Reflections: Erykah Badu’s Vulture Interview and Perspective
Baduizm was one of my first CDs — yes, CD.
Played it front to back.
The vibe was something I couldn’t put into words. Same as when I heard B.U.D.D.Y., Take it Easy, and Electric Relaxation. A space I wanted to dwell for all eternity.
Extra, I know.
Erykah Badu’s music became a staple in my home. I’ve seen her in concert and followed her career for the last twenty years. Made a few statements along the way which didn’t sit well with me, but I chalked it up to a difference of opinion. Dismissed it as my Auntie having one of those overly deep moments I couldn’t comprehend.
She does that sometimes.
Before I read the Vulture interview, all I saw was Hitler… good… and none of it made sense. Was I surprised? Nope. Again, it was some Auntie shit that made little sense at the time and I dismissed it. Then I read her tweet.
Anytime someone says click-bait, I have to find the truth. I read through comments, clicked through more tweets from the Spiritual community, found the article and experienced a change in perspective I didn’t think was possible.
I’m on a spiritual journey — an awakening. Experiencing typical symptoms such as confusion, bouts of depression and isolation. Sifting through my old self, deeper thoughts, and reconfiguring my core values and beliefs. After I read Badu’s “Hitler comment,” taken out of context of course, I had several “A-ha” moments thereafter. Three of them I’ve shared here.
The first, groupthink.
The example she used with Barabbas and Jesus at the crucifixion came to fruition with her comment. Most people didn’t read the article, hell, I didn’t at first. We all caught the trigger word and joined the bandwagon. Not many people asked why folks were yelling. It all sounded good at the moment.
Groupthink makes us join pandemonium; then later, realize the shit had nothing to do with our principles.
I’m guilty.
The second A-ha moment was the comment itself. Spiritual awakenings seem to be a trend these days. I understand everyone isn’t designed for it, although many of us are experiencing this process at the same time. What’s interesting is the same people who claim “enlightenment,” ostracized her for seeing the good in someone. Isn’t the whole point of being “woke” and “enlightened” to recognize the good in ALL things, no matter how grotesque they may be?
I had to pause for a second. I paused and recalled all the times I held grudges. The moments when I couldn’t get past the hurt I believed I experienced because I held on to someone else’s emotion. I’m not comfortable with the vibration of hate. But I pondered: if extend the same passion of disdain towards someone who’s wronged me with equal hate, then this makes me no different from them.
I had to sit with that.
It sounds really fucked up. Real hifalutin. As if people can’t have weak moments or outwardly express their disdain for another. Feel hurt or pain. Always having to rise above and not feel human — if only for a moment. To claim the validity of that statement, asserts every person I’ve held anger and rage towards was a mirror of my own suppressed emotions. Emotions which needed to be reconciled and rectified. How does someone grasp their hate for a person, such as Hitler, is a reflection staring back at them?
To be clear, hate stems from ignorance and insecurity. People hate what they don’t understand or can’t comprehend. Dismiss it as backdoor trash. Being a Black woman, I’ve experienced hate in many forms. Instead of seeking to understand, people lack the care to know and create a campaign against it. Use trigger words such as “devilish” and “evil.” Write narratives to support their lack of understanding and shove it in another person’s face. I see why inciting language is illegal. It’s dangerous. People get killed daily because of someone’s hate.
Queue all indigenous people.
That insecure type of hate makes people do horrible things.
The last a-ha moment, came from her quote on cognitive dissonance:
We are all living in a cognitive-dissonance reality. We want to live a certain way or do a certain thing, and we don’t because we are emotionally attached to how the group thinks. The hive mentality takes over. But you know what’s right in your mind and your heart, and if you’re strong enough to detach from the hive then sometimes, just sometimes, you may be able to do the right thing.
At this point, I put my phone down (pun intended).
I recognize a lot of statements I make and made are unpopular. Because our society is not one to encourage individual thoughts, groupthink (as she illustrated) is the standard. We have to pick sides. Choose to be red, purple, or green. No one is encouraged to be blue or pink. The options are static with no room for error. This thought process excludes people from jobs, kills creative ingenuity, leads to bad reviews, and people lashing out because an opinion doesn’t fit the criteria for approval — whatever that means.
It was then I accepted the charge to operate and vibrate in a higher state of thought. No longer could I follow the crowd or stay quiet because I didn’t want to ruffle feathers. It’s not my truth. In order for me to live in this realm as my authentic self, I must always speak the truth no matter how unpopular it may be. The point is not about likes or high-fives, it’s about perspective. When operating in a higher state of thought, part of that charge is to add perspective. Help folks see the other side of the coin. Spark thought first and emotion later.
The truth isn’t always an Amen hand and a hallelujah shout. Most times, it’s a “fuck you and I’ma go sit in the corner after I flip this table over.”
Perspective.
She taught me that, indirectly, from a three-page interview. And for those who were ready to receive, I’m sure she taught them that too.
