Hello, my name is Catherine. I am black and I like country music.
Whew! that was a hard confession! Why do you ask? Well because I don't believe I'm exactly the consumer country music might have in mind. And I'll admit that even though I have nothing to be ashamed of, I still don't let too many people know that I'm a Rascal Flatts or Carrie Underwood fan.
I mean when I decided to write this blog the only black country singer I even knew about was that guy from Hootie and the Blowfish. If you broke down the amount of African Americans who watch the country music channel or the CMT awards, then you might come up with a miniscule amount -- me and the guy from Hootie and the Blowfish so that's probably two.
Ok, I know I'm exaggerating. This shouldn't be an issue for me, but it is -- especially when I was in college.
If it wasn't my black friends asking me, "Why the hell are you listening to this?!" It was white people asking me, "Did I know who I was listening to?"
It got to be a bit much for me so I just stopped listening to it publicly. I got tired of defending tastes and in some cases my "blackness" as some associates called it into question.
I mean I could quote lyrics from Brooks and Dunn to Biggie so who the hell cares what I listened to and why?!
I guess in the end it was about deflection. Not being comfortable with yourself makes you want to hone in on someone who is and make them feel the way you do.
I feel sorry for people who aren't comfortable enough to lay bare the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make them unique. Do what you want to do. Be who you want to be. Listen to whatever music you want to listen to.
There's no need to blend. We're not V8 fruit juice, we're humans!
Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteI think as you get older (like me), you'll find: 1. more Black people who like Country music and admit it and 2. that people care less what other people think of them.
As my Christian mother likes to say, "keep living."
shhh don't tell anyone but I love to line dance and where I am from people judge you as being an old fuddy duddy or a hillbilly who should be living on the farm. So I too have hid my deep dark secret for some years.
ReplyDeleteJulie and Felicia
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the comments.
Felicia you're right as you get older, you care less and less what they think a make you happy and more about what makes you happy
Julie I would LOVE to see you line dance as I'm sure you'd be the best there! Line dance proudly! I am with you!
Oh Catherine, we are so going to the next country show I hear about. I might have to slip you some alt country twang, too.
ReplyDelete