Black Lesbians: Tracy Chapman, Janelle Monae, Angela Davis

By Camille

This blog will talk all about Lesbianism. But not just any Lesbianism, Black Lesbianism. Black Lesbianism simply means an integration of Black racial and ethnic identity and social identity with Lesbian sexual/asexual identity.

First I want to start with what is a lesbian. A lesbian is a person who identifies as a women, who also likes other women. That likeness could be romantic, sexual, or romantic platonicism, or a combination of all three or a lack of one. You can be a transwoman and be a lesbian or simply just a woman lover. The whole idea here is that there is not one strict way that a Lesbian will look like or love like, but the whole point is that lesbians are women and non-binary and love women, however, that may look like. In this blog, for your reading pleasures, I will be talking about three specific Black artists who also carry the capacity for loving women. Those individuals are Tracy Chapman, Janelle Monae, and Angela Davis. Tracy Chapman, known for her soulful music and socially conscious lyrics, has been open about her relationships with women, contributing to visibility and acceptance within the music industry. Similarly, Janelle Monae, a versatile artist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, identifies as pansexual, using her platform to explore themes of identity and empowerment. Angela Davis, renowned for her activism in civil rights and feminism, has also been vocal about her bisexuality, challenging societal norms and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion within social justice movements. These artists not only enrich cultural discourse through their artistry but also serve as significant figures in promoting understanding and representation of Black lesbian experiences and identities.

It may seem boisterous to say this but gender and sexual identities are special, and they are specific to each person. These identities are not anything new to existence but they may be new to people's ears. It may seem impossible to remember and understand gender and sexual identities, but the point is not to remember them, the point is to treat each person as such, an individual deserving of love, peace, happiness, and solidarity. It may seem odd that someone says they use neopronouns, xie, hir, eir, but I think it is more odd to be a bigot and be prejudiced and dislike someone because they "made it difficult" for you to address them. All this to say, there are specific ways someone identifies and there is a reason that is personal to them as to why they identify that way, and that person does not owe you an explanation. Tracy Chapman has been a prominent figure in the music industry since the late 1980s. Her powerful voice and introspective songwriting have touched audiences around the world, earning her multiple Grammy Awards and widespread acclaim. Beyond her musical achievements, Tracy Chapman has been open about her personal life, including her relationships with women. This openness has contributed significantly to visibility and acceptance within both the music industry and broader society. By publicly embracing her identity as a Black lesbian woman, Chapman has helped challenge stereotypes and broaden understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences. Chapman's impact extends beyond her music. She has used her platform to advocate for social justice issues, addressing themes such as human rights, racial inequality, and environmental sustainability. Her activism aligns with her personal values of equality and empowerment, making her not only a talented artist but also a respected voice for change. In discussing Black lesbianism and the integration of racial and sexual identities, Tracy Chapman stands as a prominent example of someone who has navigated both aspects of her identity with authenticity and courage. Through her music and personal journey, Chapman continues to inspire and empower individuals across generations. A favorite song of mine is "Fast Car" and "Give Me One Reason", the guitar fingerings of those songs are just *chefs kiss*, especially the guitar in "Give Me One Reason" it reminds me of a wild western drive down a long dusty road, a love story. 

Janelle Monae is the embodiment of an eccentric monarch. A bisexual, pansexual, non-binary fluid artist, who is also very creative with artistry and visuals. Their song, "Make Me Feel" is on a constant loop in my head like the song worm Spongebob had with the "Musical Doodle". The song is a combination of funk, soul, rock, and R&B, I was randomly thinking of the "Im A Gummybear" song because how that video looks is how the song feels when I listen to it. The song is retro-inspired, definitely Prince-inspired if you are familiar with "Kiss" by Prince, that same sensory twist like taffy. It gives and pulls and leaves you wanting more, like wanting to feel more of a physical manifestation. It is like a scrunch of a face, a stretch of a muscle in your body that had been so dysfunctional. 

Angela Davis is an American Marxist and feminist political activist, academic, humanist, professor, an overall well-rounded individual with the bad-A$$ fro of a superhero. Much like Janelle Monáe, Angela Davis embodies resilience and activism. Known for her pivotal role in civil rights and feminism, Davis has also been vocal about her bisexuality, challenging societal norms and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion within social justice movements. Her fearless advocacy for equality and justice resonates through her work, echoing themes of empowerment and identity that parallel the spirit of artists like Janelle Monáe. Both Davis and Monáe inspire with their courage to challenge boundaries and their commitment to creating a more inclusive society. She is fearless, and considering herself being a black woman, and she is activating in ways that are profound, and revolutionary in the ways that she challenges societal norms and restrictive infrastructures that were designed to degrade people of color. This is why it is important to recognize the reasons you are utilizing activism, be sure that it is with thoughts of the greater good and not because you quietly seek the validation and inclusion of peers to pat your back. When you participate you do so because you are fed up with the constant violence on marginalized communities, you do so because you recognize and understand that if we do not do something now, all communities can and will suffer because the people in positions of power are using and abusing marginalized bodies for their own benefit. 

In the realm of social justice, distinguishing between genuine allyship and mere performative gestures is crucial. While figures like Angela Davis and Janelle Monáe embody fearless activism and authenticity in their advocacy for marginalized communities, the specter of fake allyship looms large. Fake allyship often manifests through surface-level support that prioritizes optics over substance, where symbolic gestures overshadow tangible actions toward dismantling systemic injustices. It's essential to scrutinize intentions behind allyship—whether it stems from a genuine desire for equity and justice or merely seeks validation and social approval. Angela Davis, through her unwavering commitment to challenging societal norms and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion, exemplifies the depth of genuine allyship, contrasting sharply with those who exploit social justice movements for personal gain or avoid uncomfortable truths about privilege and power.

Genuine allyship demands accountability, continual education, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about privilege and systemic inequities. It means actively listening to and amplifying marginalized voices, supporting grassroots movements, and centering the experiences and needs of those directly affected by oppression. Angela Davis and Janelle Monáe's parallel journeys in activism underscore the transformative power of true allyship—they inspire not through fleeting gestures but by fostering lasting change rooted in empathy, solidarity, and genuine understanding and that is something that can be seen in their artistry, words, public persona, interviews, etc. By challenging fake allyship and promoting genuine engagement, we pave the way for a more inclusive society where every voice is heard, respected, and empowered to create meaningful change. But this also means that although people with more power than the next have the resources and the platform to speak about these important, life-changing societal inflictions, they are also people, and people let people down constantly. It is imperative for people with the resources to "stop a flood" to utilize those resources, however, it is equally important to scrutinize and refrain from idolizing figures solely based on their power or privilege, especially if their actions perpetuate or benefit from existing inequalities. This is where we the people come in, and vote and march and protest and sing in ways that benefit the marginalized and defund the rich, defund the ones who benefit from the bottom dollar meaning disproportionate distribution of wealth and goods. 

Things are not clear-cut. But what is clear cut is the obvious, visual, auditory, verbal, and physical sufferings that protrude from the people of Palestine, the innocent citizens of Israel used as scapegoats, the citizens of Congo, the Native and Indigenous communities who have been stripped of everything in their own soil, The Black Americans and Africans who have been and are constantly experiencing physical, emotional, and mental brutalities by colonizers. The idea that someone must suffer in order for success to take place or change to come is an evil existence that I don't even think is necessary. That notion perpetuates a cycle of violence, trauma, and inequality that undermines the inherent dignity and rights of individuals and communities. 

Thank you for reading this blog and go hug your nearest Lesbian.

Bye. Beep.