Da'Jae Allen 
Unfortunately for many Americans, this Monday, January 20th, President Donald Trump will be sworn into office. While many hoped to celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris as the first Black Woman as the President of the United States, it is with disappointment that they must watch Trump begin another term — on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is with even more disappointment that Black Americans must also watch Black artists who they have grown up with, perform and participate in inauguration activities.
No one is shocked that artists like Billy Ray Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, and other country singers agreed to participate. Some are upset with groups like Village People, who in the past asked Trump not to use their songs (“Y.M.C.A.”) at his rallies, but have recently posted on Facebook that “music is to be performed without regard to politics”.
What is shocking and almost dumfounding, is that rappers Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy, and Rick Ross performed at the Inaugural Crypto Ball on January 17th, and Nelly is expected to perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on Monday. Keith Boykin, author, and political commentator, recently appeared on CNN saying that any Black artist that performs at Trump’s inauguration “dishonors” all of the Black and brown people Trump has gone out of his way to humiliate and oppress. The ones Trump did not rent to in the 1970s, Colin Kaepernick, election workers he attacked, the immigrants he lied about, and so many more. It is so clear to the majority of Black Americans that Donald Trump hates us, and has no intention of doing anything that will benefit us.
Taylor Hart, a student at Dominican University, agrees and says he feels “like they are being sellouts because even if [Trump] plays nice with them or offers them social or financial capital, his supporters at large hold anti-Black racist sentiments.” This is why it is so confusing and disheartening to accept that Black rappers whose impact has been felt across multiple generations and embraced in our communities, do such a disservice to their people and their heritage.
Madisson Williams, a student at Malcolm X College, says that she thinks it’s “interesting” considering the negative things said about women artists like Beyoncé, Megan The Stallion, and Glorilla, who supported Harris in her race to become president. And that it is “embarrassing”. When Beyoncè spoke at Harris’s rally in Houston, TX, Trump said Harris was “at a dance party with Beyoncé” as opposed to a political function. Considering Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” is an anthem centered around resilience, liberation, and social justice, and was Harris’s campaign song, it becomes even more clear that he doesn’t value Black music. It’s more realistic that by having prominent Black rappers perform for him, he can use them as tokens and as an opportunity to say “Here, see… I have Black friends and I’m not racist.” to Black Americans.
This use of Black artists can be seen as an attempt to distract from policies and rhetoric that have directly harmed the Black community. It just seems like Trump is attempting to craft a false image of inclusivity without the proper systemic work to back it up.
Ultimately, this situation should call the Black community to hold their cultural figures accountable for their actions. Celebrities can not benefit and profit off the love and consumerism of Black people without standing with them in trying times. Remember, the power and influence these celebrities wield comes from the support provided by the Black community. It’s up to us to not accept these actions.
By Da’Jae Allen, Sophomore, Howard University
Instagram: @dajae.10
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