I absolutely agree with your comments about our expectations for artists and how at once they need to be social justice warriors and martyrs who can not commoditize their craft. I work in non-profit education and I get really upset when I hear critiques about the salaries of principles and administrators in school networks who are trying to attract top talent by offering an attractive salary. As if the salaries are astronomical to start with, the idea that you should be poor in order to do good works is ridiculous. With respect to the artist, the expectations are unattainable and we, especially as Black people, can't add to their burden of advocating for change by also attacking them for making a living. Trying to spite The Man at the expense of your own well-being is foolish. - AO
I absolutely agree with your comments about our expectations for artists and how at once they need to be social justice warriors and martyrs who can not commoditize their craft. I work in non-profit education and I get really upset when I hear critiques about the salaries of principles and administrators in school networks who are trying to attract top talent by offering an attractive salary. As if the salaries are astronomical to start with, the idea that you should be poor in order to do good works is ridiculous. With respect to the artist, the expectations are unattainable and we, especially as Black people, can't add to their burden of advocating for change by also attacking them for making a living. Trying to spite The Man at the expense of your own well-being is foolish. - AO