White Boys, Kites and Country Music

Apart from my work with GLBTQQI youth of color I also work for a sound company. This past weekend I was working "The Kite Festival", a yearly community event sponsored by two of the local "Urban Music" stations. The sound crew consisted of myself and two white boys. Here are a few snippits from my experience.

Me: We only have one wireless mic. Not good as we have a lot of Hip Hop acts today.

19yr old white boy: Well too bad, the Hip Hop generation needs to learn to share.

Me: What generation would that be? Hip Hop is over 30 yrs old.

19yr old white boy: oh ..well..whatever..

Me: (During a check of the sound system) You can't use that CD to test (it's a white man singing country music). Plays it anyway... No really you need to stop... I'll get a more appropriate one ...

22yr old white boy: It's the only one I have ..Why does it matter?

Me: It's not ok with the client or the venue and country music has certain connotations...

19 yr old white boy: What are you talking about?? Music is music!

Me: Wow..Ok ..It's like this I wouldn't go to a gig say at the "Grand Old Oprie" and use N.W.A. to test the system.(As I slip in some family friendly Earth Wind and Fire). Folks here are just not down with the country thing.

22yr old white boy: You mean Black people?

Me: Yes and Latino and everyone else up in this park including the clients.

19 yr old white boy: That's stupid, haven't you heard of the Robert Randolph Family Band. They play country music and they're Black.

Me: Yes I've heard of them and they play Blues with a heavy R&B influence not country.

22yr old white boy: Well I think it's stupid ... It doesn't make a difference.

Me: I can't talk to you about this anymore.


All in all it was a beautiful day to fly some kites, eat some jerk chicken and listen to Hip Hop....and ignore...