By Miles Jaye
Columnist
Wednesday, January 6, 2021, America was invaded! In broad daylight, a faction known to vigorously support President Donald Trump’s assertions that the 2020 election was rigged, and that he and they were robbed of a fair election, occupied the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. They did so at the President’s prodding, and at his bidding.
Today [January 6th] we witnessed an assault on our government and on our nation—from enemies within. We witnessed what I call a White Riot. I listened carefully as broadcasters struggled to find appropriate and fitting terminology to describe the mob. What do we call White rioters? I waited to hear terms typically used to describe rioters, like thugs and hoodlums, but these were White folks, so instead I heard, protesters, and even knuckleheads. Knuckleheads? That they were violently attacking the government and destroying government property makes them enemies of the state, domestic terrorists, not knuckleheads.
In case there is a further loss for words regarding the day’s events, here are a few words to describe what we encountered. Invasion, insurrection, uprising, rebellion, revolt, revolution, insurgence, sedition, subversion, civil disorder, civil unrest, anarchy. That day’s action was nothing less than an attempted coup. The participants in the activities of the day—whether violent or non-violent, are traitors to our nation.
I once wrote a song entitled “Mad to Sad.” It was a simple depiction of a complex cycle of emotions experienced by African Americans faced with cycles of brutality and atrocities against Black communities. “I go from mad to sad, sad to mad.” Today, for the first several hours of the invasion I was glad. I was happy for the world to see a White riot, a White mob tearing up the place. I was glad because there was no way to mistake the thugs for anything but White folks. I was glad right up until the time I noticed how casually defiant they were. My mood began to change. They rioted like they owned the place. I think I was jealous. MSNBC’s Joy Reid said, “White people are not afraid of the cops. They had come to claim what was rightfully theirs.” I couldn’t have said it any better, however, had that been a Black Lives Matters crowd, the ground would have been red with blood. In spite of destruction of government property, vandalism, breaking and entering, terroristic threats, I didn’t hear of a single arrest. The worst part is, I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of it.
“I APOLOGIZE“
Some folks would rather have houses and land; some folks choose silver or gold. These things they treasure and forget about their souls. I decided to make Jesus my choice. The road and the going gets tough and the hills are hard to climb. I started out a long time ago, and there’s no doubt in my mind. I’ve decided to make Jesus my choice.” I apologize to my younger brothers in music for not being a stronger, bolder steward of the art form. I, along with my contemporaries, let you down. When we saw you selling your souls for the proverbial bag, we didn’t warn you of what was to come—we stood back and watched. I suspect some even envied and coveted your massive successes. I must admit to admiring what came off as a level of business acumen that my colleagues and I never enjoyed. Your graduating class went from fly rims and beating cases, to Bentley’s to million-dollar Bugatti’s. It was hard not to ask, what were we doing wrong?
Sadly, when I watched and witnessed, one by one, your lives decayed and destroyed by extremes, excesses and depths, Godlessness that you foolishly claimed as proof of your success, I felt a sense of guilt and a level of responsibility that any big brother would and should feel when he fails to have his little brother’s back. I should have told you that while music is beautiful, the business of music is the devil’s playground. I should have told you when they encouraged you to make your music dirty and violent that they were turning your music into crack. You were next in line in a campaign of destroying our youth and our communities. There’s a reason they chose hustlers. Who better to hustle crack to their new audience? They were confident the kids would do their best to emulate you.
They were right and they rewarded you generously, famously, with mansions and jets the likes of which we had never seen. The moral of the story is, there is no moral to the story… just wisdom. The lyrics at the top of the page say it all. And remember this, we are all replaceable, we all run on a timeline, and to the devil you are expendable. So ask yourself, what do you want to have left of your soul when the music stops playing? Make your music with love and light and it will live on forever. Trust that lil’ brothers and sisters, the world needs you, and please accept my apologies.
“GEORGIA?”
Georgia? Is that really you? Did you just elect not one, but two Democrats to the U.S. Senate? Seriously, did you just elect Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Baptist preacher, and Jon Ossoff, a Jewish journalist, to the Senate? Just when I thought all was lost and was looking to retire overseas to escape American politics, you score two for the home team! God really does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t He? The connections to John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr’s Ebenezer Baptist Church for starters, are stunning. I can’t wait to dig deeper into the story, but for now suffice is to say, I’m so happy, so proud, and so encouraged by what you accomplished. Thank you! Ali said it best… “You shook up the world!” That’s what’s on my mind!
Website: www.milesjaye.net
Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv
Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com
