirit. It reminds we why we continue to do this work. Why we continue to fight & raise our voices against the racist practices in Boystown. This isn’t new. We aren’t starting a new trend. In fact, its old & tired.
Before preparing these remarks I took some time to revisit the words of Ms Pat McComb. It is so crucial to know your herstory. It’s imperative. Ms. Pat was out here in 1974 protesting against the racist bar tactics of Boystown. The Black people quotas. The asking for various IDs depending on the color of your skin. She forced them to change their policies. We stand here today on her shoulders raising our voices & reminding folks that forgot that racism is very real and it lives in Boystown.
Boystown is not exempt. It’s not an exception just because there are LGBTQ folks who populate here in mass. That’s ridiculous. I also want to be clear that what we are doing today isn’t courageous. What Ms. Pat did in 1974 that was courageous. What Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Riveria did in 1969 was courageous. What the Progress Bar DJ did by sharing that email was courageous. What we’re doing is a mandate. It is our duty to fight for freedom.
I want to leave you all with this. Pride started with a riot. We should never be so comfortable in our joyous celebrations that we forget the work that must be done. Black trans women are being murdered, the droves of Black & Brown youth experiencing housing instability, the state of our aging LGBTQ elders, unemployment / under employment, access to healthcare, access to foster childeren, the criminal justice system, I can go on & on & on.
I don’t need a reminder but I feel as though some of you do. If you are some people please hear me. Allow this incident to be a reminder for you. Don’t choose ignorance. Don’t choose to look the other way. Don’t allow your privilege to get in the way. Choose resistance. Thank you.