Prince: Art Activist

Preeminent multi-instrumentalist, other-worldly lyricist, consummate composer, master recording artist, incredible vocalist, maestro on the stage, and astute businessman.

I have come to terms with the fact that nothing, no news or theory purporting to explain his death is going to satisfy me. I am okay with this.

2005 Vanguard Award Video  Photo: NAACP Image Awards

What I am certain of, tho, is this: If Prince had lived, let's say, another 5-10 years he would have moved beyond changing the direction of music, he would have changed the business of music.

His successful stance against predatory music streaming practices supports this.

Prince was not the first black artist to own all of his masters, Ray Charles did too. Perhaps there were/are others. But this kind of power in the hands of a revolutionary and activist committed to securing not only his creative liberation but guiding others toward theirs is extremely dangerous from an industry perspective.

Setting precedent that other artists would have tried to follow could have brought the record  industry, as we know it, to its knees.

So there's that.

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Angels Fall

There are events in life that leave one gasping for air. Mine unquestionable include the death of Michael Jackson and now, Whitney Houston. I have never met either of them, seen them perform live, or followed their careers with religious fervor. But thanks to the deep-pocket music industry machines these artists were as big a part of my life as a classmate or cousin. They were ever-present, audibly and visually, in good times and bad. When they fell, I felt it.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge that Michael and Whitney left us before their passing. Michael slowly moved away from his own likeness. ‘A response to societal or perhaps industry pressures, I don’t know. He reported that it was an illness. Moral and legal issues tarnished his reputation. At 50 years old he still wanted to give us more by means of a world tour that would challenge a younger man.

        Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012)

The extraordinary talent of Whitney Houston mesmerized us. Her angelic voice made us feel that we could be more than we thought we could be when we sang along with her. When we learned that the pop diva had demons just beyond the glitz and glamour some turned their backs. I admit to being disappointed with her choices. Perhaps I was even a bit angry with her for destroying what I and many others considered a public trust. A trust rooted in the girl of humble means who done good and gave us all hope that the dream of success could be our reality if we just work hard enough, if we were just talented enough, if the cards just fell in the right place. If we are honest, we will admit that when her troubles pulled her away from us we loss not only a tremendous talent in the person of Whitney but also belief in our dreams being within our own grasp.

So, on this day of celebrating Whitney Houston's homegoing, I believe that it is fitting that we acknowledge and accept that angels fall. But we must understand that they can also get up.  

For me, in my remembrance of Whitey, she will stand, not as the super nova propped up by the marketing magic designed to line the pockets of product creators, but as a person with a unique talent and entirely human—fighting to survive the system, a system which has all of us fighting for our lives.  

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Red Cockatoo Feathers



Charlotte Hill O’Neal, also affectionately known as Mamma C., is a visual artist, activist, public speaker, filmmaker, and published poet. She is the program director of the United African Alliance Community Center which she and her husband, Pete, founded 20 years ago.

The center provides personal and community development programs to the youth of Arusha, Tanzania. Originally from Kansas City, Charlotte and Pete have resided in Africa for more than 40 years.

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Hill O'Neil

Red Cockatoo Feathers

(tasteful, mature content)

by

Charlotte Hill O'Neal

Red Cockatoo Feathers© Charollet Hill O'Neal

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